Motherwell 3-1 Hearts: Jefferies calls on players to prove they have a future

"Things are going so well right now," one was overheard remarking in the Fir Park corridors shortly after full-time on Saturday. The tone of voice was almost apologetic. "You don't want to tempt fate," came the whispered reply from a colleague.

This victory propelled Brown's side to joint third in the SPL table, albeit having played two games more than Dundee United alongside them.

It has now been 12 league matches since they last suffered defeat, ironically at Tynecastle in Brown's first match in charge back in December. Perhaps it's time to start believing.

Their incisive opening to the match, combined with Hearts' lethargy, set the tone for the afternoon as a two-goal advantage became impossible to overhaul for the visitors.

Mark Reynolds' header inside a minute exposed sub-standard defending which was only resolved once Motherwell were out of sight. Tom Hateley's short corner found Jim O'Brien and his cross was converted by the head of Reynolds at the back post as all in maroon dithered.

On 13 minutes, Keith Lasley found space to deliver a bouncing ball across goal and the unmarked John Sutton struck a second, again at the back post, with his left foot.

Seconds later, Sutton's header only narrowly evaded Lucas Jutkiewicz on the goal line with Hearts looking worryingly disjointed.

The shortcomings of Polish centre-back Dawid Kucharski seemed particularly obvious but he did only train for two days beforehand.

Despite the shocking underfoot conditions, Motherwell were thriving. They passed sharper, tackled stronger and moved quicker. Not surprisingly, this prompted Jim Jefferies to tear a few layers of paint off the away dressing room walls during the interval.

His rantings had an effect and the second half brought moderate improvement in Hearts' play, but when Jamie Murphy's driven cross was finished by O'Brien on 68 minutes it was game over.

David Templeton, the Hearts substitute, restored a modicum of respect to the scoreline 60 seconds later with a fine finish high beyond John Ruddy, but the opening 13 minutes had simply killed Hearts.

"The first 20 minutes was disgraceful," opined Jefferies.

"The defending, switching off at corners. It was a giveaway corner for the first goal.

"We've slept and the boy (O'Brien] came out short, which we spoke about before the game. We never contested the corners and people who were supposed to be picking up didn't do their jobs.

"I thought the second goal was worse, nobody picked Lasley up. Jason (Thomson] got dragged to the ball by a run and missed it and it was 2-0. In that period we could have lost another one. It was schoolboy stuff.

"At half-time there were a few choice words as you can imagine. We had to apply ourselves right and compete right. Motherwell were quicker, sharper and their application was better. They got about the pitch better and looked fitter.

"The only positive I can think of is I was happy with the performance of Larry Kingston in the second half. He showed he has something to offer because he was our best player by a long way.

"Take nothing away from Motherwell, they deserved to win. They are a good side and their confidence is up because of the run they are on. Their work ethic was better than ours, they looked hungrier and they competed better than us.

"When they get the ball in the last third they don't panic and give it away. Their third goal proved that because Murphy showed more determination than our defender (Thomson] to get the ball."

The Motherwell camp agreed that the contrasting openings by both teams virtually decided the outcome of the match.

"That's the best we've started in the last seven or eight games," said midfielder Steven Jennings.

"We were straight out the blocks and that's what the manager wanted. For the last few games we haven't turned up but we were excellent.

"It keeps us challenging and points on the board matter. Hopefully the run we're on can continue, and who knows where we could end up? If we keep playing like this we'll take whatever finish we get."

Brown was determined not to be carried away by any emotion coursing through Fir Park as a consequence of his and assistant Archie Knox's work. "We started very well and if we had the ball in the net a third time in the first half it wouldn't have flattered us," he said.

"Jim's team came out with a different attitude in the second half after what he said to them at half-time.

"The second half was a 1-1 draw but we were comfortably ahead at half-time. It would take a disaster to slip out of the top six now. Aberdeen and Hearts are contenders but we've managed to distance ourselves from Hearts now.

"We've a good chance of finishing fifth but we have to play two hard away games at Tannadice and Parkhead before the split.

"Last midweek we were not at our best and were fortunate to get a draw at St Mirren.

"I warned the players and said I'd take the responsibility for changing the team and the shape. But they had to prove it wasn't their fault, it was mine. Maybe I've cost us two points there but we aren't a big enough club to think we can rotate. We have to play our best team. If we can keep this group together and add to it, we hope to improve."

Jefferies now has the task of attempting to re-invigorate his squad before Saturday's visit of Hibs. "It doesn't matter what the result is the week before, there is passion between the fans and, if we don't show that passion, we won't win the derby. That's the first thing to get right.

"Saturday wasn't acceptable, there isn't a lot I can do about it at the moment. A lot of these players have to use this time between now and the end of the season to prove they have a future at Hearts. They have let themselves down badly."