Motherwell moved fourth in the Scottish Premiership, level on points with Hibernian, after a dominant 2-0 victory at Fir Park.
Tawanda Maswanhise gave the hosts the lead from the penalty spot in the 19th minute — his eighth goal of the season and enough to move him to the top of the division’s scoring chart — after VAR judged Grant Hanley to have handled Elijah Just’s shot. Maswanhise sent goalkeeper Raphael Sallinger the wrong way from the spot.
Three minutes later Maswanhise turned provider, delivering a low driven cross that led to Elijah Just capitalising on confusion in the Hibs defence to blast home from close range and make it 2-0.
The match went further against Hibs when Hanley, who had conceded the penalty, was sent off nine minutes before half-time for a last-man challenge after bringing Maswanhise down as he burst through on goal. Initially flagged for offside, VAR ruled Maswanhise onside before the dismissal. Elliot Watt’s resultant free-kick on the edge of the box flew just wide.
Motherwell boss Jens Berthel Askou made five changes from the side that beat Kilmarnock, while David Gray kept the same Hibs XI for a third straight game. Early on, Just had a penalty appeal waved away when he went down under Hanley’s challenge with nine minutes on the clock.
Hibs were forced into a double change after 38 minutes, Warren O’Hora and Jordan Obita replacing Nicky Cadden and Jack Iredale. Five minutes before half-time Martin Boyle thought he had a route back in, racing onto Kieron Bowie’s through ball and rounding goalkeeper Calum Ward, only for Johnny Koutroumbis to clear his effort off the goalline.
The second half offered few clear-cut chances. Tom Sparrow’s pass picked out Just but his shot lacked power to trouble Sallinger. Shortly after the hour mark Oliver Priestman nearly scored on his first start for Motherwell — his low strike beat the keeper but rebounded off the post; Sparrow’s follow-up flew over. Callum Slattery came on for Sparrow and nearly extended the lead with an outside-of-the-boot effort that just missed.
In the closing stages Sallinger kept out Regan Charles-Cook’s fizzing strike from a tight angle, and Charles-Cook later fired over. Hibs could not break down a composed Motherwell who saw out the game to claim a convincing win and a clean sheet.
What the managers said
Motherwell boss Jens Berthel Askou:
“The first 35 minutes we were in full control of what happened, we executed the intentions we had extremely well, and hurt them in and out of possession. I’d rather we kept a clean sheet than we totally lose control, then it becomes attack and attack – if Hibs get it to 2-1, it’s full panic from there. I was happy we were able to control the game. A third goal would have killed it completely but I’m really pleased with the clean sheet. We knew it was there, we also knew it takes time to cultivate that potential. We’ve been open and honest, we have big dreams and ambitions and we have delivered some performances earlier in the season. In the last month or so we are starting to reap some of the benefits from that work – it’s about not being complacent and thinking things are going well.”
Hibs boss David Gray:
“We probably deserved it for the first 25 minutes of the game. I have no complaints about the red card because of the letter of the law. Maswanhise gets away with one. The linesman saw it, I saw it, our goalie coach saw it. He didn’t quite make contact but if I make an action to do that, you can’t do it, and I saw it with my own eyes which is quite frustrating. The players did show character and effort and they didn’t just roll over – but we didn’t do enough to deserve to get back in the game.”
What’s next
– Motherwell fixtures
– Hibernian fixtures