Motherwell boss Mark McGhee felt his team's comeback from two down at Hearts had provided a worthy tribute to Phil O'Donnell in their first game since the former skipper's death.
A Chris Porter double secured a Scottish Cup fourth-round replay at Fir Park on January 22, with a home tie against Huntly or Dundee as the potential reward.
Motherwell took time to get going on a frosty pitch and Deividas Cesnauskis put Hearts ahead within 10 minutes. But Porter made it 2-2 with 12 minutes left to lift the 3,500 travelling fans following a difficult fortnight.
"We came here determined to enjoy it regardless of the result," McGhee said.
"There was a big crowd, our crowd were brilliant, I just wanted it be a football match worthy of a Scottish Cup tie. I think everybody went home with their money's worth.
"Obviously we made it difficult for ourselves going two behind but even at 2-0 I said to Scott Leitch 'there is still something here for us'."
McGhee admired his team's spirit, which has been evident since O'Donnell collapsed with heart failure in the game against Dundee United on December 29.
He said: "Firstly they showed the ability they have, they didn't do it just by launching it, they did it by passing it. Some of the play aside from the goals was excellent.
"But one of the things I have seen over the last couple of weeks that I didn't know before is that they are a group of guys who are great mates, not just colleagues.
"I have seen them reacting and interacting to each other in the circumstances and they have been brilliant."
McGhee hailed the performance of Ross McCormack, who is attracting interest from other clubs. But the Well boss denied Middlesbrough had made contact with Motherwell following reports the striker was set for talks with the Barclays Premier League club.
Despite being unhappy with several decisions immediately before Hearts' second goal, McGhee refused to blame the referee. Stuart Dougal stopped play when David Clarkson was moving into the Hearts box with the ball to allow treatment for Christophe Berra, who had been winded by a shot.
Clarkson was then penalised for a soft foul on Jose Goncalves after the Hearts full-back contested the drop ball and Andrius Velicka latched on to the long free-kick to make it two.
"I was unhappy with our defending," McGhee said.
Hearts caretaker boss Stephen Frail agreed the game was an appropriate return for Motherwell but was disappointed his side had not finished off the contest, as they extended their run without a win to 10 games.
"After the last couple of weeks we wanted a cracking cup tie and the players produced that," said Frail, who lost Cesnauskis and Andrew Driver to injury late in the game.
"There were signs of a tiny bit of progress because I thought for 65 minutes we were excellent, but I'm disappointed with the manner of the goals we lost.
"We created a lot of chances. Probably the best was the (Audrius) Ksanavicius header, and they went up the park and scored their first goal."
Motherwell took time to get going on a frosty pitch and Deividas Cesnauskis put Hearts ahead within 10 minutes. But Porter made it 2-2 with 12 minutes left to lift the 3,500 travelling fans following a difficult fortnight.
"We came here determined to enjoy it regardless of the result," McGhee said.
"There was a big crowd, our crowd were brilliant, I just wanted it be a football match worthy of a Scottish Cup tie. I think everybody went home with their money's worth.
"Obviously we made it difficult for ourselves going two behind but even at 2-0 I said to Scott Leitch 'there is still something here for us'."
McGhee admired his team's spirit, which has been evident since O'Donnell collapsed with heart failure in the game against Dundee United on December 29.
He said: "Firstly they showed the ability they have, they didn't do it just by launching it, they did it by passing it. Some of the play aside from the goals was excellent.
"But one of the things I have seen over the last couple of weeks that I didn't know before is that they are a group of guys who are great mates, not just colleagues.
"I have seen them reacting and interacting to each other in the circumstances and they have been brilliant."
McGhee hailed the performance of Ross McCormack, who is attracting interest from other clubs. But the Well boss denied Middlesbrough had made contact with Motherwell following reports the striker was set for talks with the Barclays Premier League club.
Despite being unhappy with several decisions immediately before Hearts' second goal, McGhee refused to blame the referee. Stuart Dougal stopped play when David Clarkson was moving into the Hearts box with the ball to allow treatment for Christophe Berra, who had been winded by a shot.
Clarkson was then penalised for a soft foul on Jose Goncalves after the Hearts full-back contested the drop ball and Andrius Velicka latched on to the long free-kick to make it two.
"I was unhappy with our defending," McGhee said.
Hearts caretaker boss Stephen Frail agreed the game was an appropriate return for Motherwell but was disappointed his side had not finished off the contest, as they extended their run without a win to 10 games.
"After the last couple of weeks we wanted a cracking cup tie and the players produced that," said Frail, who lost Cesnauskis and Andrew Driver to injury late in the game.
"There were signs of a tiny bit of progress because I thought for 65 minutes we were excellent, but I'm disappointed with the manner of the goals we lost.
"We created a lot of chances. Probably the best was the (Audrius) Ksanavicius header, and they went up the park and scored their first goal."
Copyright (c) Press Association
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