Anger management

Hearts 2 Motherwell 1

MAURICE Malpas now has an idea of what he has let himself in for by becoming Terry Butcher's assistant manager at Motherwell. At full- time yesterday his job involved trying to save Butcher from himself, cajoling his demonstrative manager away from the confrontation he wanted with referee Mike McCurry.

Butcher was calmness personified by the time he came out to discuss the match, but he went through his repertoire during the play itself. A fall-out with Craig Levein, his opposite number, a ticking- off, thumping the perspex roof of the away dug-out ... the afternoon had it all. His face and reaction, on learning there would be only two minutes' injury time for his team to save the game, when he wanted five, was a picture.

There was a time when Butcher's brow, neck and shirt would have been saturated with blood at the end of any gruelling encounter. It must be harder when he feels sore and wounded but the bruises are psychological. Motherwell's defeat, coupled with Dundee United's victory over Dunfermline, brought Butcher's team back down to joint- bottom of the Premierleague last night and off 12th place only on goal difference.

They contributed massively to an uncomfortable afternoon for Hearts and would probably have departed with at least a point had Jean-Louis Valois been punished, as he ought to have been, for bringing down James McFadden in the penalty area just before half- time. "I have nothing to say about the referee..." said Butcher but he left the sentence hanging, pregnant with menace.

He and Levein had bawled each other out moments after Kevin McKenna had given Hearts their first-half lead. It had taken one of Alan Maybury's inner demons to provide the match with the colour it retained until the end.

Maybury had body-checked Stephen Pearson when the Motherwell midfielder flicked the ball past him in no-man's land. Pearson crumpled to the ground, injured, but Maybury was incensed and stormed over him waving an accusatory finger, all Roy Keane and Alf Inge Haaland.

Maybury continued his admonishment when Pearson lifted himself up and moved away, finally breaking McCurry's patience. By now the wildfire had spread and Levein and Butcher were exchanging four- letter opinions in the space - it seems about six inches - which separates the dug outs at Tynecastle. The spot is so congested that fourth official Cammy Melville must have felt Butcher's breath in one ear and Levein's in the other.

Maybury received a deserved booking for instigating the whole episode, Pearson got one too, and then Levein and Butcher were made to stand at the front of the class and take a ticking off.

"I have had many good exchanges with Craig in the past," said Butcher, displaying affection for his counterpart where there was none for McCurry. "Craig's a winner as well. He's a great guy."

And what about thumping the dug out? "If I had hit it properly it would have been in bits..." That said, there was a crack in it and Motherwell cannot afford to go around vandalising other folks' property.

Hearts held it together and maintained their impressive record of having lost only once at home, to Dundee, other than to the Old Firm this season. This match may have drifted away from them had Motherwell made more of the chances they created in a resurgent spell of second-half play which brought their equaliser.

Hearts' opener and Motherwell's equaliser were excellent. Scott Severin and Gary Wales funneled the ball from the right to McKenna in the centre and his run and wonderful rising shot flew past Francois Duburdeau from 25 yards.

The lead was merited, but Motherwell - having sparkled in the first half with a slaloming McFadden run through three defenders then his elegant free-kick to the top corner, saved by Tepi Moilanen - played forcefully after the interval and were level within seven minutes. Stephen Pearson played the ball across the edge of the crowded Hearts penalty area where it was flicked on by Shaun Fagan for Keith Lasley. David Clarkson, 17, was the most eye-catching of Motherwell's battalion of kids, but it was Lasley who showed class to touch the ball over Valois and free himself to lash a volley past Tepi Moilanen. Butcher was on his toes, sensing that Motherwell might take three points from Hearts as they had in their remarkable 6-1 victory at Fir Park in December. But yesterday's match, unlike the sides' other previous encounter this season, won 4-2 by Hearts in September, would bring only one further goal.

McFadden reached the touchline and provided a cutback for Pearson to turn in a shot saved low by Moilanen, then the iconic forward ought to have done more with a chance after defensive carelessness from Valois and Stephen Simmons.

Motherwell's finest opportunity, though, fell to McFadden, still as erratic as he is exciting. When Clarkson's header fell for him the moment demanded composure, of which he is capable, but this time he lashed a shot high.

Instead the winner fell to Hearts, through Levein's astute reading of the play. Seeking to shore up his midfield, he replaced Simmons with Valois and switched Phil Stamp from the right to left wing.

"I wanted to change where the game was being played," said Levein, who admitted Motherwell's earlier penalty claim was sound. His tinkering worked perfectly.

With 19 minutes remaining, Stamp's surging run and firm cross was smashed into the net from a yard by Simmons.

Malpas will know to pack a lasso and straitjacket next time.

Copyright 2003 SMG Sunday Newspapers Ltd.
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