McInnes delights in form of Hearts strikers going into title race run-in

Hearts manager Derek McInnes is encouraged by his strikers' form after three of them netted in a 3-1 win over Motherwell.

Starters Claudio Braga and Lawrence Shankland had few chances as Motherwell threatened to knock the William Hill Premiership leaders off their perch.

But the Portuguese forward hooked home an equaliser and Shankland netted from a VAR-assisted penalty two minutes from time.

Substitute Landry Kabore rounded off the comeback victory in stoppage time to ensure Hearts go into the split on the summit.

"There's no doubt the last five games are going to be dramatic," McInnes said. "I feel the weight of responsibility, every team we pick, to try and get my players in the best form possible.

"When you come so far in the season with five games to go, it's difficult to keep going to the well and getting those performances. That's why the squad is so important for us.

"And we've got no troubles to seek in terms of injuries at the minute. But it pleases me no end that Braga and Shankland scored again, and Kabore gets a goal.

"We've shown a bit more of our attacking threat."

Shankland and Braga have scored 27 goals between them in the Premiership and sit in the top four of the goalscoring charts.

"I wouldn't change the two of them for anything. Shankland's only going to get better. Braga is just effervescent. He feeds off this crowd. He doesn't give defenders a minute. He's on a mission to get as many goals as well. That gives us all real comfort and a bit of optimism."

Hearts go into the split just a point ahead of Rangers and knowing that there could be twists and turns as the top six face off.

"Motherwell will test your organisation the whole game," said McInnes, who lost defender Oisin McEntee to a hamstring injury late on.

"They're good players, they've had a lot of plaudits for a lot of reasons. We're going to have to play them again, Falkirk, who are a great side, Rangers and Celtic and Hibs. So they're brilliant games to be involved in.

"Motherwell, Falkirk and Hibs have all got their own motivation to finish in that fourth spot and finish in Europe."