By Clive Lindsay

Laryea Kingston put Hearts into the lead at Fir Park

Laryea Kingston was the hero as Hearts secured their first win of the SPL season at Motherwell's expense after a scintillating game at Fir Park.

Midfielder Kingston, playing wide on the right, moved inside before firing home from the edge of the box.

Hearts goalkeeper Steve Banks produced a fine save in the dying minutes from Chris Porter's stabbed effort.

And, as Well pressed forward, Kingston broke to set up Andrius Velicka, who chipped the ball over the goalkeeper.

Interview: Motherwell manager Mark Mcghee

Interview: Hearts coach Stevie Frail

It stretched Hearts' unbeaten record against their hosts to eight games.

Stephen Hughes had made his debut for his hometown club against the other outfit who were vying for the midfielder's signature from Leicester City.

MY SPORT: DEBATE Give your reaction to the result at Fir Park

Marc Fitzpatrick dropped to the Motherwell bench.

Hearts brought in their own deadline-day signing, striker Christian Nade, while Audrius Ksanavicius was recalled.

Saulius Mikoliunas and the injured Andrew Driver missed out.

Ksanavicius was immediately denied what looked like a stonewall penalty when he was bundled over by David Clarkson as he prepared to unleash a volley a foot inside the penalty box.

Calum Elliot was next to threaten for the visitors, peeling off his marker to meet a Robbie Neilson cross.

But the young striker's diving header from 12 yards was parried clear by goalkeeper Graeme Smith.

Motherwell's first threat came via a fine ball through the middle from Paul Quinn.

Christian Nade made his debut for Hearts against Motherwell

Steve McGarry feinted past a couple of challenges but found his effort from 16 yards blocked by Jose Goncalves.

Hearts took the lead after 24 minutes, when Kingston teased Jim Paterson just outside the box before unleashing a low drive into the corner of the net.

Motherwell responded and it was Ibrahim Tall with the block this time to deny Keith Lasley from 12 yards.

From the resulting corner, Phil O'Donnell could only deflect Clarkson's driven cross wide from four yards out.

Ksanavicius fired into the side-netting, while Clarkson sliced well wide as both sides squandered good openings shortly before the break.

Motherwell were fired up early in the second half and only a double block denied Clarkson and Ross McCormack from close range.

A low drive from McGarry forced Steve Banks into his first save of the game and a McCormack free-kick evaded everyone in the box - and the far post.

Banks denied Porter at full stretch and Velicka made Well pay for that miss at the other end.

There was still time for Banks to pull off another fine stop from Well's debutant substitute, Lewis Grabban.

Motherwell: Graeme Smith, Quinn, Craigan, Reynolds, Paterson, McGarry, Lasley (Porter 56), O'Donnell (Grabban 90), Hughes, Clarkson, McCormack.
Subs Not Used: Meldrum, Brian McLean, Mensing, Fitzpatrick, Corrigan.

Booked: Paterson.

Hearts: Banks, Neilson, Tall, Berra, Goncalves, Zaliukas, Stewart (Palazuelos 64), Kingston, Ksanavicius (Ivaskevicius 90), Nade (Velicka 57), Elliot.
Subs Not Used: Basso, Wallace, Mikoliunas, McGowan.

Booked: Tall, Neilson, Elliot, Palazuelos, Zaliukas.

Goals: Kingston 24, Velicka 90.

Att: 5,081