While I’m backing Motherwell to avoid defeat on Saturday night, I do think both teams will get on the scoresheet at Fir Park. The defensive solidity that has served the Steelmen so well throughout the campaign has faded somewhat in recent weeks. That is underlined by the fact that both teams have scored in five of Motherwell’s last seven top-flight fixtures, one of which was a 3-1 defeat away at Hearts last month.

While Hearts continue to hold their nerve in the title race and grind out victories, they have found clean sheets hard to come by. In fact, Derek McInnes’ men have failed to keep the back door shut in each of their last five Scottish Premiership away games, with both teams scoring in three of those contests. It’s also worth noting that BTTS would have been the correct call in each of Hearts’ last two Scottish Premiership home games, the most recent being their 2-1 win over Rangers on Monday.

Lawrence Shankland is a player I have been targeting in the foul markets in recent weeks, and for good reason. The Hearts striker is best known for putting the ball in the back of the net, as he did against Rangers on Monday, but he is also not afraid to disrupt defences with his physicality.

While Shankland is committing an average of 0.81 fouls per game in the Scottish Premiership this season, that figure has been trending upwards in recent times. In fact, the 30-year-old has been guilty of at least one infringement in 12 of his last 15 outings in the Scottish top-flight, including Monday’s 2-1 win over Rangers, when he committed one foul and then later picked up a yellow card for an off-the-ball incident during an advantage that was played by the referee.

Given how adept Motherwell are at retaining possession, I think there is plenty of scope for Shankland to grow frustrated when up against his centre half opponents. He also has a tendency to drop deep and drift into wide areas, where he is equally prone to giving away cheap free kicks.

I’m keen to back Claudio Braga to hit the target at least once on Saturday night. The Hearts forward has cut a talismanic figure for the capital club this season, and his shot output has been particularly eye-catching.

Across his 35 appearances in the Scottish Premiership this term, Braga has averaged a whopping 3.24 shots per game, with 1.49 of those hitting the target. The most recent of those on-target efforts came against Rangers last time out, meaning Braga has now worked the opposition goalkeeper in all but one of his last 15 Scottish Premiership appearances. Across that 15-game sample, the Hearts attacker hit the back of the net in the 3-1 win over Motherwell last month, not to mention he struck twice against the Steelmen earlier in the season.

With Hearts in need of another victory on Saturday night in their title pursuit, and with Motherwell games often wide open given their style of play, I think Braga is a prime candidate to hit the target at least once at Fir Park.

Hearts have avoided defeat against Motherwell in each of the last meetings between the sides, all taking place since January 2025.

Hearts have avoided defeat in each of their last five matches, including registering wins over Rangers and their opponents here.

Motherwell have only managed to win one of their last five matches, losing three of these games - including a 1-0 defeat to Falkirk last time out.