Maroon Memories: Return of Edgaras Jankauskas is pivotal

Edgaras Jankauskas, left, celebrates his first goal

EDGARAS Jankauskas’ resumption of striking duties injected Hearts with the inspiration to banish their lethargic performance from the previous week, when they had conceded a one-goal advantage and lost to Aberdeen.

Two goals for the giant frontman in a 3-0 win over Motherwell depicted most of the story, but there was significantly more about his exertions on returning from injury.

Terry Butcher’s players could only hold out for three minutes before Jankauskas had their net bulging.

Jankauskas dispatched the opener high beyond Colin Meldrum from six yards with only minutes gone after Czech midfielder Rudi Skacel’s shot had been stopped, but not held, by the goalkeeper.

The second on 14 minutes hinted at the possibility of a rout as Martyn Corrigan stuck out his heel to intercept a Deividas Cesnauskis cross from the right. He succeeded only in teeing the ball up for Jankauskas to hit a rising drive soaring into the same corner as the first.

Julien Brellier returned to the Hearts midfield after suspension and it can surely be no coincidence that Hearts’ buckling against Aberdeen the previous Saturday had occurred in the Frenchman’s absence.

Calmly he orchestrated things in midfield for Hearts beside Bruno Aguiar, the Portuguese replacement for the suspended Paul Hartley.

On 78 minutes, Takis Fyssas fed Skacel who instantly flicked the ball over the Motherwell defence in the direction of Calum Elliot. The 18-year-old was alert and swift in latching on to the ball before he lofted it over the advancing Meldrum to complete the victory.

Butcher left Edinburgh in frustration. His team hit the woodwork twice, the first, a Scott McDonald header in the opening seconds which would have seriously altered the complexion of the game thereafter had it gone in. A header from Stephen Craigan also came back off the junction of post and crossbar.

But for all Motherwell, a seriously talented and industrious side, their unquestionable ability was overshadowed by a seriously petulant attitude.

Striker Richie Foran was fortunate not to be ordered off as he fouled and angrily remonstrated his way through the entire afternoon.

Hearts: C Gordon, R Neilson, S Pressley, A Webster, P Fyssas, D Cesnauskis (L Johnson, 83), J Brellier (S Mikoliunas, 86), B Aguiar, R Skacel, E Jankauskas (R Bednar, 69), C Elliot. Subs not used:S Banks, C Berra, M Pospisil, J McAllister.

Motherwell: C Meldrum, M Corrigan, S Craigan, B McLean, S Hammell, K McBride (P O’Donnell, 72), B Kerr, A McCormack, R Foran, S McDonald (S McGarry, 67), J Hamilton (D Clarkson, 85). Subs not used:D Smith, A Martin, S Fagan, W Kinniburgh.

Referee: Charlie Richmon.

Attendance: 16,976.