GLASGOW (AFP) - Ibrahim Tall kept Scottish Premiership outfit Hearts' hopes of earning a place in the Champions League next season alive on Monday as he scored one of their two goals in a 2-0 win at Motherwell.

Hearts victory saw them stay in fourth place, seven points off second-placed Rangers, who hold the last Champions League spot.

It was hardly an affair to gladden the heart of the neutral fan with eight players booked.

However Tall's first-half effort and a second-half own goal by Stephen Craigan was enough to see Hearts - whose players have managed to keep a challenge for the Champions League place on course despite numerous off the field shenanigans - past relegation-threatened Motherwell.

Tall headed home in the 37th minute from Ghanaian international Laryea Kingston's corner.

It was Kingston - who was much missed by Ghana at the World Cup finals when he was serving a suspension received at the African Nations Cup - again at the centre of affairs when his cross saw Northern Irishman Craigan head an own goal past Graeme Smith after 68 minutes.

Kingston also saved his side when he headed off the line.

Hearts' victory gave interim head coach Anatoly Korobochka - who stepped in last week amid the uncertainty over Valdas Ivanauskas, who has been away from the club for more than a fortnight on "football business" - the dream start to what has become one of the most precarious jobs in the sport.