Claudio BragaSNS

Braga has scored four Premiership goals, more than any other Hearts player

At a glance

  • Braga header and Miller arrow gives Hearts rare away victory over Motherwell

  • Hearts solidify third place with only second win in past five

  • Motherwell enduring worst losing run in over two decades

Highlights: Motherwell v Hearts

25/10/26

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Andrew Petrie
BBC Sport Scotland

Calvin Miller's late goal sealed a hard-fought win for Hearts over Motherwell and secured their first win outside of Edinburgh in the Scottish Premiership since January.

In a tight game played amid the blustery winds of Storm Boelo, the Portuguese striker - who hasn't quite hit the heights of last season - scored the first goal, flicking a brilliant header past Alex Paulsen in the first half.

Motherwell pushed hard for a goal as the second half wore on, but Hearts also managed to weather that storm before substitute Miller drilled in from distance after 86 minutes.

It gives Wouter Vrancken just a second win in seven games as the Hearts head coach battles a lengthy injury list and a congested calendar.

As for Motherwell, who have their own growing injury list to contend with, they're now on their worst losing run in the league - six on the spin - since 2003 as new manager Alfred Johansson endures a rough start to life in Lanarkshire.

The Steelmen are just one point off bottom spot with two wins from 10 games and there will be an immense frustration that they didn't turn second-half pressure into anything tangible.

Hearts analysis: Visitors eke out win in exceptional circumstances

Hearts supporters were used to these kind of wins under Derek McInnes. Grit and determination, rather than blowing teams away like they did against St Mirren and Dundee United.

There was a long spell in the second half when a Motherwell equaliser felt inevitable. Given the late consolation against Nordsjaelland, and the recent wobble of form, fans would be forgiven for fearing the worst.

But this was a reminder of the team that went so close last season.

Of course, both teams had to play the conditions. But after a lengthy travel back from Turkey, in a trip where Hearts lost a further two full-backs in Harry Milne and Christian Borchgrevink, it was clear that the visitors had started to tire.

Rogers Mato, a speedy but rarely-seen winger, has now played at left-back and right-back, dealing with both Mo Salah and Ibrahim Said.

Braga looked back to his best, while Miller scored his 7th Hearts goal since signing in the summer.

It was a much-needed confidence boost after the 7-1 humbling by Celtic, and ahead of two enormous games - Rangers at Tynecastle on Wednesday, and Hibs at Hampden next Sunday.

FT momentum graphicOpta

Motherwell analysis: Same problems haunt Johansson as pressure mounts

Jens Berthel Askou was always going to be an impossible act to follow and it feels harsh to hold Motherwell's new gaffer to the same high standards.

Were it not for a few good saves from Beau Reus and some poor finishing, Johannson's men could have come away with victory.

They had a higher expected goals (xG) than Hearts, had far more touches in the opposition box, took their men on more and really dominated the second half.

But the reality is Motherwell have failed to score in five of their 10 games and no team has failed to do so more often in the Premiership this season.

They are badly lacking goals with only Kilmarnock and Hibernian - the two teams below them in the table - scoring fewer.

Tawanda Maswanhise has just one goal so far, following his 22-goal haul last season. They need others to step up while he recovers his form.

It's the Saints coming up next, St Johnstone through the week and St Mirren next weekend. With all due respect, those two fixtures would have been targeted at the start of the season.

What they said

'It's too easy' - Johansson on Motherwell box woes

Motherwell manager Alfred Johansson: "It certainly is not [a 2-0 game] based on the amount of chances the teams created. We did good things but it's in the boxes, it's in their box and our box that games get decided.

"We need to improve. It's me, it's the players, it's what we do on the training ground. One game changes a lot, one goal can change a lot so we have to keep on going."

Hearts head coach Wouter Vrancken: "It was a massive victory, a massive three points. Battling together and fighting together like this, I was happy to see it.

"There were moments where we played well but also moments, because of the circumstances, where it wasn't possible to have quality in the game then you have to fight together. When you see players out of position and doing the right things, you're happy to see that."

'A massive victory' - Vrancken

Player of the match

Cláudio Braga
8.31
45 E. Longelo
5.89
13 J. Kanga
5.59
19 I. Said
5.25
1 A. Paulsen
4.91
3 J. Girdwood-Reich
4.85
7 T. Sparrow
4.83
5 M. Moormann
4.78
6 J. McGhee
4.55
63 D. Levitt
4.54
47 S. Palmer-Houlden
4.52
71 J. Hodge
4.47
4 J. Knight-Lebel
4.39
18 T. Maswanhise
4.16
15 E. Björgólfs­son
3.56
2 S. O'Donnell
3.50
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