Second half goals from Conor Wilkinson and Mika Biereth ensured the hosts took the spoils.
Substitute Adam Le Fondre netted a late penalty kick for us but it proved to be too little too late and we slipped to a second league defeat our cinch Premiership campaign.
Boss Lee Johnson made three changes to the side following our midweek European exploits against FC Luzern.
James Jeggo, Christian Doidge and Jordan Obita all returned to the starting XI, whilst Martin Boyle and Adam Le Fondre dropped to the bench.
New signing Dylan Vente started alongside Doidge in attack with the boys lining up in a 3-5-2 formation.
As it happened...
We started brightly with Dylan Levitt dragging an early shot just wide of goal from outside the box.
On 13 minutes Motherwell goalkeeper Liam Kelly had to be alert to the danger and race from his goal to bravely gather at the feet of Doidge after the striker was almost played through by a slack pass back.
Eight minutes later and Motherwell had their first effort of note when Calum Slattery drove forward before being tripped by Joe Newell, advantage was played and Blair Spittal’s shot from the edge of our box was deflected just wide.
Despite both teams being capable of playing good, attacking football, neither could find their rhythm and a slow game unfolded with very little goalmouth action for either set of supporters to get excited about.
That said, Motherwell went closest to breaking the deadlock shortly before the interval when Pape Souare did well on the left, his hanging cross was headed back off the crossbar by Cassey and before Slattery headed the rebound just wide.
Half Time: Motherwell 0 Hibs 0
We made a double change at the break with Boyle and Le Fondre replacing Levitt and Vente. It also meant a change of shape as we went 4-4-2 for the second 45 minutes.
It was the hosts who started the second half the better of the two sides. Inside the first minute of the restart Lennon Miller forced David Marshall into a save.
As the game wore on Motherwell were growing stronger and from Biereth’s lay off Slattery angled drive flashed wide of the far post.
Despite the home side’s dominance we could have gone ahead when Lewis Miller’s long throw found Doidge inside a packed penalty box, however, the Welshman’s header was just over the crossbar.
On 66 minutes Motherwell broke the deadlock when Biereth did well to hold off Stevenson before finding Connor Wilkinson who applied the finish and notched his first goal for the Club.
The home side doubled their lead with five minutes of normal time remaining as Biereth wrestled possession from Fish before twisting and turning and firing low past Marshall.
In the first of six additional minutes we were given a lifeline when Cassey handled from Doidge’s headed flick on and from the penalty Le Fondre made no mistake.
In the final few moments we tried to put the hosts under pressure with the little time that remained, however, the home side stood firm and held on to claim all three points.
Full Time: Motherwell 2 Hibs 1
Motherwell: Kelly, O’Donnell, McGinn, Mugabi, Casey, Souare, Slattery (Zdravkovski 87’), Spittal, Miller, Wilkinson (Obika 80’), Bair (Biereth 54’). Substitutes not used: Oxborough, Lamie, Efford, McGInley, Blaney, Ferne.
Hibernian: Marshall, Miller (Megwa 86’), Fish, Hanlon, Stevenson (Melkersen 86’), Obita, Jeggo (Henderson 71’), Newell, Levitt (Boyle 46’), Doidge, Vente (Le Fondre 46’). Substitutes not used: Boruc, Harbottle, Delferriere, McAllister.
Referee: Matthew MacDermid.
Attendance: 6,262.
