Motherwell 1 Hibernian 4

Last updated : 22 November 2008 By Footymad Previewer
Hibs took the pressure off manager Mixu Paatelainen by ending a six-game winless run with an emphatic victory at Fir Park.

They ran Motherwell ragged all afternoon and could have won by even more goals if they had taken the chances they created.

The visitors almost made the perfect start in the opening minute when Steven Fletcher sent Derek Riordan clean through but the striker was denied by a point-blank save by Graeme Smith.

The goal was only delayed by five minutes though. John Rankin collected an Ian Murray clearance 35 yards out and headed for goal before striking a low shot past Graeme Smith from 18 yards out.

Riordan should have doubled the lead on 21 minutes when he beat the offside trap but once again he was denied by Graeme Smith when clean through.

It took Motherwell until the 30th minute to have a shot at goal when Bob Malcolm's 35-yard free-kick was comfortably held by Yves Makaba-Makalamby.

The Hibs keeper wasn't so lucky with Malcolm's next free-kick as the Motherwell defender arrowed his effort into the top left corner with Makaba-Makalamby rooted to the spot.

Hibs were unlucky to be level at the break but they were ahead once again after only four minutes of the restart. Dean Shiels finished a four-man move when he picked up the ball at the edge of the box and made no mistake when clean through as he struck the ball past Graeme Smith.

The visitors effectively sealed the game with a third on 61 minutes when, although there appeared to be no danger when Stephen Hughes stopped Murray at the edge of the box, the ball broke for Fletcher and he hit a thunderbolt from 30 yards out which Graeme Smith never even saw.

Hibs kept pushing forward and could have added to the scoreline when Shiels took advantage of more defensive slackness but he could only scoop his shot onto the crossbar.

They did finally add a fourth as the clock ticked onto 90 minutes when Riordan was allowed too much space in the penalty box to pick his spot past the hapless Graeme Smith.