Maroon Memories: Hearts bank on Robert Sloan as youngster scores on debut to secure victory

Robert Sloan’s late winner on his Hearts debut secured the Jambos a deserved win away to Motherwell as they consolidated their position in the top six.

Craig Levein’s men dominated the opening half and took the lead through midfielder Scott Severin, but the home side then pulled level through Keith Lasley.

Sixth-placed Hearts were not to be denied though, and Sloan’s 83rd-minute effort assured them of all three points.

An early free-kick caused chaos inside the home side’s penalty area with Kevin McKenna having his shot from close range blocked by keeper Stephen Woods before the ball was eventually cleared to safety.

Hearts skipper Stephen Pressley and McKenna both had headers saved by Woods and there was no real surprise when Hearts took the lead with a simple yet well-worked goal midway through the first half.

Austrian Thomas Flogel attacked the penalty area and slipped a great ball into the path of Severin, who slammed a first-time shot past Woods from 12 yards.

In the 35th minute, the impressive Ricardo Fuller pulled off a breathtaking piece of skill inside the box which fashioned a shooting opportunity but his angled shot from eight yards out went narrowly wide.

Hearts keeper Antti Niemi was called into action two minutes after the restart when he had to rush out of his box to clear a long through-ball.

In the 55th minute Motherwell grabbed the equaliser they had been threatening. A Greg Strong free-kick from the left-hand side arrived at the back post and Lasley arrowed a tremendous shot past Niemi who stood rooted to the spot.

The visitors battled hard to regain the upper hand but found the Lanarkshire men in much more formidable mood.

In the 61st minute, a Karl Ready header caused havoc in the Hearts six-yard box and Dirk Lehmann’s shot ricocheted off a posse of defenders before being cleared.

Lehmann should have given the home side the lead in the 73rd minute when he was clear through on goal but shot tamely at Niemi from 14 yards.

But Hearts regained their lead after yet more good work by Flogel as the match looked set for a draw.

The midfielder brilliantly picked out Sloan with a raking pass and the youngster stepped inside Martyn Corrigan before placing his shot in off the far post.

Motherwell: S Woods, K Ready, G Strong, D Lehmann, M Corrigan, D Leitch, K Lasley, J McFadden, S Hammell, D Ferrere (S Elliott, 75), D Adams. Subs not used:R Martinez, E Forrest, M Brown, S Pearson.

Hearts: A Niemi, A Maybury, S Pressley, K McKenna, S Mahe, T Flogel, T Gronlund, S Severin, R Sloan (S Boyack, 84), R Fuller, G Weir (S Simmons, 89). Subs not used: S Fulton, R McKenzie, S Adam.

Referee: Bobby Orr.

Attendance: 7,177.