Clydesdale Bank Premier League
Motherwell 2 Hibernian 3
Sunday 15^th August 2010

Hibernian showed tremendous character in order to secure a 3-2 opening day win at Motherwell with matchwinner Liam Miller the chief architect behind an adrenaline-charged victory.

Heading into the fixture at Fir Park, many seasoned observers were questioning whether this meeting between the two teams would conjure up the same level of nerve-shredding excitement served up during last season's 6-6 draw.

But those doubts were emphatically kicked into touch with the contest evolving into a dramatic encounter with a seemingly endless series of twists and turns over the course of the 90 minutes.

John Sutton gave Motherwell an early lead but his strike was cancelled out by Anthony Stokes who scored with the final act of the first half.

After the break, Paul Hanlon and Liam Miller's goals appeared to have settled the match, but Motherwell pulled a goal back through a Jamie Murphy penalty which set up another grandstand finale.

But Hibernian refused to buckle under the pressure and withstood some nervy late moments in order to ensure the men in green and white got off to the perfect start to the new campaign.

Ahead of kick off, Graham Stack and Colin Nish returned from injury after missing last weekend's match at Blackpool while Ian Murray was missing due to suspension.

Hibernian carved out the first real chance of the game when a long clearance forward from Paul Hanlon appeared to be routine for Stephen Craigan but the defender's slip allowed Stokes in on goal.

The striker should have scored, arching a right-foot strike towards the back post, but he was denied by the legs of Motherwell goalkeeper Darren Randolph.

Winger Jamie Murphy tested Graham Stack with a powerful drive from the edge of the penalty area and the Motherwell man was to play a key role as the home side opened the scoring on 13 minutes.

The Hibernian defence failed to deal with Murphy's low cross and striker Sutton had the simple task to score from close range.

Sutton was proving a real handful for Chris Hogg which led to the striker being picked up by Sol Bamba but not before he had a strike held by Stack.

Saunders headed just over the top from a corner kick before Hibernian had their best spell of pressure towards the end of the half.

The Easter Road men were unfortunate not to level when Kevin McBride was denied by a fantastic save from Randolph after linking up well with Colin Nish.

But the equalising goal was delayed only a matter of minutes as Sol Bamba headed down Derek Riordan's free kick and Stokes was in the right place at the right time to slot it away from only a couple of yards out.

Stokes went close to putting his side in front early in the second half with a stunning right foot effort that was kept out by an equally fantastic stop from Randolph to prevent it finding the top corner of his goal.

In an open and entertaining game, chances were coming thick and fast at both ends and on the hour mark there was a real let off for the visitors.

Humphrey's looping cross sailed over Stack in the Hibernian goal before crashing back off the far post and being cleared.

Hibernian took the lead on 63 minutes when Riordan's cross was bundled into the net by Hanlon - the defender having stayed forward from a corner kick.

Randolph kept his side in the match with a decent save after a fine run and shot from Stokes had sliced the home defence wide open.

The home supporters were furious when Sutton crashed to the turf inside the penalty box and match official Craig Thomson waved play on.

The sense of injustice intensified seconds later when Riordan slipped in Miller and the midfielder coolly slotted beyond Randolph and into the far corner of the net.

Before the restart Motherwell replaced Hateley with Blackman and the substitute was on the field only a matter of minutes when he was adjudged to have been pulled back inside the box by Nish.

The Hibernian players were furious at the decision to award a spot kick to Motherwell but that mattered little as Murphy stepped forward to send Stack the wrong way and reduce the deficit.

The goal gave Motherwell a new lease of life but Hibernian had two great chances to seal this match in the moments that followed.

First Nish was sent through on goal by a long clearance from Wotherspoon only to hesitate, allowing Reynolds to get back and block.

Then Riordan was inches away from turning in an excellent low cross from Stokes when any sort of connection from the forward would have resulted in a sure goal.

The tension inside the stadium was almost tangible and with ten minutes remaining Sol Bamba picked up a foolish yellow card for kicking the ball away.

In the last minute of normal time Wotherspoon did fantastically well to burst into the home box from wide before picking out Riordan only to screw his effort wide.

In time added on Randolph had to block a near post drive from Stokes and in the final seconds Stephens was the Hibernian hero with a last gasp tackle to thwart Lasley.

Motherwell: Randolph, Saunders, Hammell, Reynolds, Craigan, Hateley (Blackman 73), Humprey (Casagolda 82), Jennings, Murphy, Sutton, Lasley.Subs: Hollis, McHugh, Fitzpatrick, Forbes, Page, Blackman, Casagolda.

Hibernian: Stack, Hart, Hogg, de Graaf (Wotherspoon 63), Nish (Stephens 78), Riordan, McBride, Stokes, Hanlon, Bamba, Miller. Subs: Brown, Rankin, Thicot, Stevenson, Galbraith, Wotherspoon, Stephens.

Referee: Craig Thomson.

Attendance: 5,172