Hearts 3-1 Motherwell: Report and player ratings, tempers flare, Shankland, Braga and a super sub

Two late goals from Lawrence Shankland and Landry Kabore earned Hearts another priceless win at a tension-filled Tynecastle Park. Claudio Braga’s overhead kick had cancelled out Emmannuel Longelo’s opening goal for Motherwell. Shankland then showed admirable composure under pressure to score the winner from the spot after substitute Kabore was fouled by Stephen Welsh. The Burkina Faso internationalist then struck Hearts’ third in stoppage-time to end a feisty contest.

The result ensures Hearts go into the Premiership split top of the table. They moved four points clear of Rangers and three ahead of Celtic - who beat St Mirren at home - by winning this encounter before the Ibrox side visit Falkirk on Sunday. Motherwell offered plenty threat on the counter-attack as they strive for a European place and could easily have gone 2-1 ahead late in the second half before Shankland’s penalty. The hosts are chasing a first title since 1960 and showed their clinical side towards the end of a closely-fought game.

They will now fly out to Spain for a week of warm-weather training at La Manga before beginning the post-split fixtures in two weeks’ time. Their next assignment is at Easter Road against city rivals Hibs. The chance to make history remains after an enthralling ending which tested the emotions of every supporter inside Tynecastle.

Six matches from the end of an enthralling Premiership title race, Hearts were eager to regain winning form after last week’s 2-2 draw at bottom club Livingston. Beni Baningime replaced the suspended Marc Leonard in midfield, with defender Stuart Findlay and midfielder Blair Spittal also reinstated in a 3-5-2 system. Motherwell arrived in Gorgie winless in their last four games and needing to regain traction in their quest for European football. They named an unchanged side and were again without the suspended Callum Slattery.

Motherwell began with their favoured possession-based style and Hearts also tried to practice good ball retention. The hosts would have been 1-0 ahead on 20 minutes but for a vital reaction save by Motherwell goalkeeper Calum Ward, who stopped Oisin McEntee’s header from Spittal’s free-kick. The visitors weren’t shot on gamesmanship with late challenges and dunts off the ball, plus Ward’s and other players timewasting. Cammy Devlin allowed his frustration at the situation to lead him into a 25th-minute sliding tackle on Elliot Watt, which his opponent didn’t like.

Moments later, Watt stung the palms of Hearts goalkeeper Alexander Schwolow from 20 yards. The German then produced a quite stunning save low to his right to repel Ibrahim Said’s vicious netbound drive. He was alert enough to gather the rebound, too, as Longelo closed in ready to score. Tensions boiled around Tynecastle towards half-time after referee Matthew MacDermid stopped play twice in as many minutes for Motherwell players lying ground after seemingly innocuous incidents. This happened throughout the afternoon and MacDermid wasn’t strong enough to deal with it. Said was by far the biggest culprit.

Hearts enjoyed more possession in the first half without creating many clear scoring chances. Motherwell looked dangerous when their swift counter-attacks reached full flow. It was via that method that they opened the scoring four minutes into the second half. Watt fed Tawanda Maswanhise on the right for a low cross which Lukas Fadinger swung at as the ball rolled across the home penalty area. He didn’t make much connection but at the back post the unmarked Longelo converted with a straightforward finish.

The home fans responded and tried to rally their side in the hope of an equaliser. Braga crossed, Shankland headed wide under pressure. The leveller came from a corner arced to the back post by Spittal. Findlay won the header and Braga twisted his body for an overhead hook which landed in the corner of Ward’s net. After a lengthy VAR check for offside, referee MacDermid confirmed the goal to rapturous applause and cheers.

Motherwell weren’t finished yet, however. They mounted another attack with another Maswanhise cross from the right, but this time Longelo’s finish was high. Elijah Just was finding a lot of space in midfield with Hearts effectively in a 4-2-4 formation in search of a winning goal. The clearest chance of the game was created by Maswanhise after 74 minutes. He spun away from Halkett in the centre of the field and drew Findlay into a sliding challenge before shooting narrowly wide with the goal gaping. It was an opportunity the visitors would soon rue.

The game hinged on a late penalty, awarded after MacDermid was advised by VAR to visit his touchline monitor. It showed Hearts substitute Kabore being kicked in the back of the head by Motherwell centre-back Stephen Welsh inside the penalty area. Shankland stepped up as nerves around Tynecastle became almost unbearable. He tucked potentially one of the most important single kicks of his life into the net via a post to put his team 2-1 up with only minutes left.

Kabore made sure of victory by sprinting through onto Baningime’s pass and making space to squeeze his finish beneath Ward. It was indeed an inspired cameo appearance by Kabore as he made a telling impact in the final stages. Tynecastle roared with delight, the Hearts bench erupted, and fans enjoyed another huge triumph. Below are the Hearts player ratings from Tynecastle: