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

The teams both ended tough runs of form with victories in their last league outing, beating Ross County and Dundee United respectively.

Match preview

After an impressive season last time out in which they finished third in the Scottish Premiership and booked a European spot, Hearts have experienced a much tougher start to the new campaign, with just four victories coming from their first 11 league outings.

The Jam Tarts' toughest spell came in October, as they went six games without a win across domestic and Europa Conference League action, with back-to-back defeats at the hands of Aberdeen and Celtic seeing them drop into the bottom half of the division, before Robbie Neilson's side at least managed to put a continental victory on the board, beating Rigas Futbola Skola 2-1 on home turf thanks to goals from Lawrence Shankland and Andy Halliday.

Shankland and Halliday were again on the scoresheet on their return to league action last weekend, as the Edinburgh outfit also made a returning to winning ways domestically, eventually triumphing 2-1 away at Ross County after going behind early in the contest.

They now come into Sunday's test on the back of a 3-1 defeat away Istanbul Basaksehir on Thursday, seeing them drop out of Europe's tertiary competition in third place in their group with six points from six matches.

Now able to fully focus on the Scottish Premiership having climbed back to sixth spot with last week's win, Neilson's side will look to build a strong run of form and move closer to the top end of the division with another triumph on Sunday, with third-placed Hibernian only three points ahead having played a game more than the Jam Tarts.

They take on a Motherwell side in a similar situation after the visitors also returned to winning ways last time out, following a mixed start to the campaign.

A 5-0 thrashing of Ross County in early October left Steven Hammell's side on 13 points from nine league games, even after a 3-0 defeat to Sunday's opponents on home turf, but they would go on to hit a tough run of form, losing their next three matches in the Premiership while also dropping out of the Scottish Cup following a 4-0 beating at the hands of Celtic.

Narrow defeats to Hibernian and Rangers, alongside their cup exit, were followed by a home contest against Aberdeen, and after Stuart McKinstry drew the Well level in the 55th minute, Luis Lopes would restore their visitors' lead and ensure they took all three points.

Vying to return to form after a quick drop down the league, Motherwell would travel to take on Dundee United last weekend, and they succeeded in putting three points on the board as Sondre Johansen netted the only goal of the game in the first half.

Having now moved up to seventh and with a degree of renewed confidence after bouncing back from their tough run, The Well will look to return the favour from earlier in the season and dish out a defeat to Hearts in order to leapfrog their opponents and move back into the top half.

Hearts Scottish Premiership form:

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Hearts form (all competitions):

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Motherwell Scottish Premiership form:

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Motherwell form (all competitions):

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Team News

Hearts continue to deal with an unenviable injury list, as midfielder Beni Baningime and attacker Liam Boyce are sidelined with long-term issues while Peter Haring and Gary Mackay-Steven will continue to miss out alongside centre-backs Kye Rowles and Craig Halkett.

Given those absentees, either Michael Smith or Alex Cochrane will again join Toby Sibbick in the middle of the defence, while Orestis Kiomourtzoglou will continue to play an important role at the base of midfield.

Lawrence Shankland will lead the line for Neilson's side, having already notched up eight league goals since arriving at Tynecastle Park in the summer, while the likes of Robert Snodgrass, Josh Ginnelly, Barrie McKay and Alan Forrest are fighting to feature in the other attacking spots.

Motherwell have a prolific striker of their own to lead their attack, with Kevin van Veen boasting seven Scottish Premiership goals so far this season, although he has failed to score in the last four games since hitting a hat-trick in the 5-0 beating of Ross County.

He could again be supported from the left-hand side by Leeds United loanee Stuart McKinstry, who has found the net twice in the last three games, while Sean Goss and Callum Slattery should continue their partnership in the engine room.

Hearts possible starting lineup:

Gordon; Atkinson, Sibbick, Cochrane, Halliday; Kiomourtzoglou, Grant, Devlin; Ginnelly, Shankland, McKay

Motherwell possible starting lineup:

Kelly; McGinn, Johansen, Lamie, Penney; Goss, Slattery; Shields, Spittal, McKinstry; Van Veen

We say: Hearts 2-1 Motherwell

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