Source: Team_Talk
Jefferies questions Jambos' heart
Hearts slipped 11 points behind the Lanarkshire men, who took just 13 minutes to effectively seal the Scottish Premier League contest.[LNB]Mark Reynolds headed home in the second minute after Hearts failed to pick up Jim O'Brien at a short corner and the unmarked John Sutton soon finished off Keith Lasley's cross.[LNB]Hearts stemmed the tide but the destiny of the points was never in question and substitute David Templeton's 70th-minute consolation merely kept the scoreline respectable moments after O'Brien had lashed home a third.[LNB]Jefferies said: "The first 20 minutes was just disgraceful. We switched off at a corner - and it was a give-away corner in the first place - and we slept when the ball came out short, something we talked about. When the ball came in we didn't contest it.[LNB]"I thought the second goal was worse. We didn't track Lasley and how one of their main strikers can be eight yards out with nobody near him...[LNB]"In that 20-minute period it was schoolboy stuff. There were a few choice words at half-time because we never showed the commitment and will to win.[LNB]"We spoke about how well they have been playing, what we should have is the passion and desire. We knew we had the chance to get closer to the teams above us.[LNB]"There was no way we could have won that - Motherwell were quicker, sharper, their application was better. The second half was a bit of an improvement."[LNB]Motherwell manager Craig Brown had challenged his side to prove that Tuesday's disappointing display in the goalless draw at St Mirren was down to his selection and tactics.[LNB]And they responded emphatically with one of their best performances of the season with Jamie Murphy and O'Brien running Hearts ragged.[LNB]"On Tuesday night we weren't at our best and we were fortunate to get a draw," Brown said. "I warned them, I would take the responsibility for changing the team and the shape but they have got to prove today it was my fault and not theirs.[LNB]"But had I played the strongest team we might not have been as fresh today. It's a judgement that you make and we got four points."[LNB]We are now unbeaten in 12 SPL games and only Templeton's goal stopped them moving into third place on goal difference.[LNB]"I think it would take a disaster if we're not in the top six now," Brown said.[LNB]"We've got a good chance with position five consolidated and you never know how we'll get on.[LNB]"We started the first half exceptionally well, a third one wouldn't have flattered us at half-time but you know Jim Jefferies' teams will always battle.[LNB]"They came out with a different attitude so we had to dig out the second half."[LNB][LNB]
