Hibernian 1-1 Motherwell
Bowie (69′) Maswanhise (52′)
Motherwell remained two points clear of Hibernian in 4th place, after an entertaining 1-1 draw at Easter Road.
The hosts started on the front foot, eager to add a fourth straight league victory and leapfrog Motherwell into fourth place. Kieron Bowie had the game’s first chance. He stretched to meet Jordan Obita’s cross after neat interplay with Jamie McGrath, but could not steer his header goal from the back post.
Obita delivered another teasing delivery on the 15-minute mark, but alertness from Emmanuel Longelo nullified the threat of the big striker.
The visitors have impressed with their free-flowing football across the opening 21 games, but chances were few and far between in the opening 20 minutes. Jens Berthel Askou would have been further displeased to see Stephen O’Donnell hobble off during their quiet spell.
Obita lashed over the bar after a penalty box stramash as they continued to press towards the opening goal. David Gray’s side had established a grip on proceedings at Easter Road. Josh Mulligan then rolled Elie Youan through on Ward’s goal in the 25th minute. The striker managed two goals at Rugby Park last Saturday, but got the ball stuck under his feet, and the danger was cleared.
Motherwell looked like a threat in the final 15 minutes of the first half. Tom Sparrow jinxed past several green bodies in the box, but Raphael Sallinger was alert to tip his curling left-footed strike away from goal. The Austrian gathered a 20-yard Elijah Just freekick minutes later, as the visitors began to build openings.
Askou will be pleased to reclaim the services of Tawanda Maswanhise from AFCON. The striker has nine league goals this campaign, and showed electric pace to work a dangerous opening in the 38th minute. After leaving a Hibs defender on the floor, his strike from the right-hand side of the box was tipped away by Sallinger.
The visitors opened the scoring seven minutes into the second half. Elijah Just broke towards the Hibs defence, picking out the onrushing Maswanshise on the right-hand side.
The Zimbabwean striker was afforded too much time by the hosts, and lashed a low right-footed strike across Sallinger’s goal and into the bottom corner, to send the sell-out away end into frenzy.
Gray and Hibs would have been especially frustrated to lose the goal after Bowie had missed a headed chance seconds before.
But HIbs and Bowie roared back with 20 minutes to play. Obita latched onto a stray Tom Sparrow diagonal ball. He picked out the Hibs number 9 in the box, who powered home from close range to equalise, and set up a thrilling finale
Motherwell had established better control in the second period, and despite the setback, continued to look the most likely to find a winner.
Ibrahim Said almost reclaimed the visitors’ lead after heading Calum Slattery’s cross wide at the near post, before Maswanhise’s strike was deflected over with ten minutes to play.
Sallinger produced a brilliant save in additional time to deny Longelo. After Maswanhise’s mishit, the ball broke to Longelo on the left-hand side of the box, but the Austrian goalkeeper got down low to smother the right-footed strike and maintain the level scores.
Hibernian: Sallinger 8 O’Hora 7 Hanley 7 Iredale 7 Megwa 6 Mulligan 6 Barlaser 8 McGrath 7 Obita 6 Youan 7 Bowie 7
Substitutes: Hoilett 6 Cadden 5 Klidje 5 Levitt 3 Newell 3
Motherwell: Ward 7 O’Donnell 6 Welsh 7 McGinn 7 Longelo 7 Priestman 7 Fadinger 7 Sparrow 6 Just 8 Said 7 Maswanhise 8
Substitutes: Koutroumbis 5 Slattery 5 McGhee 3 Gordon 3
