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Daily Record
Daily Record
Sport
Andy McGilvray

Motherwell 2, Hibs 3: Nisbet hat-trick downs Well as they go seven without a win

Motherwell slumped to a seventh Premiership game without a win as a Kevin Nisbet hat-trick earned Hibs all three points at Fir Park.

The Scotland striker gave the visitors the lead 16 minutes into the first half and netted either side of Stuart McKinstry's second-half strike to secure all three points.

Ross Tierney provided a nervy finish for Hibs as he bagged another goal inside the last minute, reducing the deficit to just one.

While Hibs were clinical with their chances rather than flowing with their play, it's hard to say they don't deserve the win.

In response, Callum Slattery forced a good save from David Marshall, and Ricki Lamie and Sondre Solholm both hit the bar with headers.

But Nisbet tapped the ball into the net in 52 minutes and rifled home in 74 to complete his treble, after sub McKinstry had pulled a goal back in 59 minutes.

Nisbet got Hibs off the mark in 16 minutes and it was somewhat out of the blue at that point, but symptomatic of Motherwell's season, where they get caught out too often at the back.

Aiden McGeady swung in a cross, nobody picked Nisbet up, and he bagged his third goal in five games with a simple, yet clinical, finish.

Motherwell came to life after that, with Callum Slattery forcing a terrific save from David Marshall b before Ricki Lamie hit the bar.

But a long ball over the top sent Elie Youan down the right and his cut-back was tapped into the net by Nisbet and a simple cross from Josh Campbell allowed him to score again. Simply, the lethal striker wasn't picked up.

Motherwell boss Steven Hammell kept faith with the same side that drew 1-1 at Livingston on Monday.

Nisbet scored the first of his hat-trick midway through the first half to put Hibs ahead (SNS Group)

His Hibs counterpart Lee Johnson made three changes to the team that lost 3-0 to derby rivals Hearts. In came Kyle Magennis, Ryan Porteous and Aiden McGeady for Will Fish, Paul Hanlon and Harry McKirdy, who were all on the bench.

There was a real disconnect with Motherwell in the opening stages, while Hibs couldn't seem to find space.

The first real chance that got home fans excited came in 10 minutes when Matt Penney made his way down the left and swung in a cross for Blair Spittal that was well cut out by the Hibs defence.

Kevin van Veen tried to set up Spittal a few minutes later, but it just wouldn't fall for the former Ross County man.

But Motherwell's inability to stop conceding cheap goals came back to bite them in 16 minutes when McGeady's cross from the left found Nisbet unmarked in the box and he fired into the far post corner.

Better was to come from Motherwell in 27 minutes when good work by van Veen set up Sondre Solholm for a shot that was well blocked, before Callum Slattery's powerful shot was palmed past the right post.

Motherwell's Matt Penney and Hibs' Elie Youan battle for possession (SNS Group)

Van Veen's cross from the left was then headed off the junction of right post and by by Ricki Lamie.

Hibs doubled their lead in 52 minutes when Ryan Porteous's free kick down the right caught out Matt Penney, letting Elie Youan race down to the bye-line and cut the ball back for Nisbet to tap in.

But Motherwell pulled a goal back seven minutes later when Solholm's long ball released McKinstry and he cut in from the left wing before slipping a low shot into the bottom right corner.

Spittal's corner from the left was headed off the bar by Solholm in 69 minutes as Motherwell pressed for an equaliser.

Stuart McKinstry scored his third goal of the season, but it was mere consolation (SNS Group)

But Hibs ended the game as a contest in 74 minutes when Campbell's cross from the right picked out Nisbet for a thundering finish into the roof of the net.

Motherwell pulled a second goal back in 90 minutes when van Veen flicked the ball to sub Ross Tierney, who smashed into the net.

MOTHERWELL: Kelly, McGinn (Johnston, 82), Solholm, Lamie, Penney, Goss, Slattery (Tierney, 82), Spittal, Cornelius, Shields (McKinstry, 46), van Veen.

Subs (not used): Oxborough (GK), O'Donnell, Maguire, Blaney, Miller, Ross.

Booked: Slattery (57), Solholm (85)

HIBERNIAN: Marshall, Cadden (Henderson, 31), Bushiri, Porteous, Stevenson, Newell, Campbell, Magennis (Cabraja, 73), McGeady (Kenneh, 87), Youan (Hanlon, 73), Nisbet (Melkersen, 87).

Subs (not used): Schofield (GK), Tavares, McKirdy, Fish.

Booked:

Referee: David Munro.

Attendance: 5594.

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