Motherwell and Hibs meet at Fir Park on Tuesday in a match that will test sixth against third.
This fixture had to be moved from the start of the month due to Motherwell’s recent appearance at Hampden and it now sets us up for a double against the Edinburgh teams as a visit from Hearts follows on Saturday.
Both sides are enjoying good league form with Hibs producing four wins and a draw from the last six while Motherwell’s refreshing style has returned a run of three wins and a draw. A tasty night of action seems to lie ahead.
Hibs dispatched Dundee on Saturday with a comfortable 2-0 win at Easter Road. Kieron Bowie and Jamie McGrath were the scorers. Bowie’s goal (and his missed chances) caused him to feature in David Gray’s post-match comments. He reckons that the 23 year old has a “massive” career in prospect as the forward presses his case for inclusion in Steve Clarke’s World Cup squad. He is one that the ‘Well defenders will be sure to note.
At the other end of Gray’s team the defensive trio of Rocky Bushiri, Grant Hanley and Jack Iredale form a tough barrier and with Raphel Sallinger behind them they have secured clean sheets in their last two games.
Motherwell fans have suggested that more goals should come their way given the high rate of possession that the team regularly achieves. However, a look at the league’s top scorers table shows one Tawanda Maswanhise sharing top spot and a few places behind lurks Apostolos Stamatelopoulos. Between them they have a dozen of Motherwell’s twenty to date. There is only one blank in the dozen games in this season’s campaign.
Eli Just started on the bench at Kilmarnock as he recovered from the long miles at the international break. We can expect him to be on the pitch at kick off on Tuesday.
It has been almost a full year since we hosted Hibs at Fir Park and with them riding high in the table we can expect a healthy following from Leith to occupy the McLean Stand. They will be hoping for a win but may have to settle for a point after a 2-2 draw.
Remember the last visit by Hibs?
