Highlights - Hearts 0-2 Motherwell

Motherwell boosted their European hopes after beating Hearts to move up to fourth in the Scottish Premier League.

The visitors were two goals up by half-time, Steven Saunders' scrambled opener added to by John Sutton's header.

Hearts struggled to claw their way back into the match after the break, Suso Santana heading over from close range.

And Well created further chances to score with substitute Jamie Murphy having a shot cleared off the line and another effort saved.

Craig Brown's side are now a point ahead of Hibernian, who play Rangers on Sunday, and seven in front of sixth-placed Hearts.

Motherwell striker Lukas Jutkiewicz had two early attempts before Hearts almost took advantage of some nervous goalkeeping by Michael Fraser.

Fraser, who was at fault for the loss of two goals in Motherwell's previous game, spilled a shot by David Templeton but recovered to block David Obua's attempt before Gary Glen relieved the pressure on the visiting defence by firing off target.

The Steelmen went back on the attack and Giles Coke's goal-bound drive was well saved by Jamie MacDonald.

Obua passed up an excellent chance to put the ball in the net when his attempted tap-in was blocked by Fraser, but the Hearts man had already been flagged offside shortly before Suso Santana's volley was saved by the Motherwell keeper.

Coke was on target again with another shot that MacDonald had to divert out for a corner as Well continued to probe.

The Hearts fans claimed for a penalty following Stephen Craigan's challenge on David Templeton but referee Brian Winter waved play on.

Craig Thomson's last-ditch tackle to prevent Lukas Jutkiewicz latching on to Tom Hateley's through ball merely delayed the opening goal as Motherwell took the lead from the resulting corner.

Hearts were unable to overturn their half-time deficit

Stevie Hammell's delivery was initially won in the air by Saunders and blocked by the Hearts defence but the defender followed up to force the ball over the line for his first career goal.

And Motherwell moved further ahead when Sutton and Marius Zaliukas rose to challenge for Tom Hateley's lofted free-kick and the striker claimed the last touch as the ball found its way into the net.

Eager for a turnaround in fortunes, Hearts withdrew Michael Stewart and Glen and sent on Ian Black at Calum Elliot at half-time and made a further change early in the second half with Ryan Stevenson replacing Glen.

Suso headed over from a throw-in and MacDonald once again thwarted Coke as both sides exchanged chances.

Jim O'Brien charged in on goal after Zaliukas' attempted clearance had rebounded off the winger's face but referee Winter hauled play back, penalising O'Brien for handball.

Fraser held a shot by Stevenson before Motherwell came close to registering a third.

Intricate passing put Sutton through and, after his shot was saved, Murphy's follow-up was cleared off the line by Zaliukas.

Murphy, who had come on for Jutkiewicz, then saw another attempt saved by MacDonald.

Thomson's free-kick was held by Fraser as Hearts' frustrating afternoon drew to a close.

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