Davies injury ends a wretched night as Motherwell's work-rate fails to pay Hearts keep up pressure in chase for Europe slot

This win, which kept intact their unbeaten league record since the winter break, also hoisted Hearts into fifth place, only two points behind the home side, whose grasp on the third spot is now looking precarious.

Only one league win in five attempts since their sojourn in Portugal, allied to their third successive home league defeat, does not point to European competition next term, yet Motherwell have played a deal worse and won this season.

For a long time at Fir Park last night they had more of the play, and were more of an attacking force than Hearts, except at the crucial stage, when the ball had to be put in the net.

In that department, Hearts taught them a lesson.

Seemingly content, although their management pair on the bench were anything but, to soak up the home attacks, the Edinburgh team proved lethal twice, once in each half, to douse the 'Well flame.

Their front two, Darren Jackson and Gary Wales, were threatening every time they were involved and it was fitting that they did the damage.

Jackson scored a fine goal right on half time and Wales took advantage of sloppy defending to add the second 15 minutes after the break.

Completing a wretched night for Motherwell, John Davies, their most effective player, was taken off with a neck injury eight minutes from the end. ''John was concussed and is away to the hospital for an overnight stay.'' said his brother, manager Billy Davies.

''He has some neck problems, but I don't really know the situation apart from that.''

Davies is not convinced that the result is crucial in the race for the UEFA Cup place

''There are 13 games still to go and this game has no bearing on what happens. There's still a very long way to go. We worked hard for the first 45 minutes and we could have been in front, so I was disappointed to go behind after doing so well.

''As soon as we lost the second goal we knew it was not going to be our night, but we should have been two or three in front by then.''

Hearts manager Jim Jefferies acknowledged that argument:

''I thought we played better on Saturday at Kilmarnock when we drew. Motherwell started

the game better and we got away with things in the first 25

minutes.

''We didn't get into the game until Wales made Andy Goram make a save but we showed character in the second half and we were solid all round. Once we had scored the second goal there was just no way back for Motherwell.''

Early on Motherwell had belied their recent mediocre form with sprightly play which had the Edinburgh team back-pedalling on a regular basis, with Davies running the show from his midfield beat.

In fact, the first shot worthy of the name came from Davies, a low effort that Antti Niemi clutched confidently.

The former Ayr United player should have done better a little later after he turned brilliantly on a good ball into the box by Stephen McMillan. He did the hard bit well, but then sent his shot, albeit in a hurry, across the front of goal and past the far post.

Thomas Flogel did relieve the Hearts fans' frustration with a fair shot, but Andy Goram got down to it in style.

Then it was Davies again. With his back to goal, he hit an overhead kick just outside the post.

The best chance of the lot fell to Don Goodman, put through by Lee McCulloch, but he hit the ball past the outrushing Niemi and also past the post.

Hearts, though, were beginning to get their attack going and they brought out a superb save from Goram after a Flogel cross was firmly headed by Wales, who was defied by the hands of the keeper beating away his effort.

It was Niemi's turn then to come up with a magnificent stop after a fine one-two between Adams and Goodman was finished with a great strike by the Englishman.

Jackson had been his usual irrepressible self and had been getting plenty of stick from the Motherwell fans as he went down on a few occasions from tough challenges.

It was typical, then, that just on the break, he latched on to a Simpson cross, twisted inside McMillan, and hit his shot away from Goram.

The Tynecastle team struck again in 60 minutes, thanks to a bit of slapstick defending.

Hearts had mounted a good attack which eventually manoeuvred to the far side, where Pressley touched the ball ahead of Flogel.

When the Austrian's cross came over, Corrigan and Valakari both attempted to clear, the ball spun up in the air and landed in front of Wales, who had an easy job to beat Goram.

Motherwell: Goram, Corrigan, McMillan, McGowan, Kemble, Valakari, Adams, Davies, Townsley, Goodman, McCulloch. Substitutes: Nicholas, Nevin, Craigan, Woods, Harvey.

Hearts: Niemi, Murray, Naysmith, Leclercq, Pressley, Flogel, Tomaschek, Cameron, Simpson, Jackson, Wales. Substitutes: Rousset, McSwegan, Adam, Makel, Severin.

Referee: J McCluskey.