Motherwell 1 - 3 Hibernian

Motherwell   1 - 3   Hibernian

Zemmama celebrates his stunning free-kick at Fir Park

Two second-half strikes by Derek Riordan and Merouane Zemmama helped Hibernian to three points at Fir Park.

A Mark Reynolds header for Motherwell in 35 minutes had cancelled out Colin Nish's early strike and at that point Motherwell looked the better side.

Riordan curled a delightful shot round John Ruddy in 51 minutes then four minutes later Zemmama powered home a tremendous free-kick.

Hibernian produced their best form of the season in the remaining minutes.

The Easter Road side began with a 4-2-4 formation and their ambition was rewarded in the ninth minute.

A Merouane Zemmama cross was cleared only as far as Riordan, who returned the ball into the danger area where Colin Nish was on hand to knock the ball home from close range.

Hibs had a weak claim for a penalty turned down by referee Steve Conroy when Nish crashed to the turf after a challenge by Well's Steven Saunders, but no penalty or caution was awarded.

Zemmama looked in the mood in Fir Park and he made sure Ruddy was kept on his toes with a couple of long-range shots.

The home side got on the scoresheet when Reynolds powered home a well-delivered Jim O'Brien corner beyond the exposed Graham Stack.

The lack of marking in the Hibs six-yard box will be a major concern for John Hughes, in his playing days just the sort of figure required to clear the danger from free-kicks and corners.

With the Hibernian midfield looking over-run and Riordan's willingness to chase back questionable, Steelmen boss Jim Gannon evidently saw the Hibs' left as the best area to attack.

Reynolds heads home the first-half equaliser for Motherwell

And in the closing stages of the first half and at the beginning of the second period, Motherwell looked the more purposeful and the more likely to score.

John Sutton had a half-chance with a header that went wide before Hibernian took the lead against the run of play through Riordan in 51 minutes after a good pass by Liam Miller.

From inside the box on the left, the Easter Road striker sent a curling right-foot shot past Ruddy to make it 2-1.

There can be few better finishers in Scottish football from that position.

If Motherwell were smarting from Riordan's goal, they were stunned by Zemmama's free-kick just four minutes later, a cracking shot from just outside the box that Ruddy was unable to keep out.

Giles Coke's never-say-die attitude prevented Hibs putting the game out of sight when he prevented Miller from converting Nish's pass.

The Irishman went to ground and, despite the roar from the Hibs fans, referee Conroy waved play on.

Hibernian grew in confidence and went on to dominate the final half hour, with Zemmama at his best, much to the dismay of the home support.

After Hibernian's Co-operative Insurance Cup exit at the hands of St Johnstone, Hughes will be delighted that his boldness in formation was repaid.

For Gannon and the Claret and Amber fans, it's their first taste of defeat in the league this season.

---

Motherwell manager Jim Gannon:

"I've spoken to a few managers who have had Hibs and they've felt that certain scores haven't been a fair reflection of the game.

"It's like boxing - it's not about the number of punches, it's about the killer blows.

"When you think of the reputation and the cost of those players, there is an expectation that they would have that touch more class and efficiency when it comes to finishing.

"We've improved a lot of stuff over the last two and a half months. We've been concentrating on improving our attacking play and penetration.

"Sometimes we have to be mindful what we've been doing the last six or seven games. Maybe we need to take a step back and make sure that that side is solid before we move on.

"We know we have to work hard to be on the park with the teams that have that touch more quality."

Hibernian manager John Hughes:

"I felt the boys worked hard enough for the victory. To win away from home 3-1, I'd take that every week.

"We could have scored more goals. We ran out convincing winners in the second half.

"We played a very attack-minded team today, coming away from home. Sometimes it costs you in terms of the work ethic.

"Derek Riordan was tracking back, playing left back at times, Zemmama was playing right back, prepared to do a shift for the team.

"It's been up and down up until now. The boys all want to work hard and win football matches. If we work as hard as we did today, we'll be a hard team to beat.

"I know what I need to do at this club. We've got a lot of hard work in front of us. If the boys are willing to do it my way, then it makes the job all the more satisfying."

---

Live text and stats

 

Saturday, 26 September 2009

Scottish Premier

Home Team	Score	Away Team	Time
Motherwell	1 - 3	Hibernian	R
(HT 1 - 1)
Reynolds 35		Nish 9 Riordan 51 Zemmama 55

Motherwell

• 21 Ruddy
• 02 Moutaouakil
• 03 Hammell
• 04 Reynolds
• 43 Saunders
• 06 Coke (Humphrey 80)
• 17 O'Brien yellow card (McHugh 58)
• 24 Hateley
• 27 Forbes
• 09 Jutkiewicz (Murphy 58)
• 11 Sutton

Substitutes

• 01 Fraser,
• 05 Craigan,
• 07 Humphrey,
• 08 Jennings,
• 14 Lasley,
• 15 Murphy,
• 35 McHugh

Hibernian

• 01 Stack
• 04 Hogg
• 06 Murray
• 24 David Wotherspoon yellow card
• 26 Bamba
• 07 Zemmama
• 17 McBride
• 33 Miller yellow card
• 09 Nish (Benjelloun 77)
• 10 Riordan (Rankin 86)
• 18 Stokes (Danny Galbraith 70)

Substitutes

• 30 Ma-Kalambay,
• 15 Thicot,
• 20 Hanlon,
• 08 Cregg,
• 11 Rankin,
• 22 Danny Galbraith,
• 19 Benjelloun

Ref: ConroyAtt: 5221

MOTHERWELL

HIBERNIAN

Possession

• Motherwell 54%
• Hibernian 46%

Shots on target

• Motherwell 3
• Hibernian 6

Shots off target

• Motherwell 6
• Hibernian 3

Corners

• Motherwell 7
• Hibernian 4

Fouls

• Motherwell 6
• Hibernian 21

• Final Result
• Full Time
• 90:00+3:31 The game is over, as the referee blows his whistle.
• 90:00+3:00 Merouane Zemmama decides to take the corner short.
• 90:00+0:57 Handball by Abdessalam Benjelloun. Free kick taken by Tom Hateley.
• 89:31 Danny Galbraith takes a shot. Save by John Ruddy. Shot on goal by John Rankin from inside the box goes harmlessly over the target.
• 88:17 Long range effort from Yassin Moutaouakil misses to the left of the goal.
• 87:42 Liam Miller concedes a free kick for a foul on Yassin Moutaouakil. Steven Saunders takes the direct free kick.
• 86:58 Ross Forbes takes a inswinging corner to the near post, Liam Miller manages to make a clearance.
• 86:46 Abdessalam Benjelloun challenges John Ruddy unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick taken by Mark Reynolds.
• 85:37 Substitution John Rankin on for Derek Riordan.
• 83:10 Jamie Murphy is caught offside. Graham Stack restarts play with the free kick.
• 81:13 Merouane Zemmama takes a inswinging corner from the left by-line to the near post, Tom Hateley manages to make a clearance.
• 79:51 Tom Hateley fouled by Abdessalam Benjelloun, the ref awards a free kick. Mark Reynolds restarts play with the free kick.
• 79:23 Substitution Chris Humphrey comes on in place of Giles Coke.
• 76:36 Substitution Abdessalam Benjelloun comes on in place of Colin Nish.
• 75:11 The free kick is swung in left-footed by Ross Forbes, Ian Murray manages to make a clearance. Corner taken by Tom Hateley from the left by-line played to the near post, Souleymane Bamba manages to make a clearance. Corner taken by Tom Hateley played to the near post, Danny Galbraith makes a clearance.
• 75:11 Booking David Wotherspoon is cautioned.
• 75:01 Foul by David Wotherspoon on Robert McHugh, free kick awarded.
• 74:45 Free kick awarded for a foul by Ian Murray on Giles Coke. Free kick taken by Giles Coke.
• 71:07 Drilled left-footed shot by Danny Galbraith. Save made by John Ruddy.
• 70:03 Unfair challenge on Chris Hogg by John Sutton results in a free kick. Graham Stack restarts play with the free kick.
• 69:16 Steven Saunders takes the free kick.
• 69:16 Substitution Danny Galbraith is brought on as a substitute for Anthony Stokes.
• 69:16 The referee blows for offside against Anthony Stokes.
• 67:43 Jamie Murphy is caught offside. Indirect free kick taken by Graham Stack.
• 66:22 Chris Hogg is penalised for handball and concedes a free kick. The ball is crossed by Ross Forbes, Headed effort from inside the area by Robert McHugh misses to the right of the goal.
• 63:52 Merouane Zemmama fouled by Stevie Hammell, the ref awards a free kick. Graham Stack restarts play with the free kick.
• 63:11 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Tom Hateley by Anthony Stokes. Direct free kick taken by Steven Saunders.
• 60:10 Tom Hateley takes the free kick.
• 60:10 Booking Liam Miller is booked.
• 59:44 Yassin Moutaouakil fouled by Liam Miller, the ref awards a free kick.
• 57:44 Substitution Jamie Murphy on for Lukas Jutkiewicz.
• 57:44 Substitution Robert McHugh joins the action as a substitute, replacing Jim O'Brien.
• 55:41 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on John Sutton by Souleymane Bamba. Tom Hateley has a direct shot on goal from the free kick.
• 54:43 GOAL - Merouane Zemmama:Motherwell 1 - 3 Hibernian Merouane Zemmama grabs a brilliant goal direct from the free kick from just outside the penalty area to the top left corner of the goal. Motherwell 1-3 Hibernian.
• 53:51 Booking Jim O'Brien is shown a yellow card for unsporting behaviour.
• 53:40 Jim O'Brien gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Ian Murray.
• 52:36 Merouane Zemmama concedes a free kick for a foul on Lukas Jutkiewicz. Direct free kick taken by Stevie Hammell.
• 50:24 Liam Miller provided the assist for the goal.
• 50:24 GOAL - Derek Riordan:Motherwell 1 - 2 Hibernian Derek Riordan scores a goal from inside the area to the bottom right corner of the goal. Motherwell 1-2 Hibernian.
• 48:28 Foul by David Wotherspoon on Lukas Jutkiewicz, free kick awarded. Direct free kick taken by Ross Forbes.
• 46:57 Foul by David Wotherspoon on Lukas Jutkiewicz, free kick awarded. Direct free kick taken by Ross Forbes, Headed effort from deep inside the area by John Sutton misses to the left of the goal.
• 46:23 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Kevin McBride by Giles Coke. Free kick taken by Chris Hogg.
• 45:10 Anthony Stokes concedes a free kick for a foul on Yassin Moutaouakil. Free kick taken by Yassin Moutaouakil.
• 45:01 The referee starts the second half.
• Half Time
• 45:00+0:30 It is the end of the first-half.
• 44:19 John Sutton fouled by Chris Hogg, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick taken by Ross Forbes.
• 42:56 Colin Nish concedes a free kick for a foul on Mark Reynolds. John Ruddy restarts play with the free kick.
• 41:36 Corner from the left by-line taken by Jim O'Brien, Close range header by Ross Forbes misses to the right of the goal.
• 40:51 Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Jim O'Brien from the left by-line, Chris Hogg manages to make a clearance.
• 40:12 Corner taken by Ross Forbes from the right by-line, clearance by Anthony Stokes.
• 37:32 Derek Riordan takes a short corner.
• 34:42 Assist on the goal came from Jim O'Brien.
• 34:42 GOAL - Mark Reynolds:Motherwell 1 - 1 Hibernian Mark Reynolds scores a goal from close range to the top right corner of the goal. Motherwell 1-1 Hibernian.
• 34:16 Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Jim O'Brien,
• 32:33 Yassin Moutaouakil fouled by Liam Miller, the ref awards a free kick. Yassin Moutaouakil takes the free kick.
• 31:10 David Wotherspoon concedes a free kick for a foul on Jim O'Brien. Direct free kick taken by Jim O'Brien.
• 30:21 Yassin Moutaouakil gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Liam Miller. Souleymane Bamba restarts play with the free kick.
• 29:25 The ball is sent over by Yassin Moutaouakil, John Sutton takes a shot. Save by Graham Stack.
• 28:37 Free kick awarded for a foul by Ian Murray on Lukas Jutkiewicz. Tom Hateley takes the direct free kick.
• 26:03 Foul by Colin Nish on Mark Reynolds, free kick awarded. Free kick taken by John Ruddy.
• 24:01 Shot from outside the penalty box by Ross Forbes goes wide right of the goal.
• 22:09 Shot from just outside the box by Merouane Zemmama goes over the crossbar.
• 21:02 Shot from long range by Merouane Zemmama goes wide of the left-hand upright.
• 18:39 Free kick awarded for a foul by Kevin McBride on Ross Forbes. Free kick taken by Ross Forbes.
• 13:46 Short corner taken by Derek Riordan.
• 11:54 Shot by Anthony Stokes. Comfortable save by John Ruddy.
• 10:02 Ian Murray concedes a free kick for a foul on Yassin Moutaouakil. Tom Hateley sends in a cross, Effort on goal by Steven Saunders from 12 yards. Save by Graham Stack.
• 8:53 The assist for the goal came from Derek Riordan.
• 8:53 GOAL - Colin Nish:Motherwell 0 - 1 Hibernian Colin Nish scores a goal from close in to the bottom right corner of the goal. Motherwell 0-1 Hibernian.
• 3:32 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Ross Forbes by Merouane Zemmama. Direct free kick taken by Steven Saunders.
• 1:15 Souleymane Bamba is ruled offside. Indirect free kick taken by John Ruddy.
• 0:34 Free kick awarded for a foul by Mark Reynolds on Colin Nish. Derek Riordan crosses the ball from the free kick right-footed from right channel, Mark Reynolds makes a clearance.
• 0:00 The ref blows the whistle to start the match.

---

Live text and data provided by The Press Association.