Teams can't open up against Heart of Midlothian without losing straight away, according to Motherwell defender Paul McGinn.

The former Hibs star was part of the Steelmen XI that lost 2-0 at Tynecastle Park at the weekend. Stuart Kettlewell's men kept Hearts at bay for more than an hour before being undone by Lawrence Shankland's header.

McGinn spoke of the team's set-up where they sat in a 5-4-1 system and counter-attacked but noted the impact of the Hearts bench.

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“It was pretty much what might have been," he said of the match. "It was pretty frustrating conceding from another set piece. It’s out Achilles heel at the moment.

“We knew it would be tough missing experience like [Blair] Spittal, [Andy] Halliday and [Calum] Butcher. But I thought we were resolute and looked to hit on the break, but you need to be clinical when you go to Hearts.

“We had a plan and gave them respect. You can’t go too open there are you could lose it straight away. We countered well at times but I thought their subs made a difference, and I suppose that’s what you get when you get the size of clubs."

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With the opening goal coming from a set piece it left Motherwell frustrated because they knew that if they gave Shankland a chance he would take it.

“If it’s a moment of quality like when Vargas hit the post, you say ‘fair play’," McGinn said. "But we know Shankland is the biggest threat so he shouldn’t be on his own in our box. The manager made it clear as we know it’s a mistake. If you give him an inch he’ll take a mile."