Hearts manager Paulo Sergio says his team’s display in the 3-0 defeat to Motherwell was as a result of tiredness.

The club have played five matches so far this month and the Portuguese boss says his men are looking forward to a week before their next match.

Speaking after the game at Fir Park he said: "I am very happy that we will have seven days before our next game, we really need that.

"In the second half there was a lack of explosion, of speed and aggression.

"We need to recover, we have been playing a game every three days and we are feeling that because we don't have the squad to do that.

"You shouldn't forget that three important players left in January (Ryan Stevenson, Eggert Jonsson and John Sutton) and we have been affected."

Despite accepting his players needed a rest, Sergio was still unhappy with the way his players defended for Motherwell’s first two goals.

He said: "For the first goal, I was not happy with lack of decision.

"We had three chances to get the ball out the box but couldn't do it and that is the easiest thing to do in football.

"For the second goal, Lasley was all alone with the ball with a player three metres from him.

"It wasn't a dangerous cross but it was an easy goal for Motherwell. That made it very hard for us.

"We were playing against 10 men for a lot of the second half, but they did their job very well, closing the space, so congratulations to them."

IN DETAIL

• Match report: Motherwell 3-0 Hearts