Digressive Celts

Matches › 2025/26

Motherwell 1–1 Hearts

Saturday 9 May 2026, 20:00 · Fir Park · Round 36 · Half-time 1–1 · Referee Steven McLean · Attendance 12,306

Motherwell Kingsley 25' (og)

Hearts Shankland 43'

Post-match

Result and Expected Points

MotherwellHearts
Goals11
xG0.551.33
Expected Points0.682.02

Motherwell 13%Draw 30%Hearts 57%

Most likely score 0–1, 21%. Final score 1–1, 15%.

Hearts goalsMotherwell goals0123456+0123456+12%15%5%7%10%3%2%3%2%21%15%Final score

Own goals have no xG.

xG race

00.511.50153045607590HTKoutroumbis on for Said, 77'Hendry on for Maswanhise and Charles-Cook on for Just, 86'Kyziridis on for Leonard, 46'Kent on for Halkett, 63'Kaboré on for Braga, 72'McCart on for Kingsley and Devlin on for Spittal, 87'Kingsley 25' (og)Shankland 43'Hearts 1.33Motherwell 0.5500.511.50153045607590HTKoutroumbis on for Said, 77'Hendry on for Maswanhise and Charles-Cook on for Just, 86'Kyziridis on for Leonard, 46'Kent on for Halkett, 63'Kaboré on for Braga, 72'McCart on for Kingsley and Devlin on for Spittal, 87'Kingsley 25' (og)Shankland 43'1.330.55MotherwellHearts

Each side's xG added up shot by shot through the match. Triangles along the foot mark each side's substitutions.

Match stats

MotherwellHearts

0.55 −0.97xG1.33 −0.28
0.03 −1.52xG on target0.81 −1.02
8 −5Shots11 −4
1 −4.0Shots on target5 −0.1
0 −2.3Big chances3 +0.6
13 −13Touches in the opposition box30 +2
47% −12Possession53% −1
394 −148Passes439 +21
76% −9Pass accuracy74% −2
2 −1.9Corners6 +0.4
9 −6Tackles24 +7
11 +3.7Interceptions7 −1.7
35 +12Clearances20 −11
3 +0.2Saves1 −1.1
9 −3Fouls14 +3
4 +1.7Offsides1 −0.2

The small figure beside each value is its difference from the side's average per league match this season before this one.

Chance locations

Motherwell

Said 53', 0.25 xGMaswanhise 15', 0.05 xGO'Donnell 64', 0.05 xGKoutroumbis 83', 0.05 xGWatt 89', 0.05 xGWelsh 20', 0.04 xGMaswanhise 85', 0.04 xGSlattery 1', 0.02 xG0%0.00 xGSix-yard box: 0 shots, 0.00 xG, 0 goals65%0.36 xGCentral box: 4 shots, 0.36 xG, 0 goals7%0.04 xGWide in the box: 1 shot, 0.04 xG, 0 goals27%0.15 xGEdge of the box: 3 shots, 0.15 xG, 0 goals0%0.00 xGFurther out: 0 shots, 0.00 xG, 0 goals

Hearts

Kyziridis 76', 0.42 xGShankland 4', 0.38 xGAltena 4', 0.07 xGKaboré 75', 0.05 xGBraga 29', 0.04 xGShankland 65', 0.04 xGSteinwender 43', 0.03 xGAltena 75', 0.03 xGShankland 65', 0.02 xGBraga 70', 0.02 xGShankland 43', 0.24 xG, goal0%0.00 xGSix-yard box: 0 shots, 0.00 xG, 0 goals85%1.14 xGCentral box: 6 shots, 1.14 xG, 1 goal11%0.15 xGWide in the box: 3 shots, 0.15 xG, 0 goals2%0.03 xGEdge of the box: 1 shot, 0.03 xG, 0 goals1%0.02 xGFurther out: 1 shot, 0.02 xG, 0 goals

Each area's share of the side's xG from open play and set pieces, with the xG in it. The two wide areas of the box count together, as on the club pages. Shots shows each of those shots instead, sized by its xG, with goals filled in.

Chance types

MotherwellHearts

0.47 6 shots, 0 goalsOpen play1.23 8 shots, 1 goal
0.09 2 shots, 0 goalsSet pieces0.09 3 shots, 0 goals

xG by type of chance, with each side's shots and goals beside it.

Game state

Level
72 min (80%) · Motherwell 0.55, Hearts 1.02 xG
Motherwell ahead
18 min (20%) · Motherwell 0.00, Hearts 0.31 xG

Line-ups

1324574525209081821WardO'DonnellGordonWelshLongeloPriestmanWattSaidSlatteryMaswanhiseJustYellow card77'86'86'Motherwell 4-2-3-1Jens Berthel Askou251541923649316910SchwolowSteinwenderHalkettFindlayAltenaBaningimeLeonardKingsleySpittalShanklandBragaYellow cardYellow cardYellow cardOwn goalGoal63'46'87'87'72'Hearts 3-4-1-2Derek McInnes

Motherwell substitutes

  • 77' Koutroumbis for Said
  • 86' Hendry for Maswanhise
  • 86' Charles-Cook for Just

Hearts substitutes

  • 46' Kyziridis for Leonard
  • 63' Kent for Halkett
  • 72' Kaboré for Braga
  • 87' McCart for Kingsley
  • 87' Devlin for Spittal

Players

Motherwell

PlayerPosMinGAxGxAKPDef
WardGK900.000.0101
O'DonnellRB900.050.0006
GordonCB900.000.00016
WelshCB900.040.0007
LongeloLB900.000.1525
PriestmanDM900.000.0004
WattDM900.050.02010
SaidRW770.250.0100
SlatteryAM900.020.1814
MaswanhiseLW860.090.1410
Just ST860.000.1124
KoutroumbisDF130.050.0001
HendryFW40.000.0000
Charles-CookFW40.000.0000

Hearts

PlayerPosMinGAxGxAKPDef
SchwolowGK900.000.0000
Steinwender CB900.030.0203
HalkettCB630.000.0005
Findlay CB900.000.0805
Altena RWB900.100.0713
BaningimeCM900.000.0106
LeonardCM460.000.0914
KingsleyLWB870.000.0225
SpittalAM870.000.3934
ShanklandST9010.670.0410
BragaST720.060.0101
KyziridisMF440.420.0004
KentDF270.000.0007
KaboréFW180.050.0100
McCartDF30.000.0203
DevlinMF30.000.0302

Starters, then substitutes in the order they came on. KP is chances created and Def defensive actions (tackles, blocks, clearances, and interceptions).

Ratings

0.51.01.52.0League average 1.34AttackMotherwell1.37 → 1.34Hearts1.50 → 1.51Defence (lower is better)Motherwell1.23 → 1.25Hearts1.09 → 1.08

The goals each side would score (attack) and concede (defence) per game against an average team, from the forecast ratings before this matchday (ring) and after it (dot); a lower defence number is better. Grey dots are the other clubs after the matchday, spread up and down only so they don't overlap. The change takes in the whole matchday.

League probabilities

ChanceBeforeWith this resultChange
Hearts
Title59%56%−3
Celtic
Title40%42%+2

From the forecast before the match (9 May 2026): each chance then, and across the simulations in which the match ended this way. The change is in percentage points.

Pre-match

As things stood before kick-off.

Forecast

MotherwellHearts
Expected goals1.331.20
Win39%33%
Expected Points1.461.26
Clean sheet30%26%

Motherwell 39%Draw 28%Hearts 33%

Most likely score 1–1, 13%. Both sides score 52%.

Hearts goalsMotherwell goals0123456+0123456+9%9%6%2%8%3%7%8%5%2%3%4%2%1%1%10%13%

From the forecast as it stood on 9 May 2026: each side's attack and defence ratings in a Dixon–Coles score model, as on the Forecasts page.

League probabilities by result

ChanceNowMotherwell winDrawHearts win
Hearts
Title59%43%56%81%
Celtic
Title40%55%42%19%

Each chance before the match and across the simulations ending in each result. Other teams are listed where a chance moves by at least 3 percentage points.

Form

Motherwell

  1. L0–12 MayFalkirk (A)xG 1.33–2.42
  2. W3–226 AprRangers (A)xG 0.76–2.70
  3. L1–311 AprHearts (A)xG 2.21–1.74
  4. L2–34 AprFalkirk (H)xG 1.46–2.06
  5. D0–021 MarHibernian (H)xG 0.44–0.60
  6. L1–314 MarCeltic (A)xG 0.64–2.12

Hearts

  1. W2–14 MayRangers (H)xG 0.76–0.82
  2. W2–126 AprHibernian (A)xG 1.83–0.54
  3. W3–111 AprMotherwell (H)xG 1.74–2.21
  4. D2–25 AprLivingston (A)xG 1.87–2.00
  5. W1–021 MarDundee FC (H)xG 1.64–0.56
  6. L0–114 MarKilmarnock (A)xG 1.06–1.27

The last six league matches, newest first, with xG for and against.

Season to date

MotherwellHearts
Position4th1st
Played3535
Won, drawn, lost15–⁠12–⁠823–⁠7–⁠5
Points57 (1.63 per game)76 (2.17 per game)
Expected Points per game1.581.70
Goals55–⁠3262–⁠30
xG per game1.52–⁠1.251.61–⁠1.05
Home: points, xG per game2.06, 1.67–⁠0.802.56, 1.65–⁠0.97
Away: points, xG per game1.22, 1.37–⁠1.671.76, 1.57–⁠1.14
ManagerJens Berthel Askou (35)Derek McInnes (35)

League matches this season before kick-off. The manager's number is league matches in charge since 2020/21.

Ratings

0.51.01.52.0League average 1.34AttackMotherwell1.37, 4thHearts1.50, 3rdDefence (lower is better)Motherwell1.23, 5thHearts1.09, 3rd

This season

Attack0.51.01.52.0SepOctNovDecJanFebMarAprMayMotherwell attack: 1.37Hearts attack: 1.501.501.37HeartsMotherwellDefence (lower is better)0.51.01.52.0SepOctNovDecJanFebMarAprMayMotherwell defence: 1.23Hearts defence: 1.091.231.09

The goals each side would score (attack) and concede (defence) per game against an average team, from the forecast ratings before this matchday, with their rank among the league's clubs; a lower defence number is better. Grey dots are the other clubs, spread up and down only so they don't overlap.

Strengths and weaknesses

MotherwellHearts
CreatedConcededCreatedConceded
Open play+23%−7%+11%−16%
Counter-attacks−16%−9%+8%−17%
Set pieces−36%−28%+26%−27%
Penalties+58%−1%−1%−100%
Headers−25%−18%+26%−12%
Left side+29%−13%+17%−5%
Centre−28%−9%+22%−30%
Right side+42%−23%−3%−10%

xG created and conceded per game against the league average this season: +24% is 24% more than an average side. Left and right are each side's own, so chances conceded on its left come from opponents attacking down their right. Green favours the side and amber doesn't.

Matchups

Motherwell attacking

Motherwell createdHearts concededLeft side+29%−10%Centre−28%−30%Right side+42%−5%Open play+23%−16%Counter-attacks−16%−17%Set pieces−36%−27%Headers−25%−12%

Hearts attacking

Hearts createdMotherwell concededLeft side+17%−23%Centre+22%−9%Right side−3%−13%Open play+11%−7%Counter-attacks+8%−9%Set pieces+26%−28%Headers+26%−18%

Each side's xG created per game down each side of the pitch, through the centre, and from each type of chance, against what its opponent concedes there, both relative to the league average.

Season averages

MotherwellHearts

1.52xG1.61
1.25xG against1.05
59%Possession54%
13.3Shots14.5
10.9Shots against10.0
5.0Shots on target5.1
2.3Big chances2.4
26.0Touches in the opposition box27.9
542Passes418
85%Pass accuracy76%
3.9Corners5.6
63%Field tilt60%
50.3Final-third entries40.7
16.0Box entries12.3
13.0Passes per defensive action11.8

Per league match this season before kick-off. Field tilt, entries, and passes per defensive action cover 33 and 33 of those matches.

Game state this season

Motherwell

StateMinutes per gamexG per 90xG against per 90
Level501.241.24
Ahead281.791.22
Behind132.001.34

Hearts

StateMinutes per gamexG per 90xG against per 90
Level441.361.00
Ahead301.891.19
Behind161.780.92

xG by period

Motherwell

MinutesxG per gamexG againstGoals
1–150.120.103–3
16–300.250.1713–3
31–450.250.219–3
46–600.320.1512–4
61–750.250.335–11
76–900.320.2813–8

Hearts

MinutesxG per gamexG againstGoals
1–150.190.144–5
16–300.260.1212–7
31–450.260.178–5
46–600.320.1912–6
61–750.180.1810–2
76–900.400.2516–5

Per game this season, with stoppage time counted in its half; goals are totals for and against.

Most used players by position

Motherwell

GKRBCBCBLBDMDMRWAMLWSTWard 35O'Donnell 14Koutroumbis 10Sparrow 9McGinn 31Gordon 8O'Donnell 6Welsh 24Longelo 25Koutroumbis 5O'Donnell 3Fadinger 30Priestman 9Just 3Watt 25Slattery 2Maswanhise 15Said 11Just 3Just 14Slattery 10Watt 5Slattery 10Said 8Just 6Maswanhise 15Stamatelopoulos 9Hendry 74-2-3-1 in 23 of 35 starts

Formations: 4-2-3-1 (23), 4-3-3 (5), 4-1-3-2 (2), 4-4-2 (2), 4-4-1-1 (1), 4-3-2-1 (1), 3-1-4-2 (1)

Hearts

GKRBCBCBLBRMCMCMLMSTSTSchwolow 29Clark 4Gordon 2McEntee 15Steinwender 12Altena 4Halkett 29Kent 4Steinwender 3Findlay 30McCart 3Shankland 1Milne 16Kingsley 12McCart 3Kyziridis 8Milne 7Braga 4Baningime 15Leonard 11McEntee 7Devlin 23Spittal 5Kyziridis 21Braga 5Spittal 3Shankland 23Kaboré 11Findlay 1Braga 23Magnússon 4Baningime 14-4-2 in 15 of 35 starts

Formations: 4-4-2 (15), 4-2-3-1 (10), 3-5-2 (3), 4-3-3 (2), 3-4-3 (1), 3-4-1-2 (1), 4-1-3-2 (1), 4-4-1-1 (1), 5-4-1 (1)

This season's most used formation, with up to three players who started most often in each position and their league starts there. Underneath, when a side has used more than one, every formation with its starts.

Head to head

DateHomeAwayxG
11 April 2026Hearts3–1MotherwellxG 1.74–2.21
29 November 2025Motherwell0–0HeartsxG 0.58–0.41
23 August 2025Hearts3–3MotherwellxG 2.21–1.52
10 May 2025Hearts3–0MotherwellxG 0.52–0.42
12 April 2025Motherwell0–0HeartsxG 0.27–1.12
2 January 2025Hearts1–0MotherwellxG 1.97–1.25

17 league meetings since 2020/21: Motherwell won 5, Hearts won 9, and 3 were drawn. Goals 17–26 and xG 1.37–1.46 per game.

Key players

Motherwell

PlayerStartsMinGAxG per 90xA per 90
Stamatelopoulos9868620.890.08
Maswanhise322,6141720.470.08
Just292,455770.230.24
Slattery232,091380.170.23

Hearts

PlayerStartsMinGAxG per 90xA per 90
Kaboré131,081520.540.16
Braga322,7241430.470.11
Shankland252,2301430.440.14
Kyziridis302,597460.190.27

Up to four players a side with the most xG plus xA per 90 minutes, from those with at least 450 league minutes.