How Hearts gained title race boost and Hibs clinch Euro encouragement this weekend as ex-Jambos skipper key

A former Hearts captain has handed the Jambos a title race boost - and also provided encouragement to Hibs in racing for Europe.

Premiership action was off the board this weekend amid Scottish Cup action but one key game was taking place at Dens Park as Dundee hosted Motherwell, a game in hand for both sides. It was a clash that the Jambos and Hibees would likely watch with interest, as a win for Jens Berthel Askou’s in-form side would have brought them within seven points of league leaders Hearts, while it’d take them 10 clear of Hibs in fifth.

Sitting fourth and in the final European spot, the Steelmen suffered a surprise 2-1 defeat at the hands of an improving Dundee team, managed by ex-Hearts captain Steven Pressley. Finlay Robertson’s late strike sealed a Dark Blues win after Callum Slattery’s free-kick cancelled out Tony Yogane’s opener.

Why is Motherwell defeat good for Hearts and Hibs?

It continues improvement at Dens, who are undefeated in four, and they could cause yet more dropped points in the title race, as they travel to Tynecastle later this month before hosting Celtic in early April. It leaves Motherwell 10 points off Hearts with nine to go, all of which are against current members of the top six, as it appears unlikely they will be able to overtake those in maroon barring a major swing in points.

For Hibs, with two games to play against the Fir Park side before the end of the season, they could go within four of them next weekend if they beat bottom side Livingston at home, and Motherwell lose to Celtic at Parkhead.

“It’s one of the things that I think is so refreshing about having a team like Motherwell in our league just now, you’re always learning,” said Pressley of the win that moved his team 10 clear of the league’s bottom two. “They’re asking us all to be better The players responded amazingly well to that.

Steven Pressley on Dundee 2-1 Motherwell

“Scoring two goals was a big thing for us, because I showed the players some of their statistics, and I was frightened showing them, they were that good. The amount of clean sheets they’ve had, the amount of goals they’ve scored, the amount of possession they’ve had, the amount of opportunities they’ve created, it just was never-ending.

“I want us to realise what we’re playing, and I use it also to motivate the players, because they feel they can affect every game. We worked hard to be a little bit more aggressive in our pressure, but Motherwell adapt to situations and they ask so many questions of you. Our players had to adapt, understand situations and take ownership and responsibility, and they did that to amazing effect.”

Askou was left lamenting a lack of sharpness in front of goal from his side, who are still within five points of second-placed Celtic ahead of their meeting next weekend. They remain a team those in the title race will face a challenge against, taking on Hearts and Celtic twice, while they face Rangers post-split.

“After a lively start we gained control of the game and we had enough moments in the first half to score a goal,” Askou said. “Then they caught us off guard. We tried to speed up the game and got good pressure, had a lot of crosses in the box. Obviously it becomes an open game at a point where we really need to chase, and after the equaliser we tried to chase even more.”