Hibs drop to ninth after comprehensive defeat at Motherwell
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