Third-placed Motherwell romped to victory over Hearts in the Scottish Premier League and moved closer to administration-hit Rangers.

Keith Lasley's shot deflected off Andy Webster into the net to give Motherwell the lead on 37 minutes.

And Lasley soon set up Jamie Murphy to head the Steelmen's second.

A second booking brought Lasley's participation to an abrupt end, but the 10 men continued to dominate and Nicky Law fired a third goal on 65 minutes.

With second-placed Rangers having been docked 10 points and also losing to Kilmarnock, Motherwell are now just six points behind last season's champions with a game in hand.

Hearts, in fourth, slip nine points behind the victors and could be overtaken by St Johnstone, who take on Aberdeen on Sunday.

Motherwell striker Jamie Murphy

Murphy headed Motherwell's second goal

Hearts goalkeeper Jamie MacDonald spilled a Tom Hateley cross but then blocked shots from Henrik Ojamaa and Law as Motherwell tried to make an early dent on the scoresheet.

Chances became scarce until Hearts full-back Ryan McGowan burst into the hosts' box and fired a shot across the face of Darren Randolph's goal.

Motherwell re-asserted themselves and Hateley's corner was pushed away by MacDonald, but Hearts could not clear their lines and Lasley fired in a shot that cannoned off Webster into the net.

And the home side were soon two ahead as Lasley crossed for Murphy to head past MacDonald via the underside of the crossbar.

MacDonald averted further damage to the Hearts cause by saving bravely at the feet of Ojamaa after another incisive Motherwell break.

In between the first-half goals, Hearts withdrew the injured David Templeton and sent on Rudi Skacel, with manager Paulo Sergio making a further change at the break with Scott Robinson replacing Andrew Driver.

The match could have been finished as a contest in the opening minutes of the second half as Webster failed to clear at a Motherwell free-kick and Ojamaa's shot was saved before Law's rebound sailed over the bar.

Lasley had earlier been booked for a challenge on Ian Black and another foul committed against the same player meant a second caution and a red card for the Motherwell man.

Undeterred by the reduction in numbers, Well continued to press and Law's inventive chip just cleared the crossbar.

The midfielder then struck the frame of the goal with an effort from 25 yards.

But Law did get his name on the scoresheet, fizzing a shot past MacDonald following good work by Ojamaa and Murphy.

Hearts continued to offer little in attack and Robinson's shot high over the crossbar epitomised their afternoon.

Motherwell could have added to their lead with Ojamaa drilling the ball across and Michael Higdon unable to convert.

Lineup, Bookings (5) & Substitutions (4)

Motherwell

  • 01 Randolph
  • 03 Hammell Booked
  • 15 Hutchinson
  • 22 Clancy
  • 04 Law
  • 06 Hateley
  • 08 Jennings
  • 14 Lasley Dismissed after an earlier booking
  • 09 Higdon
  • 11 Murphy
  • 24 Ojamaa Booked (Daley - 89' )

Substitutes

  • 31 Bradley
  • 05 Craigan
  • 07 Humphrey
  • 17 Daley
  • 26 Carswell
  • 16 McHugh
  • 18 Forbes

Heart of Midlothian

  • 30 MacDonald
  • 03 Grainger
  • 06 Webster
  • 13 Obua
  • 17 McGowan
  • 26 Zaliukas
  • 08 Black Booked (Taouil - 67' )
  • 11 Driver (Robinson - 46' )
  • 12 Templeton (Skacel - 38' )
  • 31 Mrowiec
  • 10 Elliott

Substitutes

  • 28 Ridgers
  • 05 Barr
  • 19 Skacel
  • 21 Taouil
  • 23 Glen
  • 27 Robinson
  • 38 Morton
Ref: Muir
Att: 5,489

Match Stats

Shots

13 12

On target

8 6

Corners

3 2

Fouls

17 12

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +1:59 Full time

Full Time The referee blows for the end of the match.

90:00 +0:21

Header by Scott Robinson from deep inside the penalty area misses to the left of the target.

88:20

The free kick is swung in left-footed by Daniel Grainger, Shaun Hutchinson makes a clearance.

88:20 Substitution

Substitution Henrik Ojamaa goes off and Omar Daley comes on.

88:20 Booking

Booking The referee shows Stevie Hammell a yellow card for unsporting behaviour.

88:09

Stevie Hammell gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Rudi Skacel.

87:39

Stephen Elliott takes a shot. Save by Darren Randolph.

86:58

Andy Webster restarts play with the free kick.

86:58 Booking

Booking Henrik Ojamaa shown a yellow card.

86:51

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Ryan McGowan by Henrik Ojamaa.

86:18

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Henrik Ojamaa by Mehdi Taouil. Free kick taken by Stevie Hammell.

85:42

The assistant referee signals for offside against Michael Higdon. Jamie MacDonald takes the indirect free kick.

84:33

Scott Robinson produces a right-footed shot from long range that goes harmlessly over the bar.

82:46

Shot from just outside the area by Mehdi Taouil misses to the left of the target.

81:43

Shot by Mehdi Taouil from 20 yards. Darren Randolph makes a save.

81:08

The assistant referee signals for offside against Michael Higdon. Andy Webster takes the indirect free kick.

80:48

David Obua gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Steve Jennings. Stevie Hammell takes the free kick.

79:56

Rudi Skacel concedes a free kick for a foul on Shaun Hutchinson. Stevie Hammell restarts play with the free kick.

77:34

Ryan McGowan concedes a free kick for a foul on Henrik Ojamaa. Tom Hateley has a direct shot on goal from the free kick.

76:48

Mehdi Taouil takes a shot. Save made by Darren Randolph.

73:48

Free kick awarded for a foul by Steve Jennings on Mehdi Taouil. Direct free kick taken by Scott Robinson.

73:02

The assistant referee flags for offside against Stephen Elliott. Darren Randolph takes the indirect free kick.

71:27

Free kick awarded for a foul by Shaun Hutchinson on Marius Zaliukas. Adrian Mrowiec takes the direct free kick.

69:49

Unfair challenge on Andy Webster by Michael Higdon results in a free kick. Free kick taken by Andy Webster.

69:28

Adrian Mrowiec produces a right-footed effort from long distance that goes harmlessly over the bar.

68:23

Corner taken left-footed by Daniel Grainger, Stevie Hammell manages to make a clearance.

68:14

Rudi Skacel has an effort at goal from 20 yards. Blocked by Shaun Hutchinson.

66:57 Substitution

Substitution Ian Black goes off and Mehdi Taouil comes on.

64:32

Assist by Jamie Murphy.

64:32 Goal scored

Goal - Nicky Law - Motherwell 3 - 0 Hearts Nicky Law gets on the score sheet with a goal from inside the penalty area to the bottom left corner of the goal. Motherwell 3-0 Hearts.

63:15

Direct free kick taken by Stevie Hammell.

63:15 Booking

Booking Ian Black receives a yellow card for unsporting behaviour.

63:09

Ian Black challenges Henrik Ojamaa unfairly and gives away a free kick.

60:42

Tom Hateley fouled by Daniel Grainger, the ref awards a free kick. Stevie Hammell takes the direct free kick.

59:40

Outswinging corner taken right-footed by Tom Hateley played to the near post, clearance made by Marius Zaliukas.

58:56

Scott Robinson challenges Steve Jennings unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick taken by Stevie Hammell.

57:56

Foul by Henrik Ojamaa on Ian Black, free kick awarded. Ian Black takes the free kick.

56:15

Michael Higdon is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Andy Webster takes the free kick.

55:21

Shot from 25 yards by Nicky Law.

54:59

Stephen Elliott takes a shot. Save by Darren Randolph.

52:51

Nicky Law produces a right-footed shot from just outside the area that goes harmlessly over the bar.

52:10

Tim Clancy fouled by Scott Robinson, the ref awards a free kick. Darren Randolph takes the indirect free kick.

50:08

Indirect free kick taken by Andy Webster.

50:08 Dismissal

Dismissal The referee red cards Keith Lasley for second bookable offence.

49:57

Keith Lasley challenges Ian Black unfairly and gives away a free kick.

46:30

Henrik Ojamaa takes a shot. Save by Jamie MacDonald. Shot from deep inside the area by Nicky Law goes over the bar.

45:01

The second half has started.

45:01 Substitution

Substitution Andrew Driver leaves the field to be replaced by Scott Robinson.

36:58

Keith Lasley takes a shot.

45:00 +2:03 Half time

Half Time The players leave the pitch at half time.

45:00 +1:49

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Jamie MacDonald by Henrik Ojamaa. Indirect free kick taken by Jamie MacDonald.

42:35

Shot on goal by Nicky Law from just inside the area clears the crossbar.

41:33

Henrik Ojamaa is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Indirect free kick taken by Andy Webster.

40:23

Keith Lasley provided the assist for the goal.

40:23 Goal scored

Goal - Jamie Murphy - Motherwell 2 - 0 Hearts Jamie Murphy finds the net with a headed goal from inside the penalty box. Motherwell 2-0 Hearts.

37:56 Substitution

Substitution (Hearts) makes a substitution, with Rudi Skacel coming on for David Templeton.

37:38

Shot by Jamie Murphy from 12 yards. Jamie MacDonald makes a save.

36:58

Andy Webster gets a block in.

36:58 Goal scored

Goal - Andy Webster - Motherwell 1 - 0 Hearts Andy Webster scores an own goal from 12 yards. Motherwell 1-0 Hearts.

36:58 Goal scored

Goal - Keith Lasley - Motherwell 1 - 0 Hearts Keith Lasley fires in a goal from inside the area low into the middle of the goal. Motherwell 1-0 Hearts.

36:26

Corner taken by Tom Hateley played to the near post, Jamie MacDonald makes a save.

36:13

Keith Lasley takes a shot. Blocked by Andy Webster.

35:24

Ryan McGowan has an effort at goal from the edge of the box that misses to the right of the target.

34:47

The official flags Henrik Ojamaa offside. Free kick taken by Daniel Grainger.

32:04

Corner from the left by-line taken by Tom Hateley, Henrik Ojamaa gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Jamie MacDonald. Indirect free kick taken by Jamie MacDonald.

30:51

David Templeton takes a shot from just outside the penalty area clears the crossbar.

30:13

Free kick awarded for a foul by Shaun Hutchinson on Andrew Driver. Daniel Grainger takes the indirect free kick.

30:13

Unfair challenge on Andrew Driver by Shaun Hutchinson results in a free kick. Indirect free kick taken by Daniel Grainger.

28:00

The assistant referee signals for offside against David Templeton. Stevie Hammell takes the free kick.

23:43

Daniel Grainger takes the indirect free kick.

23:43 Booking

Booking Keith Lasley is given a yellow card.

23:35

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Ian Black by Keith Lasley.

22:56

Henrik Ojamaa challenges Andy Webster unfairly and gives away a free kick. Indirect free kick taken by Jamie MacDonald.

21:38

Unfair challenge on Andy Webster by Michael Higdon results in a free kick. Andy Webster restarts play with the free kick.

19:14

Ryan McGowan challenges Nicky Law unfairly and gives away a free kick. Tom Hateley crosses the ball in from the free kick, David Templeton manages to make a clearance.

16:28

Steve Jennings concedes a free kick for a foul on Stephen Elliott. Free kick taken by Ian Black.

16:11

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on David Obua by Tim Clancy. Free kick taken by David Obua.

15:46

Shaun Hutchinson gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on David Templeton. Free kick taken by Jamie MacDonald.

15:05

Michael Higdon fouled by Marius Zaliukas, the ref awards a free kick. Tom Hateley takes the indirect free kick.

14:34

The referee blows for offside against David Obua. Darren Randolph takes the free kick.

14:05

The assistant referee flags for offside against Nicky Law. Free kick taken by Jamie MacDonald.

11:14

Effort on goal by David Obua from 30 yards. Comfortable save by Darren Randolph.

10:19

Adrian Mrowiec gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Jamie Murphy. Indirect free kick taken by Keith Lasley.

8:49

Stevie Hammell concedes a free kick for a foul on David Templeton. Adrian Mrowiec restarts play with the free kick.

5:36

Inswinging corner taken by Ian Black, clearance made by Michael Higdon.

3:35

Shot by Steve Jennings from 12 yards. Save by Jamie MacDonald.

3:24

Effort from 12 yards by Tim Clancy. Save made by Jamie MacDonald.

1:46

David Obua gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Shaun Hutchinson. Darren Randolph restarts play with the free kick.

0:00

The game kicks-off.

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