Preview: Hearts vs Motherwell – prediction, team news, lineups.

Hearts will look to extend their perfect start to the Scottish Premiership season when they face Motherwell on matchday three on Saturday.

The hosts have won their first two league matches, while the visitors have drawn their first two Scottish Premiership games.

Match preview

 

Hearts had a difficult 2024-25 season, falling from three consecutive European podium finishes to seventh place in the standings.

Liam Fox took over as interim manager at the end of the previous season, with former Kilmarnock manager Derek McInneshire taking over as permanent manager this season.

Under McInnes’ leadership, the Jambos have made a strong start to the new season, winning six and losing only one of their seven competitive fixtures.

Their only defeat came on penalties against St Mirren after a 1-1 draw in the second round of the Scottish League Cup.

McInnes’ side now faces Motherwell, hoping to bounce back from that defeat and maintain their perfect start to the Scottish Premiership season, having defeated Aberdeen 2-0 and Dundee United 3-2.

The Steelmen also had a managerial change over the summer, as Michael Wimmer left the club to return to Germany, leaving Jens Berthel Askou in charge.

Askou led the team to three wins and one draw in the Scottish League Cup group stage, followed by two consecutive draws to begin the league season.

 

The Steelmen’s stalemate in the second round of the Scottish League Cup continued in normal time when they were taken to extra time by St Johnstone, who won thanks to a Lukas Fadinger goal.

Askou will now be desperate for his team to build on their late victory over the Saints and earn their first three points of the season.

Motherwell has struggled in recent visits to Tynecastle Park, losing all three of their away games against Hearts.

Hearts Scottish Premiership form:

 

W W

 

Hearts form (all competitions):

 

D W W W W W

 

Motherwell Scottish Premiership form:

 

D D

 

Motherwell form (all competitions):

 

W D D W W W

 

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Team News

 

 

Calem Nieuwenhof, Craig Gordon, Finlay Pollock, Jamie McCart, and Kenneth Vargas are among the Hearts players who will miss this match due to injuries.

Stuart Findlay has had an impressive start to the season for the Jambos, scoring three of Hearts’ five league goals, and McInnes will be hoping for more of the same this Saturday.

Filip Stuparevic, Jordan McGhee, Sam Nicholson, and Zach Robinson will all miss Saturday’s match for Motherwell due to injuries.

Fadinger scored the winning goal for the Steelmen in their Scottish League Cup second round match, and the midfielder is expected to retain his place alongside Elliot Watt.

Hearts’ possible starting lineup:

Clark; Kent, Halkett, Findlay; Forrest, McEntee, Devlin, Spittal, and Milne; Shankland, Braga Motherwell’s possible

starting lineup:u

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