Hibs leapfrogged Rangers to move to the top of the table but were unable to continue with their winning run after a goalless draw with Motherwell at Easter Road this afternoon.
Head Coach Jack Ross kept faith with the same starting XI that beat Dundee United on Tuesday night with the only change to the squad being the replacement of Fraser Murray with Stevie Mallan.
After an even start, the visitors almost took the lead in the 7th minute when Callum Lang cut in from the right and curled a superb low strike which appeared to be heading for the bottom right hand corner of the net but Ofir Marciano made a tremendous fingertip save to push the ball past the post.
Hibs fought back and Kevin Nisbet headed a Daryl Horgan cross just over the bar.
New signing Stephen O’Donnell almost gave ‘Well the lead in the 20th minute but Paul McGinn just managed to deflect his close range shot wide of the post.
Motherwell looked to be the better side then Alex Gogic was dispossessed in a dangerous area and the ball fell to Sherwin Seedorf but his shot flew high and wide.
Hibs produced a great free-flowing passing move which ended when Martin Boyle lost his footing on the edge of the area.
Motherwell thought they had taken the lead in the 35th minute when Jordon White’s volley deflected off Paul Hanlon and past Marciano but Seedorf was standing in an offside position and interfering with the goalkeepers vision. There was initially some confusion as the East Stand linesman took several seconds to raise his flag, but in the end the correct decision was made.
Hibs immediately responded and Horgan set up Boyle but Trevor Carson saved the strike with his right ankle.
The ball rebounded to Boyle and his low cross found Nisbet who hit a first-time shot which was deflected for a corner.
Nisbet then did well to find Josh Doig on the right but the youngster’s shop deflected wide and from the resultant corner taken by Joe Newell, Christian Doidge headed inches wide.
Ross made a double substitution in the 55th minute with Scott Allan making his 100th appearance for the club and Melker Hallberg replacing Newell and Horgan.
Allan made an immediate impression and combined well with McGinn who set up Boyle 25-yards from goal but his powerful effort was blocked.
Ryan Porteous then found Allan who beat his marker and sent an inviting low cross into the six-yard box but there were no takers and the ball was turned away for a corner.
Motherwell went close when Lang headed a Turnbull just over the bar.
Allan then found Nisbet with a superb first time ball which Doidge headed into the path of Boyle but his shot went wide.
Doig did well to rob Lang inside the area at the expense of a corner as both side pressed forward in search of a goal.
In the 71st minute Allan Campbell lost possession in midfield then pulled Hallberg’s shirt and was rightly booked. Moments later Rikki Lamie was fortunate not to join him in the book after a late challenge on Hallberg who required treatment.
With 11-minutes remaining Lewis Stevenson replaced Doig and showed that he had lost none of his determination with a lung-bursting run down the left. His cross found Boyle who went the ball back into the box and Doidge tried an overhead kick which flew well wide.
Boyle then did well down the right and his cross found Doidge but the Welshman’s close-range effort was blocked by Declan Gallagher.
The final action came in the dying minute when former Hearts’ winger Tony Watt had a chance but his shot was easily held by Marciano and the game ended goalless.
Hibs: Marciano ,McGinn, Porteous, Hanlon, Doig, Boyle, Gogic, Newell, Horgan, Doidge, Nisbet. Subs: Dabrowski, Gray, McGregor, Stevenson, Stirling, Hallberg, Mallan, Allan, Gullan
Motherwell: Carson, O’Donnell, Gallagher, Mugabi, Lamie, O’Hara, Campbell, Turnbull, Seedorf, Lang, White. Subs: Morrison, Grimshaw, Hastie, Hylton, Maguire,Polworth, Robinson, Long, Watt
Referee Greg Aitken
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.
