Jack Ross tenure begins with win over Motherwell
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.