Classic match: Motherwell 1, Hearts 4: Aug 28, 1976

Goalkeeper Brian Wilson played his part with a penalty save from Peter Marinello at a vital time.

Shortly after the interval "Super" Drew Busby scored No.4 and Hearts were home and dry.

Hearts had left out Sandy Burrell, who didn't feel too fit.

Brown came in at right back and the subs were Fraser and Shaw.

Motherwell full back Peter Millar was tasked with marking Bobby Prentice and it took both teams a while to settle.

The marking and tackling was so tight that the forwards found it very difficult to make progress.

Busby eventually tried a first-time shot which was deflected for a corner.

Hearts got another corner a minute later and Gallacher came up to head inches wide with Hunter at full stretch.

Clunie gave away another free kick right on the edge of the 18-yard line but Millar's fierce low shot flashed just wide.

Then Brown was penalised for a foul on Marinello, whose cross was fisted away by Wilson.

Hood put Motherwell ahead in 16 minutes.

Collecting a pass from Pettigrew, Hood smashed a tremendous right-foot shot into the corner of the net to give Wilson no chance.

But Hearts were behind for only a couple of minutes, although it took a bad defensive blunder by Motherwell to give them the equaliser.

Neither McVie nor Hunter could make up their mind who should go for a Brown lob.

While they were hesitating, Busby nipped in between them and headed over the advancing goalkeeper, pushing the ball into the empty net.

Drawing level so quickly was a great boost to Hearts and, five minutes later, Ralph Callachan gave them the lead with a 25-yard shot which appeared to be deflected on its way past Hunter.

Two minutes later Motherwell squandered a wonderful chance to equalise when the referee awarded a penalty kick after Jim Jefferies – destined to be Hearts manager in the 1990s – had handled.

Hearts protested strongly but the award stood and Wilson pulled off a tremendous save from Marinello's spot kick.

No wonder Wilson was mobbed by his delighted colleagues.

Hearts were in tremendous form, running the Motherwell defence ragged at times and, in 28 minutes, the man who is today the assistant to Mixu Paatelainen at Hibs, Donald Park, added a third goal after a lovely solo run in which he beat four defenders before beating Hunter with another low shot.

Hearts looked like adding to their lead at any moment.

Motherwell were shattered, with their defenders not knowing how to handle the Tynecastle forwards.

In 52 minutes, in almost their first attack since the interval, Hearts were awarded a penalty kick when Prentice, cutting in on goal, was brought down by Millar.

Busby made no mistake from the spot and Hearts were 4-1 up.

No wonder their fans were overjoyed and chanting for five.

In 57 minutes Shaw replaced Gibson.

Hearts were coasting now.

They knew they had booked their place in the knock-out stages with a tremendous display of exciting, entertaining football which thrilled their supporters and at the same time shattered Motherwell.

It was to be one of the high points worth recalling from a season that was destined to end in relegation to the First Division.

Motherwell: Hunter, Millar, Wark, Farrell, McVie, Stevens, Hood, Pettigrew, Graham, McLaren, Marinello.

Subs: O'Rourke, Davidson.

Hearts: Wilson, Brown, Kay, Jefferies, Gallacher, Clunie, Park, Busby, Gibson, Callachan, Prentice.

Subs: Fraser, Shaw.

Referee: C H Hutton, Dunfermline.

Attendance: 7874.

Taken from the Scotsman