5.30pm

Today's result: Hibernian 3, Motherwell 1.

Missed my first game of the season today, and it seems like I made the correct decision not to go as by all accounts we were soundly beaten by a Hibs team who before today hadn't won a game either.  The only change to the team was the introduction of Keith Lasley (see below) as a straight replacement for the injured Phil O'Donnell.

Sounds like it was pretty much all one way traffic towards Graeme Smith's goal for much of the game, with Hibs having already missed a number of chances before finally taking the lead after 33 mins.  We almost grabbed an unlikely equaliser in the second half when McGarry hit the post, but after 65 mins it was 2-0 when Brown beat Smith at his near post.  Hibs defender Jones had already hit the post before grabbing their third goal in 82 mins, with Scott McDonald scoring a consolation for Motherwell in the closing stages.

Smith, Quinn, Reynolds, Craigan, Paterson, McGarry, Kerr, Lasley, McBride, Clarkson (McCormack 68), McDonald.
Subs not used: Meldrum, Foran, Fitzpatrick, Connolly, Coakley, Soutar.

Motherwell scorer: McDonald (90).

Booked: Paterson.

Motherwell have beaten Kilmarnock to the signature of Keith Lasley, with the ex 'Well midfielder agreeing a two-year deal.  Keith left Fir Park for Plymouth in 2004 but ended up on loan at Blackpool last season, and was released at the end of his contract.

'Well boss Maurice Malpas provided the following update on the transfer situation yesterday:
"The boy Dickson trained and had a bounce game with us, but his fitness was poor and we felt he wasn't any better than the players we have at the moment.  We have Jim Paterson and Mark Reynolds who can both play left-back. But it is a concern because we need quality players in.  It is easy to bring players in just to make up the numbers, but I would rather we brought players in I was confident of picking and who would do a job for us if they were picked.  I am desperate for a left-back since Stevie left and I have to admit I thought I would have had one in by now.  We are looking at tapes and looking at games and it has been like that for the last couple of weeks.  Now we are getting nearer to the transfer window, I am frustrated, but not nervous about it.  Just before deadline day last season, we brought Alan McCormack and Brian McLean in and they turned out to be great players for us. So, touch wood, that can happen again."

Speaking of left-backs, rumour has it that another ex 'Well player, Wigan's Stevie McMillan, could be set for a return to Fir Park... 

Time for a new opinion poll

Will we struggle to avoid relegation this season?