Hibernian 2, Motherwell 0

Match Date: Saturday, January 27 2007
Competition: Scottish Premier League
Attendance: 14,280.
Motherwell Team (4-5-1):

Graeme Smith, Corrigan, Craigan, Reynolds, Murphy, Darren Lee Smith (Molloy 46), Kerr, Fitzpatrick (McBride 59), Foran, McGarry, McDonald. 
Subs Not Used: Meldrum, McCormack, Keegan, Kinniburgh, Quinn.

Booked: none

DIRE RUN AT EASTER ROAD CONTINUES

Hibernian  2     Motherwell  0

MOTHERWELL Failed to take anything from another visit to Easter Road after this encounter which lacked sparkle. After a goalless first-half, the home side managed to break down the resistance of the Fir Park men and added a late second to seal the points.

Hibs attacked from the start, Brown racing forward to the edge of the box but Reynolds prevented his progress troubling Smith. Motherwell countered with McDonald finding Foran but Jones denied him. Motherwell then conceded three successive corners to Hibs, though the closest they came was a Jones header that went harmlessly over. Sproule managed what was to be a rare escape from the clutches of Murphy but could do little other than chip into the hands of Smith in goal. Craigan was adjudged to have fouled Brown, the Hibs man going down very easily, and a free kick was awarded some 30 yards out. Jones rose to head forward where Darren Smith cleared. Motherwell then went very close to opening the scoring. McDonald's doggedness saw him win a lost ball from Murphy. Supplying Corrigan, the cross to the back post had Foran stretching but his header skimmed the bar as it went back across goal. McGarry was then the subject of a late Fletcher tackle but the Fir Parkers failed to take advantage from the free kick. Reynolds then forced a corner for Motherwell but this was hooked away by Whittaker. Richie Foran did well to regain possession from Jones but the big defender got in a challenge to clear. Sproule then made a run and cross to the back post but it proved too deep for his fellow forwards. Stevenson made way into the box and it took a vital block by Kerr, deflecting the ball to Smith who cleared, to prevent Fletcher connecting. Fletcher then crossed towards Sproule but his lack of control allowed Murphy to clear. A deliberate handball by Whittaker went unpunished though Motherwell gathered. McDonald appeared to have played Smith clear but a dubious offside flag was raised. Successive late fouls, firstly by Jones on McDonald and then Martis on Fitzpatrick saw a free kick awarded to Motherwell. Jones knocked behind for a corner, which was cleared. Making the by line up field was Murphy with his Motherwell namesake conceding a corner kick. Smith confidently gathered and set Motherwell away. Fitzpatrick sent the ball forward to McDonald but he retained the ball a fraction too long and the opportunity was gone. Fletcher attempted a fierce shot from outside the box though Smith was on hand to gather at the second attempt. Sproule then attempted to escape the clutches of Murphy but the Motherwell defender superbly tackled at the expense of a throw. Referee McCurry really should have had the card out after Fletcher blatantly dived inside the box; instead he merely waved play on. Motherwell broke forward and had a three-on-two situation which certainly looked promising. That was until the Referee blew to halt play as a Hibs player lay on the turf. With Motherwell on the break, their players and fans were understandably enraged. And what looked a very good situation for Motherwell ended with Hibs kicking the ball back to Smith in goals. Motherwell attacked again with Kerr playing McDonald away but the linesman, who had an abysmal afternoon, blew for a handball against Kerr which only he appeared to see. Hibs were then given a free kick, which Fletcher headed towards goal though Smith held easily. Motherwell forced a corner which came to nothing near the break. And just prior to the interval Murphy of Hibs sent Smith flying right in front of the linesman who mysteriously failed to see any wrong.

Half Time     Hibs  0     Motherwell  0

There were changes all around at the break, Darren Smith making way for Trevor Molloy for Motherwell, with Stewart and Stevenson making way for Buezelin and Benjalloun for the home side. Within seconds of the restart the latter of the Hibs subs had an opportunity on the edge of the box after Fletcher had set him up but he blasted way over the top. Craigan then partially cleared a cross into the path of Murphy who screwed a shot equally well wide. Hibs were pressing and Whittaker sent a low grounder which Smith gathered comfortably. Motherwell broke up field with McDonald supplying Molloy. Cutting inside he sent a low, curling effort which McNeil got both hands to. A clearance from Craigan failed to go beyond Thomson and his shot whistled past the upright with Smith covering. Fletcher should have been booked when he was very late on Kerr, with the Referee amazingly waving play on. Hibs almost went ahead when a Corrigan clearance struck Sproule before going narrowly past. Motherwell made a change with Fitzpatrick making way for McBride. Again, another late Hibs tackle, this time Thomson on McDonald, saw only a free kick awarded. McBride's first involvement almost saw him break the stalemate. Molloy sent a ball into the box which found it's way to Foran. He saw his effort blocked by a desperate Jones. The ball ran again for Foran but, seeing McBride to his left, he set up the winger but only a fantastic block by McNeil prevented the ball reaching the net. Motherwell sensed they could break the Hibs back line, and Foran was very unlucky to see his cross fall narrowly behind the unmarked McBride and roll to safety for Hibs. And Motherwell were cruelly made to pay for the missed opportunities. Hibs had switched Sproule to the other flank, and he was able to beat Corrigan before finding Brown who finished. Fletcher then went down very easily under minimal Reynolds pressure. From the free kick Murphy curled in but Smith held. Molloy then fouled Brown to concede a further free kick 20 yards out. Craigan was on hand to clear as Jones threatened. McGarry appeared to have fairly controlled the ball and break forward soon after but he was halted when Referee McCurry claimed to have spotted a handball. Another case of diving occurred when Brown went down inside the box as Murphy cleanly won the ball, with the Referee choosing to ignore the dive. A headed clearance from Craigan then created problems as it struck Reynolds but fortunately for Motherwell Smith clutched the ball. A break forward by Benjalloun took him towards the box were he set up Fletcher. With the goal beckoning he ballooned the ball over the bar. Clever keeping by Smith then denied Hibs again when he raced from goal to head clear outside the area. Hibs made another change with Shields replacing Fletcher. Kerr and Corrigan then combined to set McDonald away but another dubious offside flag denied the striker. A red card wouldn't have gone amiss when Brown appeared to kick out at Kerr after the two clashed out on the wing, Referee McCurry clearly indicating he'd forgotten his cards by merely lecturing both players. Motherwell forced a late corner but, as so often happens, they fell victim to a break up field. Sproule beat Corrigan for pace and sent a low cross to the back post where Benjalloun netted. It was harsh on Motherwell, who once again left Easter Road pointless.

Full Time     Hibernian  2     Motherwell  0

Match Report by Ricky Mullen

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