Motherwell secured back-to-back wins in the William Hill Premiership after a thoroughly dominant display against Hibernian at Fir Park, defeating the Edinburgh outfit 2-0.
Tawanda Maswanhise got his 12th of the season before Elijah Just doubled the Steelmen’s advantage. The Hibernian agony continued as Grant Hanley was shown a straight red card before the half-time break.
Coming into the game high on confidence, having picked up 10 points from a possible 12, Jens Berthel Askou freshened up the side and shape from the side that defeated Kilmarnock 3-1 just three days ago.
Tom Sparrow, Liam Gordon, Oscar Priestman, Elijah Just and Regan Charles-Cook were all handed starts, with Callum Hendry, Emmanuel Longelo, Lukas Fadinger, Ibrahim Said and Callum Slattery all dropping to the bench.
With the temperature sitting well in the minus, both teams looked to entertain the fans in the stands with a fast start. Motherwell controlled early possession, and the first major involvement in the game was a penalty claim for the Steelmen when Just was brought down in the area, but the referee waved play on.
That was one that may not have stood, but Just was involved when Motherwell did earn a spot kit on 17 minutes. The New Zealand international moved into the box, and his shot was blocked by the hand of a Hibernian defender as the forward got a clattering also. VAR called the referee over for a look, and the penalty was awarded.
Tawanda Maswanhise stepped up and slotted home for his 12th goal of the season. And the Zimbabwean caused more trouble when he got in behind a saw hit shot saved by the Hibernian keeper. But Motherwell continued to probe.
And on 22 minutes, the Hibs backline failed to clear, and Just pounced to slot home for a second. And Motherwell weren’t done there. Piling on the pressure, Maswanhise got in behind again thanks to a Paul McGinn pass, Grant Hanley brought him down and after a VAR check, the Hibernian defender was shown a straight red card for denial of a clear goalscoring opportunity.
On 40 minutes, Hibernian looked to have one back. Kieron Bowie slipped Martin Boyle in; he went past Calum Ward and knocked into an empty net. That was until Johnny Koutroumbis arrived on the scene, sliding into his own net to prevent a certain goal. Celebrated like a goal by the home support, the Steelmen made sure of no further openings in the remaining stages, as they held onto the ball for large periods until the half was out.
Callum Hendry came on for Tawanda Maswanhise at the interval, as Jens Berthel Askou plotted his second-half approach.
The first chance of the half fell to Just on 53 minutes. Tom Sparrow remained composed to slip a ball inside for Just; he moved the ball onto his left foot but saw his shot saved.
Hendry was next to have a go just a minute later. Koutroumbis crossed one into the striker; his flicked header didn’t trouble the keeper, however. The chances kept coming for the Well, and it was Oscar Priestman who went close next on 61 minutes. The Aussie, on his first start, carried the ball inside the pitch, reversed on himself and had a go from 20 yards; his effort came off the post thanks to a deflection on the way through, and Sparrow couldn’t keep his follow-up effort under the bar.
Ibrahim Said and Callum Slattery entered the pitch, and the latter nearly finished off a wonderful flowing move on 67 minutes. A long spell of possession and probing ended with Slattery picking up the ball on the edge of the box; he moved towards goal and had a go with the outside of his right boot, searching for the far bottom corner. The ball trickled just wide, and Motherwell looked for a third.
Said then threatened on 73 minutes. Carrying the ball forward, he jinked into the box and smashed the ball into the side netting.
Charles-Cook then had an attempt for a third on 78 minutes. Elliot Watt cutely slipped the forward in the channel; he stayed onside and blasted goalwards, but the keeper stood tall to save.
Academy Graduate Luca Ross was brought on in place of Oscar Priestman with less than ten minutes to go, with Watt frustrated at not being able to convert from Said’s pull-back shortly after.
Charles-Cook hit over the bar following a quick counter-attack involving Hendry, with the Grenada international unable to keep his left-footed effort down on 88 minutes. Esapa Osong replaced Charles-Cook moments later after an excellent showing from the winger.
The remaining stages of the game were played entirely in the Hibernian half, as Motherwell secured another three points and moved to joint third in the table.
Motherwell Team: Ward, Sparrow, McGinn, Gordon, Welsh, Koutroumbis, Watt, Priestman, Charles-Cook, Maswanhise, Just.
Motherwell Subs: Connelly, Balmer, Ross, Balmer, Longelo, Fadinger, Slattery, Osong, Said.
