Only looking up | Motherwell vs Hibs preview
- Declan Dundas
- Mar 21
- 4 min read
With consecutive losses for Motherwell, Hibs will be looking to seize on the Steelmen's malaise as they seek to catch the 'Well in the race for European qualification.
Standings
With the results from the last few weeks not going perhaps as we’d hoped, Motherwell have dramatically reduced their chances of winning the title. While still mathematically possible, estimates seem to float around there being a 1-3% chance of us putting claret and amber ribbons on a trophy.
However, this does not mean the season is over. The competition for European places only gets stiffer. With our remaining pre-split games all coming against current top-6 opponents - including a trip to our fellow title-chasers in Tynecastle - there is an even greater need now to not falter. Furthermore, with Hibs exiting the Scottish Cup at the first hurdle, the pressure on them to finish strongly in the league is just as important for the Leith faithful.
A home win would see Motherwell extend the gap below to 9 points (and, of course, extend the Goal Difference swing beyond the current +14), cementing our place in fourth spot. Should other results go our way, however unlikely it is considering the fixtures, we could also be within touching distance of the Old Firm by the end of the weekend, which could bring huge confidence going into the split. For Hibs, a win obviously closes the gap between us to just 3 points, and with another game to come between us, it could be the catalyst to fire them into form for the last 8 games.
Form Guide
There’s a lot to unpack here, for both teams. So let’s dive in.
Motherwell's last 5 in the league has been interesting, to say the least. On the one hand you have the pummeling in Paisley, where a classy Motherwell cruised to an easy victory over the Buddies, putting five past them in the process. But on the other, you have a whimpering display in the blue end of Dundee, as well as yet another naive display at Parkhead. As well as this, you have the rather dismal way on which the Steelmen exited the Scottish Cup at the hands of Aberdeen, although no one can plan for a sending off at the beginning of each half. For the Edinburgh side, it’s been a somewhat stilted last couple. A fantastically fought, if statistically undeserved, win over Celtic gave reason to be confident, but then having faltered against lower-placed opposition in the last two games gives us the hope that their form could continue to dip. Outside of that, routine wins against St Mirren and United have been enough to keep them in the fight for fourth, and certainly cement a top-6 finish once again.
Opposition Analysis
While both teams moved to strenghten in January, it is fair to say that Hibs had by far the busier window, with no fewer than six additions reshaping their squad. In came Kai Andrews (formerly of our parish), alongside Dane Scarlett and Munashe Garananga on loan, adding a blend of physicality and energy to an already clinical side. They were joined permanently by Andre Suto, Felix Passlack and Owen Elding, providing David Gray with ample selection headaches.
The volume of business stands out, but those signings have also been very well integrated. All six have featured since arriving, and perhaps more tellingly, four have already made tangible contributions in front of goal. That immediate impact has altered the dynamic of Hibs’ season; the squad looks fresher, more varied in profile, and better equipped to sustain performance levels across a congested run of fixtures.
There is also a broader point here about intent. January windows can often be reactive, but Hibs’ activity felt deliberate — a clear attempt to address weaknesses while also raising the ceiling of the group. The mix of loans and permanent deals suggests both short-term urgency and longer-term planning, a balance that has given them momentum at a crucial stage of the campaign.
The most significant aspect of Hibs game today will be their wing play. The classic 3-4-3 or 3-4-1-2 Hibs operate is systemically designed to funnel the ball into the wide areas and they use this relentlessly to generate high xG chances. The attacking structure stretches the pitch before delivering into the box.
Even in the last game we played, Hibs attempted 30 crosses compared to Motherwell's 15. That suggests a genuine attacking identity. Looking at the pass map from the last match too, we can see that Hibs' shows a clear bias to passing to the wide areas and passing / crossing into the box from those wide areas. This can be particularly effective against Motherwell, given that Askou plays a very compact game. It is, in my opinion, why Askou favours a back three against Hibs (though the suspension of Emmanuel Longelo and the injury to Johnny Koutroumbis might force his hand here).
The game at Easter Road was extremely tight, though Hibs certainly generated the better chances. Hibs also started extremely bright, clearly looking to make up amends for the encounter at Fir Park.
What the Managers had to say
Can Motherwell bounce back from consecutive defeats? Can HIbs overcome Motherwell for the first time this season? Leave your comments below, and, as always, come on the 'Well.
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