Lionel Ainsworth strikes again as in-form Motherwell beat Hearts

The winger fired a powerful low effort into the corner of the net in the 28th minute as Motherwell leapfrogged St Johnstone with a deserved win at Fir Park, their seventh in nine games.

St Johnstone's victory over Aberdeen on Friday night had given Hearts the chance to move five points off second place but they were flat for the opening half hour and struggled to get back in the game, with the hosts missing good chances to double their lead.

Motherwell looked sharper and hungrier from the start and exerted the early pressure. It took Hearts seven minutes to get out of their own half but they carved out a decent chance when they did so, Jamie Walker shooting wide on the break.

Motherwell continued to press Hearts into mistakes in their own half and looked lively in possession. They worked a good chance when Louis Moult laid it back for Chris Cadden, but the midfielder's shot was blocked by Prince Buaben.

Motherwell scored from the resulting throw-in. Scott McDonald squared the ball to Ainsworth, who wasted no time in firing the ball into the far bottom corner from 16 yards.

Hearts improved towards the end of the half but Motherwell maintained their attacking edge after the restart.

Marvin Johnson missed the chance to set up Moult for an open goal but the wide man did tee up Motherwell's top goalscorer on the hour mark. Moult hit the post, although he was adamant that Neil Alexander got a touch.

McDonald missed an even better opportunity five minutes later after robbing Buaben, shooting high and wide with only Alexander to beat and Moult inside him.

Craig Samson was handed his first start for Motherwell with Connor Ripley on the bench following illness and the former Kilmarnock goalkeeper earned a debut clean sheet when he produced an excellent dive to stop Callum Paterson volleying home Sam Nicholson's corner.

Johnson had a decent long-range strike saved after a brilliant piece of skill and Motherwell squandered another chance to hit Hearts on the break when McDonald lost possession.

But Stephen McManus ensured the three points with blocks on Juanma Delgado and substitute Gavin Reilly.