Hibs followed up their midweek derby win with a 1-0 victory over on-form Motherwell at Fir Park this afternoon.
Neil Lennon retained the same starting XI that beat Hearts on Tuesday night against the Betfred League Cup finalists with first choice striker Anthony Stokes still injured.
The game was played in windy conditions and Hibs had the lions share of possession in the first half but goalmouth action was limited.
Hibs took the lead in the 27th minute after a mix up in the ‘Well defence. Simon Murray’s ball evaded ‘Well defender Cedric Kipre and Trevor Carson left his goal but Martin Boyle got to the ball first and rounded the keeper before calmly slotted it into the net to the delight of the large travelling support.
Carson then did well to save from John McGinn moments later and just before the half-time break Allan Campbell curled a 20 yard effort just past the post.
Motherwell made two changes at the restart with Gael Bigirimana and Tanner, replacing Carl McHugh and Elliott Frear then in the 53rd minute Deimantas Petravicius came on for Andy Rose.
Substitute Petravicius almost equalised but his close range effort was blocked on the line by Steven Whittaker.
The industrious Simon Murray, had a ‘goal’ controversially disallowed for offside then went close with an effort which Carson did well to save as both sides created chances.
Motherwell’s Charles Dunne had the ball in the net but he was clearly offside.
Murray was replaced by Oli Shaw with 13 minutes remaining and left the field to generous applause from the Hibs fans.
McGinn went close in the dying stages after springing the offside trap but his angled shot was blocked for a corner and Hibs held on to secure a valuable three points with their first victory at for Park for five years.
After the game Lennon told BBC Scotland: “We played brilliantly, it was a fantastic performance. My bug bear is that we’re not putting teams away when we’re in the ascendancy.
“Motherwell were always in the game and it would make my life a lot more comfortable if we could finish teams off, but a fantastic all-round performance again.
“We changed the shape to negotiate the back three and two up top and it worked a treat, and in the end Stephen felt he had to change but that was down to the way we played and took the game to Motherwell.
“In the second half on the counter attack we cut them open at will and we were a bit sloppy with the final ball at times, but I can’t have everything.
“It’s a great win and it’s a clean sheet against a team who have been rampant this season.”
Motherwell: Carson, Kipre, Hartley, Dunne, Cadden, Rose, McHugh, Campbell, Frear, Bowman, Moult,Subs: Tait, Hammell, Bigrimana, Griffiths, Fisher, Petravicius, Tanner
Hibs: Marciano, Whittaker, Hanlon, Bartley, McGinn, McGeouch, S. Murray, Stevenson, Boyle, Barker, Ambrose. Subs: Laidlaw, Gray, Slivka, Matulevicius, Shaw, F.Murray, Porteous
Referee Bobby Madden
Attendance 6043
John graduated from Telford College in 2010 with an HNC in Practical Journalism and since then he worked for the North Edinburgh News, The Southern Reporter, the Irish News Review and The Edinburgh Reporter. In addition he has been published in the Edinburgh Evening News and the Hibernian FC Programme.
