Motherwell

The Sportscene panel analyse Hibernian's quick-fire double in victory against Motherwell. (UK users only)

Watch highlights of Hibs' 3-1 win against Motherwell in the Scottish Premiership. (UK users only)

We asked for your views on Motherwell's 3-1 defeat against Hibs.

Here's what some of you said:

Scotty: Very poor display. Sit back and give teams the ball to attack at will. Week in, week out we are overrun in midfield and there's a real lack of football being played. It's a results business, but fans need some entertainment for their hard-earned money. A real hard watch at the moment. Kai Andrews looks a decent player and it's good to see Callum Slattery back.

Grant: Dreadful defending for the first two goals, players are tired after the games over the festive period and Aston Oxborough being out in goal didn't help. Five away games in January doesn't help and it looks like Paul McGinn is out again, if we can get a full team fit and on the park it will make all the difference.

David: Another dismal performance. I can't understand why our manager uses fatigue as a factor as we never leave our own half, and at most we only have the ball at most 38%. Most Motherwell fans thought we'd get beat.

Kevin: Stuart Kettlewell must go. Fed up of his anti-football. Excuses after excuses. It doesn't matter who is in the team, we are always set up negatively. Worst team to watch in the league. Anyone who thinks he should be kept in place isn't a football fan. Absolutely brutal.

Ross: Another dreadful performance, we looked utterly woeful yet again. Yes the team have had a busy schedule of games lately, but so have other teams. So many players have been out injured throughout this season, we haven't had a full squad at any point which doesn't help.

Colin: Prior to the Hibs game were two bad performances that they luckily gained points in, Hibs performance was woeful. Team is changed on a game by game basis and appears there is no tactical direction. It won't be long before they drop out of the top six, and they won't get back in.

Image source, SNS

• Martin Boyle has scored seven goals in the Premiership this season (two in this game), more than any other Hibs player.

• Motherwell attempted 411 passes in this game, their highest total in a single match in the Premiership this season.

• Warren O'Hora attempted 82 passes in this game, the highest total for a Hibs player in the Premiership this season.

• Hibs have scored in 18 of their 23 games, only Celtic (20) have scored goals in more matches in the Premiership this season.

Hibernian held off Motherwell to extend their unbeaten Scottish Premiership run to seven games and move into the top six for the first time this season.

Two goals in three minutes from Martin Boyle and Nectarios Triantis stunned Motherwell before the break after a drab opening 25 minutes.

The visitors did not register a single shot in the first half but improved markedly in the second after bringing on Marvin Kaleta and Tawanda Maswanhise.

And when Callum Slattery curled in a free-kick from 20 yards on 76 minutes, it looked to have set up a nervy finish.

However, just five minutes later Stephen O'Donnell was penalised for hauling down Lewis Miller in the box, and Boyle stepped up to smash home a penalty and re-establish Hibs' two-goal lead.

Let us know your thoughts on Motherwell's performance.

Image source, SNS

Motherwell manager Stuart Kettlewell says his side were made to pay for individual errors in the first half, before improving in the second half.

"We showed good character and personality in the second half to take the ball, pass and progress up the pitch and ask a few more questions of Hibs," he told BBC Scotland.

"Then we get back in the game with a moment of quality. I'm delighted for Callum Slattery to get the goal with the journey he's been on the last year or so.

"Then we looked like the team in the ascendancy and playing with a bit of confidence. Then it's a moment of madness from Stephen [O'Donnell] my most experienced player on the pitch.

"He's angry and frustrated with himself. He doesn't have to do it, I think the goalkeeper claims it really easily from the wide free kick.

"It's a penalty, no complaints. And I think it puts the fire out and diminish the challenge that was coming from us in the last stage of the game."

On the injury to Paul McGinn, Kettlewell says: "It looks as if it's a reoccurrence of the injury that kept him out for so long. To what extent? I don't know but Paul knows his body and he feels it's the same. I'm gutted for him."

On Jack Vale's late red card, Kettlewell says it's a "complete overreaction" from the referee and it should have been a yellow card.

Thomas Duncan
BBC Sport Scotland

Image source, SNS

Motherwell, with injuries to key players such as Lennon Miller and now goalkeeper Aston Oxborough, looked tired and flat as they clung to a point against Kilmarnock on Wednesday.

Kettlewell was forced to bring in Archie Mair on loan from Norwich on Friday after Oxborough fractured a finger and back-up Krisztian Hegyi was recalled by West Ham.

Mair was put straight in as one of six changes, a mark of Kettlewell's issues, but even accounting for their that their first half was poor.

The visitors sat off Hibs and toiled to make simple passes, but at least the introduction of Kaleta for Wilson at left wing-back and Maswanhise up front gave them more energy and forced a reaction.

Slattery's lovely curling free-kick beyond goalkeeper Jordan Smith was just reward for their improvement, but they undid all their good work with O'Donnell's lapse in concentration when defending a set-piece.

Vale's sending off and another serious-looking muscle injury for Paul McGinn add to Kettlewell's squad issues as they look to be struggling with the volume of games.

Image source, SNS

Motherwell have signed goalkeeper Archie Mair on loan from Norwich City after Krisztian Hegyi was recalled by West Ham.

Mair, 23, has had six loan spells in England after joining Norwich from Aberdeen in 2019 and goes straight into the starting XI against Hibernian.

The former Scotland under-21 international has yet to make an appearance for the first team at Carrow Road.

Hegyi's spell ends after just two appearances in the League Cup group stage.

Matthew Connolly, 21, has also been recalled by Motherwell from his loan spell at East Kilbride and is on the bench at Easter Road.

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Hibs are again set to be without Elie Youan (foot) Joe Newell, Mykola Kuharevich (both groin), Marvin Ekpiteta (thigh) and Kieron Bowie (hamstring).

Motherwell defender Liam Gordon (head/neck) is a doubt, while Apostolos Stamatelopoulos (strain), Lennon Miller, Steve Seddon (both ankle), Ross Callachan (hamstring) and Zach Robinson (Achilles) remain out.

Jane Lewis
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Image source, SNS

Motherwell captain Paul McGinn is relieved to be back in action after being a frustrated spectator during his three-month injury lay-off.

The Scotland cap appeared off the bench in the last two games but is ready to start when the Steelmen visit Hibs on Saturday.

"I feel pretty good," the 34-year-old said. "I'm relieved to be back. It's pretty frustrating and just glad to be out there and help. I hate watching. I can't stand it. I'm not a great spectator, I never really enjoy all that much.

"I've got two young kids, they help keep me very busy. Apart from that, just make sure you're doing all the right things to get back, especially given I'm at the tail end of my career, then you need to really make sure you're right."

The right-back admitted it was "devastating" to miss Motherwell's League Cup semi-final against Rangers which saw them lose narrowly after taking the lead.

"We were in very good form at that time as well. Just really frustrating," added.

"I thought we were going to go over the line and again, it's nail-biting watching that and there's nothing you can do."

In his absence, the armband was taken by 18-year-old Lennon Miller before the midfielder was also sidelined by injury.

"He did really well," McGinn said. "It's not an easy one to take on board and I think Lennon leads by just how he plays. That's maybe a wee bit similar to me.

"I've maybe got more experience than him and can talk to folk a bit more but if you're playing well and leading the team by playing well, then that's what everyone wants."

• Motherwell have won just one of their past six away league outings (D1 L4), failing to score in three in a row. Not since February 2011 have the Steelmen gone longer without scoring in the top flight away from home (5 games).

• Hibs have won two of their past three league meetings with Motherwell (L1), as many as their previous eight beforehand (W2 D4 L2).

• After their 2-1 win in October, Motherwell are looking to earn back-to-back top-flight away wins over Hibs for the first time since August 2013.

• Hibs are unbeaten in their last six Scottish Premiership games (W4 D2), last going seven without defeat in the competition in March 2023.

• Hibs forward Martin Boyle has both scored (5) and been directly involved in (8 – 5 goals, 3 assists) as many Scottish Premiership goals this season as he was in the whole of last term. Only in 2020-21 (12) and 2021-22 (7) has he ever netted more in a single season in the competition.

Image source, SNS

Motherwell boss Stuart Kettlewell believes Hibs are now reaping the rewards of showing "faith and trust" in novice manager David Gray after a tumultuous start to the season.

Kettlewell takes his side to Easter Road on Saturday looking to end Hibs' six-game unbeaten run that has lifted them from bottom of the table to seventh spot and kept Gray in a job.

"That's what I absolutely believe in. I think you need a trust, I think you need a backing," said Kettlewell.

"Sometimes you need people to shut out noise that's out there because I always talk about how knee jerk this is, this whole thing that people want to create stories and write you off before you even get a chance to do a job.

"Certain things in football just don't happen overnight, and sometimes you do well and then you take two or three steps backwards, that's how that goes.

"I experienced a similar thing myself last season and had a group of people here at the football club that backed me to the hilt.

"But sometimes you need that faith and that trust in people - you can't just can't keep changing things all the time and expect to get a better version.

"I think David has certainly shown that, this recent run is something that they've been working towards."

Jane Lewis
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Image source, SNS

Motherwell manager Stuart Kettlewell has been speaking to the media before the weekend game away to Hibs.

Here are the key points:

• On Liam Gordon's injury last night, Kettlewell says the rugby-style "making a back" foul that leads to the defender landing heavily on his head needs to be taken more seriously and has called for more education in a bid to protect players.

• He adds: "It's an awkward one, because it's generally centre-backs and strikers that this happens with and we've had a couple with that scenario. Rugby have taken that one really seriously now and I think we need to follow suit to a point of trying to protect people from head injuries, neck injuries, which are ultimately the most serious you're going to get."

• Kettlewell believes the current busy fixture schedule is "risking injury" and says his players are looking fatigued and suffering from muscle problems.

• The Fir Park boss says his side showed resilience and togetherness in the draw at Kilmarnock and although he admits they probably should have lost, he's taking "several major positives". The main one being they are 10 points better off than this time last year, and three points off third place.

• On Hibs, he's expecting a "real difficult challenge" and always felt they were a better team than results earlier in the season suggested.

• On David Gray keeping his job, Kettlewell says managers need time and "knee-jerk" reactions are unhelpful.

• On transfers, he says he'll only bring in players if they add quality to his squad.

• Team news... Gordon will be assessed but doesn't have concussion. Harry Paton, who has missed the last two games with a hamstring injury, is likely to be out for at least a couple of weeks.

We asked for your thoughts after Motherwell played out a goalless draw against Kilmarnock in the Scottish Premiership.

Here's what you had to say:

Alan: A very poor performance from an attacking perspective and we "stole" a point. However to play badly and escape defeat with a point suggests we are getting some things right. This run of games has been demanding but we have come through it and deserve to be fifth in the league. We can begin to think about Europe now.

Eddie: Another game we made no attempt to win. We sat back from the off and only managed 30% possession. Boring football from the manager.

James: What a totally pathetic display. I think I sweated more watching it than Tony Watt did on the park. Looks unfit, and his effort levels are shocking. How he stayed on the pitch when Tawanda Manwanishe and Jack Vale were subbed is beyond me. A hard watch.

Watch the best of the action from Rugby Park as Kilmarnock fail to find a way past Motherwell. (UK users only)

The home side dominated for most of the match and passed up a host of opportunities to put away a side whose best openings came against the run of play.

Let us know your thoughts on Motherwell's performance.

Image source, SNS

Motherwell manager Stuart Kettlewell: "Kilmarnock were the better side, they created the better chances and ours were few and far between. Although we did have a couple.

"They had control of the vast majority of the game. So you have to ask your team to stand strong. We didn't pass the ball well and we weren't joined up in our offensive play.

"But it's a second clean sheet on the bounce for us in a really difficult spell, with one more game to come before we get any kind of break.

"It takes us three points away from third so I'm going to take the positives.

"We looked as if we were struggling to handle the ball. I don't know if that's down to the surface, but we can't use that as an excuse. We struggled with our changes of direction whether that was with the ball or to press and get it back.

"It was too easy for them to get in behind us and into crossing positions. There may be an element of fatigue in that.

"But my players howed unbelievable character and a special mention to my goalkeeper who was our best player.

"He made two or three unbelievable stops. A couple where he's brave and a couple with fantastic reactions. He's had a good season for us and that's as big a performance as he's had."

Andy Burke
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Image source, SNS

After ending a four-game winless run against Aberdeen, Stuart Kettlewell had hoped that would be the spark his side needed to put a run of form together.

That failed to materialise as his team put in a largely passive performance at Rugby Park.

The absence of a player of the quality of Lennon Miller – he fractured an ankle against Rangers on December 29 - would hurt any side in the league, and 'Well missed his influence and composure on the ball as they failed to exert authority in midfield.

What they did show was resilience to stay in the fight and the ability to eke out a point when playing below par is not to be underestimated.

Oxborough was the standout with some superb saves to keep Killie at bay and ensure his side left with a share of the spoils.

Image source, SNS

Motherwell midfielder Callum Slattery says his injury return has posed no mental issues after a year on the sidelines.

The 25-year-old suffered a training-ground injury to his cruciate ligament in January of last year, but returned to first-team action as a substitute in Motherwell's 2-0 win against Aberdeen on Sunday.

Doing all the necessary rehab work means he is now ready to hit the ground running, without fear of any setback.

"I've not been too bad psychologically," Slattery said. "I've been itching to get back out there really.

"I've done the injury, I've done the rehab, I've been ticked off to play, so it's not in my head at all. I'm just that kind of person that doesn't think about it and will just get on with it.

"It was just good to get on the pitch and be with the lads and get a few touches of the ball. You get that feeling back of what it's like to be involved on a matchday.

"I've been listening to the physios and I've bided my time and done the time in the gym and the rehab and stuff. So that was the perfect time to come off the bench with being 2-0 up and 10 minutes to go.

"To get the reception that I did felt really good because when you've been out for that long period of time, you kind of forget that feeling of what it's like to be involved on a matchday."

• Kilmarnock have won three of their past four home league games against Motherwell (D1) since a 1-0 defeat in February 2021.

• Motherwell have only suffered one defeat in their past seven league meetings with Kilmarnock (W2 D4), going down 1-0 in November 2023.

• Kilmarnock have won their past two midweek (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday) league games, last winning three such matches in a row in the Scottish Premiership in December 2018/January 2019 – a run which included a 1-0 win over Motherwell.

• Motherwell have lost four of their past five away league games (W1), including their past two. Not since November 2023 have they lost three on the bounce on their travels in the league – the third game of which was at Kilmarnock (1-0).

• In his managerial career, Derek McInnes has only won more Scottish top-flight matches against his current club Kilmarnock (24) than he has against Motherwell (20).

Image source, Getty Images

Motherwell have signed 18-year-old Coventry midfielder Kai Andrews on loan for the rest of the season.

The Wales Under-19 international made two substitute appearances for the English Championship side last season, but has not featured this term.

"We have an excellent track record when it comes to bringing young players from England up here on loan," manager Stuart Kettlewell said.

"There is a genuine belief we can help their progression, and with the likes of James Furlong, Marvin Kaleta, Georgie Gent, Brodie Spencer and Mika Biereth all coming up here and doing well, we see this as a great opportunity not only for the club, but for Kai also.

"I recently watched him playing for his Under-19s national side against Scotland, and I thought he was a real standout. Coventry have made no secret that they rate him highly, so it's an exciting signing."

Andrews arrives to bolster the midfield with Lennon Miller facing six to eight weeks out with an ankle fracture, Ross Callachan still working his way back from a long-term hamstring injury and both Callum Slattery and Sam Nicholson short of game time after lengthy lay-offs.

"It's great to be here," said the 18-year-old.

"We have been exploring the idea of me going out on loan to get first-team minutes and be in that environment. I wanted a place where I felt I could perform at my best and this feels like the right place."