Motherwell's winless run stretched to five matches after a 2-0 defeat to Heart of Midlothian at McDiarmid Park on Sunday night. The result leaves the Steelmen 10th in the Premiership with just eight points from nine games, having recorded only two wins and two draws all season. They now find themselves a significant 16 points behind league leaders Celtic.
Cláudio Braga opened the scoring for the visitors in the 29th minute, finishing from a Sabah Kerjota assist. Motherwell controlled 53% of possession and had 17 attempts but could not find a way past Hearts keeper Reus, who made five saves. Calvin Miller sealed the points for Hearts with a second goal four minutes from time.
Key Moments
Braga's strike came against the run of play after a bright start from the hosts. Miller's late finish, after coming on as a substitute, ended any hope of a comeback. The club's form has now deteriorated to five consecutive defeats, with the team scoring 11 goals but conceding 16 for a negative five goal difference this campaign.
The team's recent fixtures have been tough, with this loss following a 3-2 defeat at Kilmarnock on Saturday 17 October and a 2-0 reverse against Celtic. The poor run also includes losses to Dundee and Aberdeen in September. Alex Lowry, who scored in the Kilmarnock match, remains the club's top scorer this campaign with three goals in nine appearances. Next up is a key away match against St Johnstone this Wednesday 28 October. St Johnstone sit two places above Motherwell in eighth, making it a significant opportunity to halt the slide. The game at McDiarmid Park kicks off at 15:00.
Motherwell manager Alfred Johansson said the international break allowed his squad to reset. "We used that time to work on the training pitch," Johansson stated. The team's winless run now stands at five consecutive defeats. They sit 10th in the Premiership with eight points from ten games. Their next match is at home to Heart of Midlothian on Sunday.
Alfred Johansson vowed his side will turn their form around after the 2-0 loss to Hearts marked a sixth straight league defeat, the club's worst such run since 2003. The manager said, "It's a question of time before we turn this around." Motherwell, 10th with eight points from ten games, face St Johnstone on Wednesday 28 October.
Manager Alfred Johansson said his side must improve in both boxes to end their losing run. "These things tend to go negatively as a snowball, then boom, the confidence comes," Johansson stated. The 2-0 loss to Hearts on October 25 was their sixth straight league defeat, the club's worst run since 2003. Motherwell, 10th with eight points from ten games, travel to face St Johnstone on Wednesday 28 October.
