Hearts stay top of Premiership thanks to victory over Motherwell

Substitute Landry Kabore’s late contribution helped ensure Hearts will go into the split on top of the William Hill Premiership after the leaders came from behind to beat Motherwell 3-1 at Tynecastle.

Lawrence Shankland converted an 88th-minute penalty to put Hearts in front after Stephen Welsh was penalised by referee Matthew MacDermid following a VAR review.

The Motherwell defender had accidentally caught the grounded Kabore in the head with his boot as he attempted to clear following a corner.

Kabore then fired the ball inside Calum Ward’s near post in a stoppage-time counter-attack.

Hearts had twice drawn with Motherwell this season and it seemed for long spells that the Steelmen would deliver another blow to the leaders’ title hopes.

Emmanuel Longelo opened the scoring for the visitors in the 50th minute and they squandered several clear chances to regain the lead after Claudio Braga levelled.

But Hearts capitalised on some late pressure to move three points clear at the top. Rangers can cut the gap to a point when they travel to Falkirk on Sunday.

Hearts had Stuart Findlay back in central defence after a six-week lay-off while Blair Spittal and Beni Baningime came into the midfield.

Motherwell were unchanged in personnel following a fourth game without victory but there was a change of set-up. Tawanda Maswanhise was back on the right wing and Longelo was playing in left midfield with Ibrahim Said and Elijah Just tasked with getting forward from central midfield.

Maswanhise delivered a couple of dangerous balls from his wide position as Motherwell enjoyed control of possession early on.

Hearts began to hem their visitors in, sitting off Calum Ward in possession and generally winning the ball when the goalkeeper went long. The only real chance they created from their pressure came from corners and Ward pulled off an excellent stop from Oisin McEntee’s header.

Hearts goalkeeper Alexander Schwolow made smart stops from Elliot Watt and Said as Motherwell pieced some flowing moves together just before the half-hour mark.

Spittal came close from 22 yards following a clever free-kick move but Motherwell started brightly after the interval and cut Hearts open as Maswanhise’s ball from the right eventually found Longelo to knock home.

Motherwell threatened to add to their lead. Maswanhise almost got on a low cross from Longelo and then fired just wide after being set up by Just.

But Hearts were level in the 61st minute when Braga hooked the ball into the net with his back to goal after Findlay had headed Spittal’s deep corner into the goalmouth.

The home side faced an anxious wait to see if McEntee had been offside before getting in the way of Motherwell defender Paul McGinn’s attempts to block.

Kabore sent a free header wide from another corner but the visitors soon missed several better opportunities to regain the lead.

Longelo shot wide after being set up by Maswanhise again, Just steered Longelo’s cross wide and then Maswanhise missed a glorious chance after doing the hard part by leaving Craig Halkett and McEntee lying in his wake.

The game turned in Hearts’ favour in the closing stages though and Hearts will travel across Edinburgh to face Hibernian on April 26 knowing they can take another step closer to the title.