There was Jambo joy at Tynecastle as the squad bounced back from the disappointing draw at Ross County to edge Mothwerwell 1-0 at Tynecastle.
Musa Drammeh’s goal after seven minutes from close range made the difference but veteran goalkeeper, Craig, Gordon (pictured by David Mollison), had to make two quality stops in the dying minutes to deny the visitors.
The Men in Maroon should have been out of sight but passed up a host of gilt edged chances and they certainly responded after head coach, Neil Critchley, called for a reaction following the loss of two injury-time goals in the 2-2 draw with Ross County.
He undoubtedly got it as his men started on the front foot and dominated early play. It was no surprise, therefore, when the home side went ahead after seven minutes with the first goal of 2025 in the William Hill Premiership.
A cross came into the Motherwell box and goalkeeper Aston Oxborough struggled with Hearts’ teenage striker, James Wilson, and Well defender Dan Casey in close proximity.
The ball fell to Drammeh who fired home from close range. Referee Calum Scott was advised to look at footage on the pitch-side screen and but the goal was given. Cue celebrations for the fans of maroon persuasion in the stands.
Hearts kept up the pressure with Mothewell struggling to get a foothold and it was obvious that Well manager Stuart Kettlewell was an unhappy man in the away dugout.
Adam Forrester, Hearts’ teenage defender, was next to threaten as the Tynecastle team strived to claim a second and then Drammeh worked his way towards the Motherwell penalty box and sent a shot towards Oxborough but he saved this time.
Kettlewell’s men failed to test Hearts in the first 45 minutes with the home side’s intensity proving key, but the absence of Lennon Miller did not help the Lanarkshire side.
The only surprise at the break was the scoreline as Critchley’s men were utterly dominant. Kettlewell had seen enough and made three changes. Tom Sparrow, Harry Paton and Shane Blaney departed and Davor Zdravkovski, Sam Nicholson and Moses Ebiye were introduced.
Hearts continued on the front foot and Drammeh moved down the right before crossing and Wilson failed to tap the ball home, then defender Kye Rowles attempted to force the ball home from a corner.
Jorge Grant hit he crossbar from the edge of the penalty box and the rebound hit Liam Boyce and went wide. The Northern Irishman, who has not scored since September 2023, had a great chance to net after James Penrice sped down the left. The former Livingston player sent the ball into the box only for Boyce to poke the ball wide, a golden chance gone.
Then, Hearts suffered a scare as Motherwell went close from a corner. Casey headed but sent the ball over and a real warning for the home side.
Hearts did not want another late collapse as happened in Dingwall and the nerves began to show.
The Men in Maroon were being pinned back, but Hearts broke and Kenneth Vargas had a chance to secure a welcome three points. The Costa Rica international failed to strike the ball when in a good position at the near-post.
Yan Dhanda also had a chance but he failed to make it count when the midfielder was set-up by Alan Forrest.
The catalogue of missed chances mounted and the pressure to secure the win intensified but Hearts held out, to much relief in the stands.
The Jambos move on to 20 points but remain in second bottom spot as results in the basement area of the league did not go their way.
Bottom club St Johnstone, who were down to ten men after Jason Holt was sent off for a challenge on Chris Cadden, held Hibs 1-1 in Perth and move on to 15 points while Ross County edged Aberdeen 2-1 in the snow at Pittodrie to stay tenth with 22 points.
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