Forbes (centre) broke the deadlock for Motherwell against Hearts
Ross Forbes' volley secured a deserved victory for Motherwell as Hearts ended the game at Fir Park with 10 men.
Motherwell were on top from the start, but it was a poor first half during which Giles Coke and Forbes squandered chances for the home side.
Forbes fired home 10 minutes after the break for his ninth goal of the season.
Christian Nade was stretchered off and Eggert Jonsson was sent off for hauling back Jim O'Brien after 71 minutes to complete Hearts' miserable afternoon.
The win moved Motherwell into fourth place in the Scottish Premier League, at least until Dundee United face Rangers on Sunday, and stretched Hearts' run of away league games without a win to 11.
Jonsson had only been given his starting place because of injury to captain Michael Stewart, who had scored the winner from the penalty spot in the midweek Co-operative Insurance Cup win over Celtic.
Meanwhile, Forbes had been restored to the Motherwell starting line-up along with John Sutton after club captain Stephen Craigan paid for his own goal in their loss to St Mirren by being dropped along with Jamie Murphy.
There were reports that John Ruddy had suffered a groin injury in the warm-up, but the Motherwell goalkeeper started the game and his fitness was rarely tested in the first half.
Most of the action was at the other end and Hearts survived a strong penalty shout in the 13th minute when Ismael Bouzid challenged O'Brien as he ran on to Sutton's knock-down.
Hearts goalkeeper Janos Balogh looked uncertain when dealing with corners and he had to tip over Shaun Hutchinson's header after Sutton had headed O'Brien's delivery back across goal.
Lukas Jutkiewicz shot wide from 25 yards after more good link-up play by Sutton, while Yassin Moutaouakil got back well to prevent Andrew Driver capitalising on a Hearts break.
Motherwell ought to have taken the lead when Giles Coke failed to connect properly with a header and Steven Saunders could only turn the loose ball against the post.
Forbes also blazed over with a free-kick from 14 yards after Balogh had been penalised for picking up a Jose Goncalves back-pass.
Nade (centre) was taken off after being injured in the second half
O'Brien fired wide with a drive from the edge of the box as Motherwell were again on top at the start of the second half.
The home side eventually made a deserved breakthrough after 55 minutes when Forbes volleyed home after the ball had evaded Hearts defender Craig Thomson.
Hearts' troubles deepened moments later when striker Christian Nade, who has not long returned from injury, was stretchered off after seemingly going down with an ankle injury, Glen being his replacement.
Worse news for the visitors arrived when Jonsson was sent off for hauling back O'Brien on the edge of the box when the winger was through on goal.
Forbes fired the resulting free-kick into the defensive wall, but Hearts had to survive the final 20 minutes with 10 men.
Surprisingly, it was Hearts who began to create chances and Glen fired wide after a low cross from Driver, the shot deflecting off defender Shaun Hutchinson.
Ruddy saved from Arvydas Novikovas in the dying seconds, but it would have been more than Hearts deserved if they had grabbed a late equaliser.
Motherwell manager Jim Gannon: "It was certainly a hard-fought win as they had a good spell when they were down to 10 men and we were looking a bit tired.
"But, overall, we deserved the win as we created some good chances and put more pressure on their goal than they did on ours.
"However, they are a good side Hearts and you can see why they are in the semi-finals of the Co-operative Insurance Cup and finished high up last season.
"Our centre-backs were immense, Shaun Hutchinson and Stevie Saunders, and John Ruddy probably has the best record of clean sheets in the SPL this season."
Hearts manager Csaba Laszlo: "Against Celtic, and the bigger teams, we are much more motivated.
"Michael Stewart was not in the team and we missed his influence. Marius Zaliukas is also out long-term.
"It is a very difficult season for us if we are missing such quality.
"Christian Nade will see the physio tomorrow, but I don't think his injury is too serious."
Live text and stats
Saturday, 31 October 2009
Scottish Premier
Home Team
Score
Away Team
Time
Motherwell
1-0
Hearts
FT
(HT 0-0)
Forbes 55
Motherwell
21 Ruddy
02 Moutaouakil
04 Reynolds
28 Hutchinson
43 Saunders
06 Coke
24 Hateley
09 Jutkiewicz (Lasley 85)
11 Sutton yellow card
17 O'Brien (Murphy 85)
27 Forbes (Humphrey 75)
Substitutes
01 Fraser,
29 Page,
07 Humphrey,
08 Jennings,
14 Lasley,
15 Murphy,
23 Archdeacon
Hearts
01 Balogh
03 Wallace
05 Jose Goncalves
13 Obua (David Witteveen 88)
21 Ismael Bouzid
04 Jonsson red card
06 Palazuelos yellow card
08 Black
11 Driver
46 Thomson (Novikovas 82 yellow card)
14 Nade (Glen 59)
Substitutes
25 Kello,
02 Kucharski,
20 Thomson,
39 Mulrooney,
15 David Witteveen,
18 Novikovas,
36 Glen
Ref: SomersAtt: 4,830
MOTHERWELL
HEARTS
Possession
Motherwell45%
Hearts55%
Attempts on target
Motherwell4
Hearts3
Attempts off target
Motherwell9
Hearts5
Corners
Motherwell8
Hearts4
Fouls
Motherwell15
Hearts14
Final Result
Full Time
90:00+7:16 The referee signals the end of the game.
Correction - 90:00+6:46 Shaun Hutchinson restarts play with the free kick.
Correction - 90:00+6:46 Booking The referee cautions Arvydas Novikovas for unsporting behaviour.
90:00+6:46 Shaun Hutchinson takes the direct free kick.
90:00+6:46 Booking The referee books David Witteveen for unsporting behaviour.
Correction - 90:00+6:37 Arvydas Novikovas gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Yassin Moutaouakil.
90:00+6:37 Yassin Moutaouakil fouled by Arvydas Novikovas, the ref awards a free kick.
90:00+6:17 Effort from 30 yards by Arvydas Novikovas. Save by John Ruddy.
90:00+5:55 Foul by Steven Saunders on Gary Glen, free kick awarded. Lee Wallace restarts play with the free kick.
90:00+5:32 Unfair challenge on Jose Goncalves by John Sutton results in a free kick. Jose Goncalves restarts play with the free kick.
90:00+2:31 Corner taken by Chris Humphrey played to the near post, Lee Wallace makes a clearance.
90:00+0:12 Chris Humphrey has shot on goal from just outside the area which goes wide of the right-hand upright.
88:36 Ismael Bouzid gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Tom Hateley. Free kick taken by Shaun Hutchinson.
Correction - 87:31 Substitution David Witteveen is brought on as a substitute for David Obua.
87:31 Substitution David Obua leaves the field to be replaced by David Witteveen.
86:44 Shot from 18 yards by Keith Lasley. Save by Janos Balogh.
85:33 The assistant referee signals for offside against Jamie Murphy. Janos Balogh takes the free kick.
85:08 Unfair challenge on Shaun Hutchinson by David Obua results in a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Shaun Hutchinson.
83:53 Free kick taken by Janos Balogh.
83:53 Substitution (Motherwell) makes a substitution, with Keith Lasley coming on for Lukas Jutkiewicz.
83:53 Substitution Jamie Murphy joins the action as a substitute, replacing Jim O'Brien.
83:53 Booking John Sutton goes into the book.
83:43 Foul by John Sutton on Ruben Palazuelos, free kick awarded.
83:16 Free kick awarded for a foul by Ian Black on Giles Coke. Shaun Hutchinson takes the free kick.
81:25 Substitution Arvydas Novikovas joins the action as a substitute, replacing Craig Thomson.
81:25 Corner taken by Craig Thomson, Ruben Palazuelos has a headed effort at goal from deep inside the area missing to the right of the target.
81:01 Craig Thomson takes a inswinging corner to the near post.
80:28 Gary Glen takes a shot. Steven Saunders gets a block in.
79:43 Unfair challenge on Giles Coke by Craig Thomson results in a free kick. Free kick taken by John Ruddy.
77:34 Outswinging corner taken by Chris Humphrey, Shaun Hutchinson produces a header from inside the area that goes over the bar.
75:29 Craig Thomson takes the inswinging corner, clearance made by John Sutton.
74:10 John Ruddy takes the direct free kick.
74:10 Substitution Chris Humphrey is brought on as a substitute for Ross Forbes.
74:10 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Mark Reynolds by David Obua.
70:54 Sent off Red card for Eggert Jonsson.
70:22 Shot by Ian Black from 20 yards. Save by John Ruddy.
70:21 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Jim O'Brien by Eggert Jonsson. Ross Forbes has a direct shot on goal from the free kick, blocked by Craig Thomson.
69:44 Corner taken right-footed by Craig Thomson to the near post, Shaun Hutchinson makes a clearance.
68:49 Giles Coke fouled by David Obua, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick taken by Steven Saunders.
67:19 Jim O'Brien takes the inswinging corner, save by Janos Balogh.
66:21 Craig Thomson produces a left-footed shot from outside the penalty box and misses wide left of the target.
62:30 Mark Reynolds challenges Eggert Jonsson unfairly and gives away a free kick. Craig Thomson takes the direct free kick.
61:35 Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Jim O'Brien played to the near post, Craig Thomson makes a clearance.
56:09 Janos Balogh restarts play with the free kick.
56:09 Substitution Gary Glen comes on in place of Christian Nade.
56:09 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Ismael Bouzid by John Sutton.
54:26 Assist by Yassin Moutaouakil.
54:26 GOAL - Ross Forbes:Motherwell 1 - 0 Hearts Ross Forbes fires in a goal from inside the area low into the middle of the goal. Motherwell 1-0 Hearts.
52:15 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Ross Forbes by Eggert Jonsson. Direct free kick taken by Ross Forbes.
49:02 Shaun Hutchinson challenges Ian Black unfairly and gives away a free kick. Ismael Bouzid restarts play with the free kick.
48:23 Jim O'Brien has an effort at goal from just outside the area which goes wide of the left-hand post.
46:55 Giles Coke has a shot on goal from outside the box which misses left.
46:25 Handball by David Obua. Free kick taken by John Ruddy.
45:56 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Christian Nade by Steven Saunders. Ismael Bouzid takes the free kick.
45:01 The referee blows his whistle to start the second half.
Half Time
45:00+1:07 The ref blows to signal half-time.
44:27 Lukas Jutkiewicz concedes a free kick for a foul on Janos Balogh. Direct free kick taken by Janos Balogh.
41:46 Effort from just outside the area by Tom Hateley goes over the bar.
38:36 Effort on goal by Ross Forbes from outside the box goes harmlessly over the bar.
38:03 Booking Booking for Ruben Palazuelos for unsporting behaviour.
37:50 Unfair challenge on Lukas Jutkiewicz by Ruben Palazuelos results in a free kick. Steven Saunders takes the direct free kick.
34:05 Free kick awarded for a foul by Jose Goncalves on Lukas Jutkiewicz. Steven Saunders takes the free kick.
32:46 Tom Hateley fouled by Christian Nade, the ref awards a free kick. John Ruddy restarts play with the free kick.
32:21 Foul by John Sutton on Craig Thomson, free kick awarded. Free kick taken by Craig Thomson.
29:50 Free kick taken by Jim O'Brien. Effort from inside the area by Ross Forbes misses to the right of the target.
28:48 Foul by Craig Thomson on John Sutton, free kick awarded. Free kick crossed by Jim O'Brien.
28:07 Christian Nade delivers the ball, Ian Black produces a header from inside the area that goes over the bar.
27:14 Free kick awarded for a foul by Ross Forbes on Ian Black. Ismael Bouzid restarts play with the free kick.
26:02 Steven Saunders concedes a free kick for a foul on Christian Nade. Jose Goncalves restarts play with the free kick.
24:59 Effort on goal by Andrew Driver from inside the area goes harmlessly over the bar.
23:30 Lukas Jutkiewicz produces a right-footed shot from outside the penalty box and misses left.
22:19 Inswinging corner taken by Ross Forbes.
21:18 Ross Forbes takes the inswinging corner, Shaun Hutchinson takes a shot. Save by Janos Balogh.
21:01 Free kick awarded for a foul by Tom Hateley on Ian Black. Ian Black restarts play with the free kick.
17:54 Foul by Giles Coke on Ian Black, free kick awarded. Free kick taken by Jose Goncalves.
16:07 Foul by David Obua on Ross Forbes, free kick awarded. Shaun Hutchinson takes the free kick.
13:17 Lukas Jutkiewicz gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Jose Goncalves. Free kick taken by Janos Balogh.
10:16 Corner taken right-footed by Jim O'Brien from the left by-line to the near post, free kick awarded for a foul by Steven Saunders on Janos Balogh. Janos Balogh restarts play with the free kick.
5:58 Lee Wallace produces a right-footed shot from just outside the box that goes wide left of the target.
5:08 Jim O'Brien produces a right-footed shot from just outside the box that goes wide left of the goal.
4:30 Inswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Ross Forbes, Janos Balogh makes a save.
0:00 The game gets underway.
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