Hibernian 2, Motherwell 0

Match Date: Saturday, September 15 2000
Competition: Premier League
Attendance: 9,500

Motherwell Team:

Goram, Oueifio, Kemble, McMillan, Hammell, Twaddle, Townsley (Corrigan), Brannan (Strong 45), Elliott (Adams), Goodman, McCulloch.
Subs not used: Woods, Wood.

SORRY START TO SEASON CONTINUES

Hibernian 2     Motherwell 0

MOTHERWELL'S POOR START TO THE Season continued as they left Easter Road pointless. It's the fifth defeat in the opening eight games for the Fir Parkers, and a complete contrast to the way they ended the season gone past.

The visitors did show first in attack, surprise inclusion Kevin Twaddle, a major doubt prior to the match, giving Ange Oueifio the chance to cross though it was O'Neill who cleared ahead of McCulloch. Again Motherwell pushed upfield with Elliott sending Townsley wide. His ball was driven across goal by Don Goodman which, had it been a few inches lower, would certainly have troubled Colgan in the home goal. Hibs first attack came next and it was a cross from Latapy which Lehmann rose above the 'Well defence to head weakly into the arms of Goram. From the kick-out Sauzee failed to control a relatively simple ball giving Goodman a chance to cross but it was way too strong for Townsley and ushered out for a Motherwell throw by Smith. Goodman gathered inside the six-yard box but a lack of control allowed Colgan to save. Latapy then again troubled the Motherwell defence and his cross was nicked away from Paatelainen by McMillan. Goram knocked downfield to Townsley. He picked out McCulloch but the drive went past from 25 yards. The visitors were certainly looking every bit as dangerous in attack as their hosts, if not more so, with Goodman breaking to the 18-yard-line but seeing Colgan save his effort. Stuart Elliott then burst down the wing and his fierce cross in was palmed away by Colgan ahead of McCulloch. Hibs attacked with Latapy turning on the edge of the box and shooting wide, Goram doing the covering. Motherwell thought they had taken the lead in the 19th minute. Oueiffio threaded a ball through the Hibs defence for Elliott and he shot across goal. The ball struck the base of the post and came out to Goodman who smacked the ball high into the net. However, the celebrations were cut short by the late, late flag of the far-side linesman. Hibs were then screaming for a penalty when Lehman, renowned for his theatrics, did himself no favours when challenged by McMillan in the box. There appeared to be minimal contact with Lehman eventually booked for his efforts. Paateleinen then put a deep cross into the box which McMillan did well to head away under pressure from O'Neill. The Fir Parkers pushed up the park and Kevin Twaddle was unlucky to see his shot deflect of the legs of Smith and into the arms of Colgan. The burly Paatelenien then fell when tackled by McMillan and whilst the award looked soft Hibs were givne the free kick near the box. Sauzee stepped up but his curled shot was easily saved by Goram. There was a yellow card next for Fenwick who was very late with a challenge on Elliott, though from the free-kick Motherwell wasted the opportunity. A Townsley flick then presented Lee McCulloch with a chance but he drove wide. There was more controversy when Lehman and Kemble clashed near the penalty spot. Running on to a through ball Lehman looked to have been nudged by Kemble. The Referee waved play on, a clear indication that Lehman did himself out of a penalty with his earlier dive. The Home fans were by now claiming for everything and they were up in arms shouting for another penalty when, despite Lehman winning the header, the demand was for a handball against Kemble. A break by Twaddle looked promising but his cross in was gathered by Colgan ahead of Elliott. Just prior to the break Paateleinen headed over from O'Neill.

Half-time     Hibernian 0     Motherwell 0

Motherwell replaced the injured Ged Brannan with Greg Strong at the interval but as the teams re-started the match it was the home side who looked the hungrier. Stevie Hammel was booked for a tug on Sauzee near the corner flag with the free kick falling to Latapy, his drive skewing wide. It began to look like Referee McCurry was attempting to make things up to the Hibs fans when, seconds later, he booked Oueifio for a very soft tackle on another of the home players who has trouble staying on his feet, Latapy. Luck went against Motherwell as, although Goram parried the drive from Sauzee, Latapy's shot took a wicked deflection off Paateleinen and went into the net. A poor defensive pass by Smith was pounced upon by Hammel but his net-bound drive was blocked by the desperate leg of Fenwick. The ball was punted downfield where Kemble did well to block the drive from Lehman. It was almost two when McMillan was slack at the back allowing Smith in but a great tackle form Twaddle allowed Goram to gather. Smith was lucky not to be booked for his follow through on Goram with the keeper already clutching the ball by the time the midfielder arrived. Latapy then shot from 20 yards but Goram again saved. Terrific work by Elliott in the box gave McCulloch a chance with a back-post header but it was saved by Colgan. Motherwell saw another player booked when Strong was carded after a tackle on Latapy, the first mis-timed challenge from the centre-half. Hibs almost sneaked a second when Paateleinen smacked a looping header off the crossbar, rising unchallenged to connect with O'Neill's cross. Stevie McMillan went on a long run which was abruptly ended with a late tackle from Lehman. Play-on insisted Referee McCurry who doubled the pain by giving a goal-kick despite the ball going for a corner. Motherwell took the tiring Elliott off and put Derek Adams on in his place. There was an alarming amount of space afforded to Lehman when his header was saved by Goram. There was a fair shout for a penalty when Sauzee used Lee McCulloch as a climbing frame to head clear, with a free-kick given to Hibs instead. Motherwell should have equalised mid-way through the half when Lee McCulloch, beating the off-side trap, smacked a lob by Oueifio over the bar from six yards out. Oueifio then battled well to win the ball near the corner flag but his inviting cross found no takers. A nasty challenge by Smith on Townsley was allowed to go by Referee McCurry, with Townsley replaced soon after by Corrigan. A clever piece of work by Adams saw another cross swing in but Smith cleared. Motherwell were made to pay a minute later when a long kick by Colgan was headed on by Lehman for Paateleinen. The Fin ran clear to beat Goram at his near post with the Motherwell defence posted missing. Although the goal was slightly against the run of play at that point it more or less signified the end of the match. Lehman did have a chance to nick a hat-trick when Sauzee sent him away but he shot wildly over.

Full-Time     Hibernian 2     Motherwell 0

Match Report by Ricky Mullen (rmullen@motherwell.co.uk)