There were three changes to the Motherwell side that set out in the rain to build on an unbeaten record at Tynecastle. Saunders, Jones and Gunning took to the field at the expense of Hammell, Jennings and Humphrey.
Hearts kicked off facing the travelling fans and the early exchanges gave no indication of the final outcome of the match. We forced a couple of corners inside the first ten minutes and Hateley had a free kick from thirty yards but Kello was untroubled.
Hateley tries his luck in the first half
There was little to take Randolph’s attention at the other end until twenty odd minutes had passed. He reacted well to prevent a headed own goal from Gunning as the defender glance the ball goalward to give the ‘keeper his first action. Moments later Murphy was at the wrong end of a harsh booking from Willie Collum as his attempted clearance sliced against his arm. Somehow, the referee decided to view it as a deliberate hand ball.
We lost the opening goal when Saunders was penalised for a tug on Stevenson as a corner was delivered. Worse was to come ten minutes later when a neat give and go allowed Skacel to blast the ball high into Randolph’s net. We went into the break a couple behind and in trouble.
There was a huge let off within minutes of the restart when Stevenson’s shot from a tight angle rattled both posts before running to safety but the hosts got their third after 53 minutes when Stevenson headed into the net.
Few in the Motherwell end of the Roseburn Stand would have expected the fine fight back that was to unfold but the tide began to turn inside two minutes. Jones was the provider from the right wing and Sutton’s flying header at the far post gave us hope.
Ross came on for Saunders and we pushed to reduce the deficit further. The game opened up and flowed from end to end. Both Jones and Jeffers had long range efforts that tested Kello and we gained corners each time.
Hateley moved out to the far left wing to take an inswinging free kick and fired it towards the far post. No player got a touch and it whizzed inside the upright to reduce the margin to one with fifteen minutes remaining.
We came very close when Jones’ low effort struck the post but we had to survive a few scares at the other end. Randolph kept us in the game on a few occasions.
Sutton scored the equaliser (and his 50th in the SPL) with a couple of minutes to spare. This time Gunning delivered from the left and our hero got his head to it at the near post to send the Motherwell contingent into the air in celebration.
McCall was understandably proud of his team’s never-say-die attitude and he praised the players in his post-match interviews. Any season when we remain unbeaten at Tynecastle is a good one – and to go there three times and take five points to Hearts’ two is an excellent achievement. Today’s point will be remembered for many years.