Scottish League
2007-09-03 - Motherwell vs Hearts
A Sports Betting Pick by Chappers
KickOff 7.45pm
Monday night Scottish football takes us to Fir Park to see Motherwell take on lowly Hearts.
A win for Motherwell and they could go at least third and even higher if Celtic fail to beat St Mirren and as such this is a big game for Motherwell, but with their awful start its even a bigger game for Hearts.
Head to Head
Hearts like going to Fir Park and have won on their last two visits and are unbeaten in their last three trips.
However previous to that Motherwell had been themselves unbeaten at home to Hearts in six games and until the wins last season you would have to go back to 2002 for the last Hearts wins.
Mar07: Motherwell 0 Hearts 2
Sep06: Motherwell 0 Hearts 1
Nov05: Motherwell 1 Hearts 1
Feb05: Motherwell 2 Hearts 0
Feb05: Motherwell 3 Hearts 2 (League Cup)
Aug04: Motherwell 2 Hearts 0
Apr04: Motherwell 1 Hearts 1
Sep03: Motherwell 1 Hearts 1
Dec02: Motherwell 6 Hearts 1
Mar02: Motherwell 1 Hearts 2
Played 10: Motherwell won 4, Draw 3, Hearts won 3
Current Form
Motherwell (5th) 9 points from 4 games
Motherwell have started this season SPL in great form and other than a last minute winner for Kilmarnock they would be unbeaten so far this season and last season 10th position seems a distant memory at the moment.
However in saying that it did take two late goals of their own to beat Inverness. I think the start that Motherwell have had will give them hopes of a top 6 finish for the first time since 2005.
However in saying that they haven’t really played any really all that decent so far and this would have been the first real hard game of the season if it was the Hearts of old they are playing, however this isn’t the case.
Motherwell 3 Raith Rovers 1 (SLC)
Gretna 1 Motherwell 2 (SPL)
Motherwell 1 Kilmarnock 2 (SPL)
Motherwell 2 Inverness 1 (SPL)
St Mirren 0 Motherwell 1 (SPL)
Hearts (10th) 2 points from 4 games
It has been a shocking start for Hearts this season and for a team that would have been hoping for at least a top four finish its not good enough.
Most people will know of the problems at Hearts with what appears to be the maddest chairman in football running the show. I’ve seen Hearts once this season and they were awful in their opening game v Hibs in the Edinburgh derby.
Craig Gordon has moved down south to Sunderland and I think he is a big miss for hearts. They have just replaced him with a new keeper so they will hope that this will bring them new luck after already conceding eight goals in four games this season, all be it shipping in five away to Celtic.
Stirling 0 Hearts 2 (SLC)
Celtic 5 Hearts 0 (SPL)
Hearts 1 Gretna 1 (SPL)
Aberdeen 1 Hearts 1 (SPL)
Hearts 0 Hibs 1 (SPL)
The Verdict
The start to the season could not have been more different for these two teams. Motherwell flying high and with a chance to move into the top three after this weekends games and Hearts looking to start their season after only picking up two points so far.
So this game is already vital for Hearts and also important for Motherwell in order to keep their great start goings. So I’m hoping for a good open game as both teams go for the win.
Its one of those games early in the season that could either way but I’m going to stick my neck out and pick Motherwell to win as I think that at home and with the start that Hearts have had they should have the edge in what I also think will be a close game
