Jack Ross started his Hibs’ managerial career with a superb 3-1 victory over Motherwell despite the dreadful weather conditions at Easter Road this afternoon.
Ross kept the same starting XI that comfortably beat St Johnstone last weekend and Paul Hanlon led the players out on his 400th game for the club.
Hibs attacked from the word go in the pouring rain with swirling wind and Motherwell goalkeeper Mark Gillespie did well to save Scott Allan’s powerful drive in the opening minutes.
Christian Doidge then headed a Joe Newell free-kick just over the bar before the visitors took the lead after a sustained spell of pressure.
Christopher Long’s shot rebounded off the far post and Liam Polworth knocked the ball into the net from close range.
Chris Maxwell furiously appealed for offside but the referee was unmoved and the goal stood.
Hibs fought back and Florian Kamberi set up Jason Naismith but his strike from the edge of the area was easily saved.
The hosts had a penalty claim rejected after Kamberi went down in the box but the equaliser was only a matter of time and arrived when a superb through ball from Scott Allan found Kamberi and the Swiss striker slid the ball into the path of Joe Newell.
His shot was deflected into the path of Doidge who bundled the ball into the net from two yards.
Melker Hallberg then fired just wide as Hibs created chance after chance playing some sensational one touch football.
Moments later another fantastic through ball from Allan found Naismith on the right wing and the full-back’s low cross landed at the feet of Kamberi who fired the ball high into the net.
Motherwell fought back in the second half and dominated possession but Hibs looked dangerous on the break.
The Easter Road faithful held their collective breath when Polworth went down inside the area following a challenge of Ryan Porteous but John Beaton waved play on to the fury of the away fans behind the goal.
Martin Boyle replaced Kamberi who left the field to a standing ovation from the home fans but the visitors continued to press forward and Maxwell did well to save from Hylton.
Stevie Mallan replaced Allan then Daryl Horgan took over from Newell and the substitutions quickly paid dividends on the counter attack.
Mallan collected the ball in midfield and played a fine pass into the path of Horgan who drove into the box and slotted the ball into the bottom corner of the net to secure the three points.
In the last minute Mallan struck the post and the ball rebounded into the path of Boyle who fired just over the bar.
Boyle then fired a terrific cross into the six-yard area but Hallberg just failed to connect.
After the game Ross told BBC Scotland: “Each and every one of them who came off the bench helped us win that game. The whole group will contribute to our success. You can sense that growing belief in the group, that they are a good side and they’ve got good qualities.”
The back to back wins means that Hibs moved into the top six on 15-points. The now face St Mirren in Paisley on Tuesday night.
Hibs: Maxwell, Hanlon, Slivka, Doidge, Newell (Horgan 73), Stevenson, Hallberg, Naismith, Kamberi (Boyle 66), Allan (Mallan 82), Porteous. Unused substitutes: Marciano, James, Jackson, Shaw.
Motherwell: Gillespie, Carroll, Grimshaw, Hartley, Campbell (Scott 80), Long, Hylton (Seedorf 76), Maguire (O’Hara 77), Polworth, Gallagher, Cole. Unused substitutes: Carson, Tait, Manzinga, Mugabi.
Referee: John Beaton.
Attendance: 15,984.
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.
