Attitude all wrong for the Jambos

Jim Jefferies was not in the best of moods after watching his side lose at Tynecastle and fall seven points behind the opposition. He criticised his players' attitude after the 2-0 reverse by Motherwell which, in reality, killed off any prospect of European football coming back to Gorgie next season. Hearts had hoped to capitalise on their home form as they had won four of their previous five games at Tynecastle to revive their hopes of finishing in the European places. But they failed to mount the comeback required in the second half and Motherwell could have added to their lead as they moved into fourth spot, seven points ahead of Hearts with a superior, by 13, goal difference .

Jefferies said: "We can't have any complaints. The two goals are set-plays again but I think overall Motherwell were worthy of being a couple of goals up. They were better than us at passing, they were better at holding the ball, they worked harder than us. They didn't make it as easy for us as we made it for them. They had two strikers who were prepared to battle for everything and give our defenders a torrid time. We didn't do that at the other end. In the middle of the park we were too far off them, when we lost possession they were breaking and we were nowhere to be seen. The second half we were better and got tighter but I told them the least we expect is a desire to win. We looked like a team that maybe settled for getting in the top six and that's not acceptable. It's not all over, they have to go and concentrate on trying to win the next three games, but they won't with application like that."