Motherwell manager Jim Gannon benefited from a change of tactics as his unleashed midfielder Ross Forbes netted the only goal against Hearts.

The recalled Forbes lashed home his ninth goal of the season to move Motherwell up to fourth in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League after being given licence to attack.

Gannon also brought in John Sutton to play with two central strikers, and allowed central midfielders Giles Coke and Forbes more opportunity to attack instead of covering for overlapping full-backs.

The move paid off as Forbes made Motherwell's superiority count with a powerful volley from inside the penalty box, while Coke returned to his early-season form.

"Giles has got much more to offer than I was allowing him," Gannon said. "We were playing this Milan formation where our three midfielders were more in the construction phase and allowing other people to attack.

"We talked about that inhibiting Ross and Giles' natural inclination to join the attack. We took the reins off a little bit and allowed them to go and join and got a better performance from Giles, and Ross was able to get in an area where he can use his undoubted talents."