Hearts' recent dip in form continued as they were held to a 0-0 draw by an impressive Motherwell side at Fir Park on Saturday. The result means the Edinburgh club have now dropped points in their last three games, their lead at the top of the Scottish Premiership cut to five points, although Celtic have two games in hand.
Motherwell, who came into the game in good form, proved to be a tough opponent, with goalkeeper Alexander Schwolow required to make several important saves to keep the scores level. The Steelmen also had two goals disallowed for offside, highlighting their attacking threat.
The game began with Motherwell showing their intent early on. A dangerous cross from Callum Hendry caused problems for the Hearts defense within the opening minutes. Hearts responded with some attacking pressure of their own, Harry Milne heading onto the roof of the net. However, it was Motherwell who continued to create the better opportunities.
A defensive error from Stuart Findlay nearly proved costly, with Elijah Just pouncing on the defender's hesitation before setting up Tawanda Maswanhise, only for Craig Halkett to make a crucial block. Motherwell thought they had broken the deadlock in the 24th minute when Hendry turned home Elliot Watt's through ball, but VAR ruled the striker offside.
Hearts struggled to find their rhythm in the first half, with Motherwell dominating possession. Cammy Devlin blazed a shot over the bar as the visitors ended the first half on the front foot, but clear-cut chances were few and far between.
The second half saw Hearts improve, applying more pressure on the Motherwell defense. Lawrence Shankland, returning from a calf injury, saw a header volleyed off the line, coming closest to breaking the deadlock. However, Motherwell remained resilient and continued to pose a threat on the counter-attack.
Hearts had goalkeeper Schwolow to thank for securing a point, as he made a string of saves to deny Motherwell a late winner. The German goalkeeper's performance was crucial in preventing a third straight defeat for the league leaders.
Despite not being at their best, Hearts have extended their lead at the top of the table, at least until Sunday. However, the Tynecastle side will need to improve their attacking output, having only scored one goal in their last three matches. That goal was an own goal from Dundee United goalkeeper Yevhen Kucherenko.
Motherwell, meanwhile, will be pleased with their performance and the point gained against the league leaders. The Steelmen have been in impressive form recently, and their performance against Hearts further demonstrates their capabilities. They currently sit 4th in the Scottish Premiership.
Looking ahead, Hearts will be aiming to bounce back at home against Kilmarnock before a crucial top-of-the-table clash. Motherwell will look to continue their good form in their upcoming fixtures.
