Match ends, Hibernian 0, Motherwell 2.
HibernianHibernian0MotherwellMotherwell2
Graham Alexander says Motherwell need to play "with a point to prove" after they left Easter Road with all three points.
Jordan Roberts and Devante Cole scored against Hibernian to take Well eight points clear of bottom side Hamilton Academical.
Alexander's side also have a seven-point cushion over Kilmarnock in the relegation play-off spot.
"All our players should play with a point to prove," he told BBC Scotland.
"I've got a point prove, our whole club has got a point that we're a good club, we're a good team, we've got good players, good coaches but we've got to prove it every matchday."
The hosts, in third, remain four points clear of Aberdeen but have a game in hand over the Dons.
Martin Boyle's header and Chris Cadden's half-volley were off target as Hibs pressed early on and Motherwell almost went ahead when Tony Watt latched on to a long ball and flashed wide.
Darren McGregor came to Hibs' rescue with a block on Allan Campbell's shot but that only delayed the inevitable with Watt's terrific pass with the outside of his right foot setting Roberts away from Paul Hanlon to finish coolly past Ofir Marciano.
Motherwell were dealt an injury blow when left-back Jake Carroll and Christian Doidge clashed heads with the Irishman replaced by Nathan McGinley.
However, the second half could not have started better for Alexander's side as Watt headed on a throw-in and Roberts slipped a pass to Cole, who finished with style.
Hibs head coach Jack Ross had seen enough and threw on Ryan Porteous, Alex Gogic and Kevin Nisbet in place of McGregor, Lewis Stevenson and Jamie Murphy in an attempt to lift the hosts out of their lethargy.
Joe Newell fired into the side netting at a Hibs corner and Jackson Irvine's lovely pass set Doidge through only for Liam Kelly to make the block.
Motherwell captain Declan Gallagher made his return from injury as a replacement for Watt and made a mess of a clearance that gave Doidge another chance, Kelly again excelling with the save.
Alexander was sent to the stand by referee Alan Muir in stoppage time - the manager's second red card in four games.
Man of the match - Jordan Roberts
What did we learn?
If Hibs have had more ups than downs this season, it's been the other way around for Motherwell, but it was the hosts that looked less self-assured. Misplaced passes dogged their first-half performance and gave the Fir Park side little nibbles in the final third before the Roberts opener.
The visitors did not look back after getting ahead and Premiership safety is in sight. Hibs remain primed for a third-placed finish and a European place but, on this performance, there's still work to be done.
What did they say?
Hibernian head coach Jack Ross: "Frustrating afternoon for us. They're incredibly soft goals. At key moments, we probably miss chances that could enable us to get back in the game.
"Our reaction to the concession of the second goal was very good. We performed like a team in the second half that was still desperate to win it."
Motherwell manager Graham Alexander: "It's a brilliant three points for us. They were prepared to put everything into winning a game of football.
"They didn't let each other down, they fought for each other on every inch of the pitch and we deserved to win a game of football against a very good opponent away from home."
What's next?
Hibernian are away to St Johnstone next Saturday (15:00 GMT), when Motherwell are at home to Livingston.
Player of the match
RobertsJordan Roberts
with an average of 8.03
Hibernian
Avg
- Squad number23Player nameAllanAverage rating
4.85
- Squad number13Player nameGogicAverage rating
3.93
- Squad number1Player nameMarcianoAverage rating
3.83
- Squad number5Player namePorteousAverage rating
3.76
- Squad number10Player nameBoyleAverage rating
3.74
- Squad number24Player nameMcGregorAverage rating
3.57
- Squad number27Player nameCaddenAverage rating
3.56
- Squad number11Player nameNewellAverage rating
3.45
- Squad number16Player nameStevensonAverage rating
3.43
- Squad number15Player nameNisbetAverage rating
3.42
- Squad number36Player nameIrvineAverage rating
3.41
- Squad number6Player nameMcGinnAverage rating
3.41
- Squad number9Player nameDoidgeAverage rating
3.40
- Squad number4Player nameHanlonAverage rating
3.28
- Squad number18Player nameMurphyAverage rating
3.21
Motherwell
Avg
- Squad number39Player nameRobertsAverage rating
8.03
- Squad number32Player nameWattAverage rating
7.78
- Squad number44Player nameColeAverage rating
7.74
- Squad number6Player nameCampbellAverage rating
7.69
- Squad number14Player nameLawlessAverage rating
7.49
- Squad number4Player nameLamieAverage rating
7.35
- Squad number8Player nameCrawfordAverage rating
7.13
- Squad number5Player nameMcGinleyAverage rating
7.00
- Squad number33Player nameO'DonnellAverage rating
6.97
- Squad number15Player nameMaguireAverage rating
6.93
- Squad number40Player nameMagloireAverage rating
6.69
- Squad number3Player nameCarrollAverage rating
6.68
- Squad number13Player nameKellyAverage rating
6.47
- Squad number31Player nameGallagherAverage rating
6.25
Line-ups
Hibernian
Formation 3-4-1-2
- 1Marciano
- 6McGinn
- 24McGregorSubstituted forPorteousat 49'minutes
- 4HanlonBooked at 81mins
- 27Cadden
- 36IrvineSubstituted forAllanat 79'minutes
- 11Newell
- 16StevensonSubstituted forGogicat 49'minutes
- 18MurphySubstituted forNisbetat 49'minutes
- 10BoyleBooked at 79mins
- 9Doidge
Substitutes
- 2Gray
- 5Porteous
- 8Wright
- 13Gogic
- 15Nisbet
- 20Hallberg
- 23Allan
- 33Macey
- 43Bradley
Motherwell
Formation 4-3-3
- 13Kelly
- 33O'Donnell
- 40Magloire
- 4Lamie
- 3CarrollSubstituted forMcGinleyat 41'minutes
- 6Campbell
- 8Crawford
- 15Maguire
- 39RobertsSubstituted forLawlessat 79'minutes
- 44Cole
- 32WattSubstituted forGallagherat 70'minutes
Substitutes
- 5McGinley
- 9Long
- 11Hastie
- 14Lawless
- 19Polworth
- 23Morrison
- 24Devine
- 26Cornelius
- 31Gallagher
- Referee:
- Alan Muir
Match Stats
Home TeamHibernianAway TeamMotherwell
- Possession
- Home67%
- Away33%
- Shots
- Home16
- Away12
- Shots on Target
- Home3
- Away2
- Corners
- Home6
- Away4
- Fouls
- Home9
- Away12
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Hibernian 0, Motherwell 2.
Post update
Attempt missed. Kevin Nisbet (Hibernian) right footed shot from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Scott Allan.
Post update
Attempt missed. Martin Boyle (Hibernian) right footed shot from outside the box is too high following a corner.
Post update
Corner, Hibernian. Conceded by Robbie Crawford.
Post update
Paul Hanlon (Hibernian) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Post update
Foul by Steven Lawless (Motherwell).
Post update
Kevin Nisbet (Hibernian) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Foul by Ricki Lamie (Motherwell).
Post update
Attempt missed. Martin Boyle (Hibernian) right footed shot from a difficult angle and long range on the right is high and wide to the left.
Post update
Corner, Hibernian. Conceded by Allan Campbell.
Post update
Corner, Hibernian. Conceded by Nathan McGinley.
Post update
Alexander Gogic (Hibernian) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Stephen O'Donnell (Motherwell).
Post update
Attempt missed. Scott Allan (Hibernian) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Christian Doidge.
Post update
Offside, Motherwell. Robbie Crawford tries a through ball, but Devante Cole is caught offside.
Booking
Paul Hanlon (Hibernian) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Foul by Paul Hanlon (Hibernian).
Post update
Robbie Crawford (Motherwell) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Scott Allan (Hibernian) wins a free kick on the right wing.
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