"Scattering Points Further" © EuroFootball.com

Still, the Lithuanian Edinburgh "Hearts" club lost two points in the Scottish championship, as in the 16th round match on Saturday they failed to defeat the "Inverness" team in an away game. Second place in the league was maintained by "Aberdeen" after a victory away, while "Motherwell" climbed from the bottom of the table. Before the match, the "Hearts" camp, which has recently been shaken by unrest, received good news - the team was returned to train by Valdas Ivanauskas, but he watched this match from the stands. Acting temporarily as the head of the team, Belarusian Eduard Malofeyev brought captain Steven Pressley back to the starting lineup for the match against "Inverness", replacing Marius Zaliukas in the center of defense, as well as another team veteran Robbie Neilson and Greek Takis Fyssas. Edgaras Jankauskas once again remained among the substitutes, Saulius Mikoliunas and Nerijus Barasa played on the flanks of the safety line, and Andrius Velicka was the only forward. It was after the Lithuanian S. Mikoliunas made an excellent pass that the first more dangerous "Hearts" attack was created, but Paul Hartley shot over the goal. Soon, N. Baras and A. Velicka failed with their head shots, and goalkeeper Craig Gordon rescued the guests from the shot of the host player Barry Wilson. One of the most active players in the capital city team was S. Mikoliunas, and in the middle of the half, his shot from the penalty area was deflected by the goalkeeper. Later, C. Gordon successfully intervened twice after "Inverness" attacks, so the first half ended goalless. After the break, both teams continued to struggle to break through the opponents' defense - the players of the hosts Ross Tokely, D. Wyness, the visitors' captain S. Pressley, T. Fyssas and P. Hartley attempted shots after aerial duels and attacks on goal, but the result remained unchanged. The match, in which the best player in the Edinburgh club was chosen to be S. Mikoliunas, ended peacefully 0-0, and it was the eighth consecutive game without victory for "Hearts". In second place, the "Aberdeen" club secured their position by defeating the underdog "Dunfermline" with three goals in the second half. The visitors' goals were opened in the 54th minute by Lee Miller, and as the match approached its end, Darren Mackie added two goals in a couple of minutes. Meanwhile, in a dynamic match, "Motherwell" won 4-2 at home against "Falkirk". The latter team took the lead in the 36th minute with their 13th goal in 13 matches scored by Anthony Stokes, but Richie Foran scored at the end of the first half and at the beginning of the second, turning the result upside down. In the 71st minute, "Falkirk" veteran Russell Latapy managed to equalize again, but a strong and precise shot from the home team's forward Scott McDonald and A. Stokes' removal from the field finally broke the guests, and in the 83rd minute, "Motherwell" secured victory with a young forward borrowed from "Hearts", Callum Elliot. Saturday 16th round match results "Dunfermline" 0 - 3 Aberdeen" 54' [0 - 1] Lee Miller 83' [0 - 2] Darren Mackie 85' [0 - 3] Darren Mackie "Motherwell" 4 - 2 Falkirk 36' [0 - 1] Anthony Stokes 45' [1 - 1] Richie Foran (11m.) 49' [2 - 1] Richie Foran 71' [2 - 2] Russell Latapy 75' [3 - 2] Scott McDonald 83' [4 - 2] Callum Elliot 78' Anthony Stokes ("Falkirk") sent off