Hibs dropped to ninth position in the table following a comprehensive 3-0 defeat to Motherwell at Fir Park this afternoon.

Head coach Paul Heckingbottom made three changes to the starting XI that drew with St Johnstone last weekend.

As expected Steven Whittaker replaced the injured David Gray whilst Vykintas Slivka took over from Josh Vela and Daryl Horgan started in place of Christian Doidge.

Hibs started brightly and Florian Kamberi had a great chance in the first 30 seconds, but his effort from the edge of the box well saved by Mark Gillespie.

Marciano then did well to save a long-range effort to deny Christopher Long.

Mark Gillespie then produced a fine save from Stevie Mallan’s 25-yard free kick before stopping another Kamberi effort.

Liam Donnely was booked for a late challenge of Slivka who required treatment as Hibs looked the better side.

In the 22nd minute however Motherwell opened the scoring against the run of play when Sherwin Seedorf cut in from the left before firing the ball past  Marciano.

Motherwell almost made it 2-0 when Seedorf cut the ball back into the path of James Scott who fired over the bar.

Scott Allan was booked just before the interval for a frustrated challenge on Donnelly.

Motherwell continued to dominate in the second half and Marciano produced a superb save to deny Declan Gallagher’s net-bound header then used his foot to save from Long.

‘Well looked the more likely to score and Marciano again did well to save from Long who was clean through on goal.

Oli Shaw replaced Glenn Middleton on the hour mark and moments later Scott allan went close with a long range effort.

In the 73rd minute, Adam Jackson latched onto a Paul Hanlon header but his powerful strike from 12-yards was well saved by Gillespie.

With Hibs trying to get back into the game Motherwell were awarded a penalty in the 80th minute when the ball struck Adam Jackson’s outstretched arm following a corner kick.

Donnelly converted the resultant spot-kick to put Motherwell into a 2-0 lead and effectively end Hibs hopes of a point.

Three minutes later substitute Jermaine Hylton made it 3-0 with a powerful strike sparking calls for Heckingbottom’s head from many of the travelling supporters.

After the game Heckingbottom told BBC Scotland “We look a pretty side, but soft. If you are poor in one-v-one situations attacking and defending you’re going to get beat. That’s been our trend, our theme.

“We have to put right or we won’t be as successful as we want to be. You have to be better. And Motherwell were better against us.”

Motherwell: Gillespie, Grimshar, Gallagher, Hartley, Carroll, Polworth, Campbell, Donnelly, seedorf, Long, Scott. Subs: Carson, Tait, Hylton, Maguire, Ilic, Dunne, Cole

Hibs: Marciano, Whittaker, Hanlon, Jackson, Stevenson, Horgan, Slivka, Mallan, Middleton, Allan, Kamberi. Subs: Vela, Doidge, Newell, Hallberg, Porteous, Maxwell, Shaw

Referee Steven McLean

Attendance 5,964

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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.