Motherwell 1 - 0 Heart of Midlothian

Forbes' spectacular finish

Updated: October 31, 2009, 7:20 AM UK

Ross Forbes scored another spectacular goal to move Motherwell up to fourth in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League.

• Gannon delighted with Forbes

The midfielder lashed home a 55th-minute volley to claim his ninth goal of the season as Well deservedly beat a Hearts side that lost Eggert Jonsson for a professional foul.

The red card sparked Hearts into life for the final 20 minutes but Shaun Hutchinson made two last-ditch challenges to secure the victory.

Jonsson had stepped in for the injured Michael Stewart, who scored the goal that knocked Celtic out of the Co-operative Insurance Cup in midweek, and Hearts never matched the heights of that performance.

Forbes returned along with John Sutton following Motherwell's 3-0 cup defeat by St Mirren with Jamie Murphy dropped to the bench and club captain Stephen Craigan out altogether.

Motherwell almost lost goalkeeper John Ruddy after he suffered a groin injury in the warm-up but he was able to recover and did not have to make a save for 70 minutes.

The hosts could have had an even more comfortable afternoon if they had been awarded a 13th-minute penalty when Ismael Bouzid brought down Jim O'Brien as he ran on to Sutton's knockdown, but referee David Somers decided the Hearts defender got something on the ball.

Janos Balogh looked uncertain when dealing with corners and he had to tip over 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 as Motherwell continued to have the edge, but they were thankful for the pace of Yassin Moutaouakil as he prevented Andrew Driver capitalising on a Hearts break.

Motherwell then missed two great chances around the half-hour mark. Giles Coke headed O'Brien's free-kick wide from inside the six-yard box and Forbes blazed over from 14 yards after Balogh had been penalised for picking up a Jose Goncalves backpass.

O'Brien came close to a spectacular opener three minutes into the second half when his powerful first-time volley from 25 yards brushed the side-netting after Sutton had laid off a throw-in.

Coke was inches away from latching on to Jutkiewicz's clever through ball and Sutton claimed he had been pulled down by Bouzid inside the box, but Well took the lead moments later.

Moutaouakil's deep cross evaded the Hearts back four and Forbes caught it full on the volley to fire into the far corner despite Balogh getting a touch.

The visitors' troubles intensified when striker Christian Nade was stretchered off after a challenge by Forbes, with Gary Glen taking his place.

Ruddy made his first save when he caught Ian Black's long-range effort but the shot backfired as the keeper immediately set O'Brien clear with a huge kick.

Jonsson pulled O'Brien back just outside the box to earn himself a red card, although Forbes could only hit the free-kick into the wall.

Hearts put on more pressure with 10 men than they had with 11 though and Glen had a great chance to level with 10 minutes left.

Moutaouakil looked to have stopped Driver reaching the byline but the Hearts winger got up quickly to feed Glen, whose shot was diverted just past the post by Hutchinson's last-ditch block.

Ruben Palazuelos then headed over after Black had shot following the corner and Motherwell almost gifted Glen another chance after Ruddy's short goal kick.

Well sub Keith Lasley forced a save from Balogh before Hutchinson saved Well again with a sliding tackle on Hearts sub Arvydas Novikovas after Steven Saunders had gifted possession to Driver.

The hosts enjoyed a relatively trouble-free seven minutes of injury-time although Ruddy saved from Novikovas at the death.

Gannon delighted with Forbes

Motherwell manager Jim Gannon benefited from a change of tactics as his unleashed midfielder Ross Forbes netted the only goal against Hearts.

"Giles has got much more to offer than I was allowing him,'' Gannon said. "We were playing this Milan formation where our three midfielders were more in the construction phase and allowing other people to attack. We talked about that inhibiting Ross and Giles' natural inclination to join the attack.

"Today we took the reins off a little bit and allowed them to go and join and got a better performance from Giles, and Ross was able to get in an area where he can use his undoubted talents.''

Gannon, who dropped captain Stephen Craigan following the 3-0 Co-operative Insurance Cup defeat by St Mirren, added: "What pleased me is that everybody made a significant contribution.John Sutton came in and did really well and led the line.

"We changed the game plan a little bit. I think our players have shown in the last few games that they can play good football. But they have been caught up in playing all the time. They need to learn when and where to play, and when to hurt teams by getting it in quicker. Today we mixed it up quite well.''

Hearts manager Csaba Laszlo was downbeat after his side failed to get close to their midweek cup performance at Celtic. "If you win at Celtic Park you must have more confidence,'' Laszlo said. "But we had some poor performances. Also, if experienced players like Michael Stewart are not there, then the team feels this.

"If you can play powerful and good football with 10 men why can't you do it before? You know why? The experience is not there. This is what makes me angry.''

Laszlo took off full-back Craig Thomson after Yassin Moutaouakil's deep cross evaded him before Forbes struck in the 55th minute. "Craig Thomson is a huge talent but it's a learning process this season,'' Laszlo said. "I'm not angry about this goal but if you have more experience you can avoid it.'' Meanwhile, Laszlo does not know the extent of the ankle injury that forced Christian Nade off on a stretcher, although he said there was no swelling.