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Motherwell logo
Scottish Premier League
Oct 26, 2012 at 7.45pm UK
 
Hibs logo

0-4

FT(HT: 0-1)
Wotherspoon (28'), Griffiths (63' pen., 73' pen.), Handling (90')

Live Commentary: Motherwell 0-4 Hibernian - as it happened

Sports Mole brings you live text commentary of Motherwell vs. Hibernian at Fir Park.
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Hibernian travelled to Fir Park on Friday evening knowing that a victory over Motherwell would see them move to second in the Scottish Premier League.

Goals from David Wotherspoon and Daniel Handling either side of two penalties from Leigh Griffiths have ensured that Pat Fenlon's side continued their impressive start to the season.

Read how events unfolded below unfolded below.


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Hello everyone, we'll begin with tonight's teams.

Motherwell: Randolph, Hammell, Law, Hateley, Humphrey, Ojamaa, Higdon, Murphy, Lasley, Ramsden, Kerr

Hibernian: Williams, Clancy, McGivern, Hanlon, McPake, Claros, Griffiths, Doyle, Cairney, Wotherspoon, Taiwo

As I've mentioned above, there is plenty at stake for both sides tonight. It should be a very even contest at Fir Park.

In May 2010, this fixture ended in a remarkable 6-6 draw and the home side beat Hibs 4-3 in another superb encounter last season. Goalless draw tonight anyone?

It looks like a freezing night in Scotland but the supporters seem excited as the players make their way out of the tunnel.

One more promising fact before the match begins. It's 50 matches since these two sides played out a goalless draw.

The players and officials are all holding signs that read 'Show racism the red card'. A nice touch following another difficult week for the British game.

Hibs get the game underway in their white away strip.

Motherwell have started the better of the two sides but no chances to report as yet.

Griffiths will lead the line for the visitors and he looks a threat with the ball at his feet already.

Chance! Jamie Murphy burst through the Hibernian defence but his low strike is well saved by Williams.

Hibs have struggled to settle so far and there's been very little fluency to their passing.

Higdon does well to control the ball on the edge of the area but the Hibs defence recover well to clear the danger.

Hibernian have a corner when Kerr reacts superbly to prevent the ball dropping to Griffiths inside the area.

Chance! The away side are unlucky to be ahead from the corner. Despite clearing the original cross, Motherwell fail to close down Griffiths and his low drive is almost deflected into the bottom corner.

Big let off for Higdon as he lunges at Taiwo in the middle of the pitch. Steve O'Reilly has a word with the forward but doesn't show him a yellow card.

Hibernian decide to adopt a direct approach with a long ball aimed at Griffiths but the striker is slight overzealous in his challenge and he gives away a foul.

Ojamaa looks a threat for the hosts as he shows his trickery to create space but ruins the move with a poor pass. Hibernian break well and Griffiths is unlucky not to take the lead with a strike that goes inches wide of the post.

Both sides pushing for an opening in the early stages but not too much quality being shown in the important areas of the pitch.

Murphy launches a counter attack and does well to find Humphrey but Higdon is pulled up for a foul at the back post.

Motherwell on top now and should be ahead but they delay shooting inside the area, allowing McPake to head Humphrey's cross to safety.

Hibs need to get the ball to Griffiths, they're enjoying possession more often now.

McPake lofts a ball over Motherwell's defence and despite a good effort from Taiwo, the hosts easily clear the danger.

Goal! Motherwell 0-1 Hibernian (Wotherspoon)

Motherwell have perhaps been the better side but it's the visitors who take the lead. Cairney does brilliantly to turn his marker and create space before picking out Wotherspoon, who fires the ball into the top corner from 20 yards.

Hibs have their tails up now and Cairney is looking dangerous. The midfielder finds McGivern in the box but a poor decision from the assistant referee brings the move to a halt.

Hateley delivers a superb ball from the right wing for Motherwell but a lack of forwards in the area makes it easy for McPake to head away.

Chance! Humphrey does brilliantly to lose McGivern and cross towards the back post. Hammill heads the ball towards goal but Williams pushes the effort away. The home side are appealing for a goal but it's hard to tell if the ball crossed the line.

Oh dear! The assistant referee looks to be in a brilliant position but he fails to give a goal despite the ball being over the line. That's harsh on Motherwell.

Murphy has been good for Motherwell and he almost equalises with a curling shot that has Williams scrambling.

First yellow card of the game goes to Cairney for a poor tackle on Lasley as the home side threatened to break.

Chance! Big opportunity for Motherwell to level the scores before half-time. Ojamaa progresses into the box and finds Higdon but the striker sends the ball over the crossbar from 10 yards out.

The home side are ending the half strongly but Hibs are doing well to keep their advantage.

Half-time: There's almost an equaliser before the break for Motherwell when Murphy fins Ojamaa but the Estonian is adjudged to have fouled McPake inside the box.

Motherwell are very, very unlucky to be behind in this match. They played the better football for long periods of the first half and the decision to not award Hammell a goal was terrible.

I could bring up the topic of goal line technology during the break but why? We all know it should be used, so there's nothing more to say.

Stuart McCall will fancy his side to get an equaliser but Cairney and Griffiths look dangerous on the break for Hibs.

Hibernian are ahead though and they'll want to protect this lead to move into second place tonight. We're moments away from the second half.

Motherwell start the second half, no changes to report.

The home side are on the front foot immediately, with Humphrey looking dangerous on the ball once again.

Chance! A simple long ball finds Griffiths but the striker can't make enough contact to beat Randolph and the home side manage to clear.

Motherwell need an early goal in this second half becuase Hibernian look threatening every time they attack.

Chance! Humphrey receives the ball once again on the right wing and cuts in onto his left foot before unleashing an effort that crashes into the side netting.

Some very nice football being played in midfield but an attack breaks dwon when Higdon loses the ball on the edge of the box. McCall's side lacking a cutting edge at the moment.

Good opportunity for Motherwell as they are awarded a free kick from 25 yards out.

The ball is set for Law but his curling effort doesn't do enough to find the top corner of the goal.

Wotherspoon's goal is still the difference between these two sides.

Griffiths does look an isolated figure in attack for Hibs but he is threatening on the ball. He has a half chance to double their lead with a header bu there's not enough power to trouble Randolph.

Chance! Murphy breaks down the left side of midfield but his powerful cross is inches away from Higdon's toe and Humphrey then fails to keep his effort down at the back post.

Penalty! McGivern releases Griffiths and the striker attempts to take the ball past Randolph. There is some contact and the keeper is shown the yellow card. Griffiths will take the penalty.

Goal! Motherwell 0-1 Hibernian (Griffiths) Randolph can't keep out the penalty from Griffiths and the Hibs striker has his eighth goal of the season. Long way back for Motherwell.

Chants of cheat around Fir Park but it looked like a penalty from my point of view. Hibernian attack again but they can't find a way through.

Omar Daley has come on to replace Ojamaa and Hibs have brought off Clancy for Alan Maybury.

Hateley's corner is put into a good area but Hibs do well to prevent a goalscoring opportunity.

Penalty Steve O'Reilly points to the spot again when McPake is too physical when challenging Higdon. Big moment for Motherwell.

Higdon hasn't had a great night and it's just got worse. Williams dives to his right but the Motherwell striker's effort clips the crossbar before ending in the stands.

Penalty! It's an awful decision this time from O'Reilly. Wotherspoon is fouled by Hammell on the edge of the box but Hibs are given a second penalty.

Goal! Motherwell 0-3 Hibernian (Griffiths) Griffiths goes the same way to all but secure the win for Hibernian. It's a poor decision but Higdon will be feeling sick following that miss from 12 yards just moments earlier.

It looks like the confidence has been beaten out of Motherwell as they gift possession to their visitors. Hibernian will surely go second now.

McHugh has come on to replace Higdon for the last 11 minutes. The referee has left the pitch to speak to McCall.

O'Reilly is coming off to end his controversial refereeing performance. Apparently, he has been suffering with a calf injury. McCall redirects his anger towards the assistant referee now but play has still not restarted.

Motherwell fans more than happy with O'Reilly's exit. It's taken too long for the change but the fourth official is ready to restart the match.

Chance! Motherwell fail to make the most of a corner and Hibs break with Griffiths on the ball. The striker looks for his hat-trick at the near post but Randolph does well to push the ball away.

Stuart Carswell replaces Law, who looks to be struggling with an injury.

Griffiths has been superb this evening and he's given a rest for the final minutes. Stevenson replaces him.

Hibernian have a corner but it's too deep for McPake to make good contact with his header at the back post.

The game has lost its edge since that third goal. Motherwell look predictably resigned to defeat. Seven minutes added time due to the refereeing substitution.

Hibernian looked relaxed in possession and they're happy to take the ball into the corner despite their three goal advantage. Final substitution for Hibs as Cairney comes off for Daniel Handling.

Goal! Motherwell 0-4 Hibernian (Handling) Handling completes the victory for Hibs with a simple finish from close range following a weaving Wotherspoon run.

Full-time: Motherwell 0-4 Hibernian

Pat Fenlon will be absolutely delighted with his team following that result. Hibs go second and are currently two points behind Celtic.

Motherwell won't understand how they have lost 4-0 tonight but they have and Stuart McCall's side sit sixth in the table.

That's all from Sports Mole on an entertaining evening in the Scottish Premier League. Good night!

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Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
Championship Group
1Celtic000080265478
2RangersRangers000072234975
3Hearts000046341262
4Kilmarnock00004334951
5St Mirren00003843-543
6Dundee00004454-1041
Relegation Group
1Hibernian00004451-739
2Motherwell00004651-537
3Aberdeen00003549-1435
4St Johnstone00002446-2231
5Ross County00003256-2430
6Livingston00002259-3718
 
First Phase
1Celtic33246380265478
2RangersRangers33243672234975
3Hearts33195946341262
4Kilmarnock33131284334951
5St Mirren33127143843-543
6Dundee331011124454-1041
7Hibernian33912124451-739
8Motherwell33813124651-537
9Aberdeen33811143549-1435
10St Johnstone33710162446-2231
11Ross County3379173256-2430
12Livingston3339212259-3718


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