Motherwell 1-1 Hibernian: Shane Blaney's late equaliser confines Hibs and Motherwell to bottom six - BBC Sport
Scottish Premiership
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Motherwell 1-1 Hibernian: Shane Blaney's late equaliser confines Hibs and Motherwell to bottom six

By Charlotte CohenBBC Scotland
Myziane Maolida scores from the penalty spot
Myziane Maolida's penalty conversion looked to keep Hibernian's top six hopes alive

Motherwell and Hibernian were both confined to the bottom six following late drama in a Scottish Premiership draw.

Myziane Maolida thought he had bagged the winner for Hibs to keep their top-half finish hopes alive when he converted from the spot after Will Fish went down in the Motherwell box.

But Shane Blaney found an equaliser in stoppage time as he spectacularly lashed into the back of the net to give the hosts hope.

But Dundee's draw at Pittodrie means the Dark Blues are the club guaranteed that final top-six spot.

Hibs had the better of the first half chances, but Elie Youan sent his close-range shot high and wide. That was followed up by a Chris Cadden effort from the edge of the box.

Motherwell started brightly in the second half and there was an early chance for Theo Bair, who slipped before he could get a shot away.

There were shouts for a penalty from the away side when Rocky Bushiri tripped in the box after taking a nick off Blair Spittal, only to be booked for diving. Spittal then followed him into the book for his reaction.

Bair thought he had put the home side in front when he was sent through on goal and slotted past David Marshall into the far corner. However, the flag went up immediately and a VAR check confirmed the Well striker was just offside.

Minutes later, Fish went down in the box under a challenge from Stephen O'Donnell, with Maolida sending goalkeeper Liam Kelly the wrong way.

With Hibs now sitting in the top six waiting on the result from Dundee against Rangers this coming Wednesday, Blaney's late rocket into the top corner sent the visitors tumbling back to seventh spot.

Player of the match - Myziane Maolida (Hibernian)

Myziane Maolida celebrates
There was big pressure on the Hibs striker to step up and take that penalty. A shame for Myziane Maolida that it was not enough to bag the win.

Late disappointment piles more pressure on Montgomery - Analysis

It's not been the easiest of times for Hibs boss Nick Montgomery following last weekend's defeat by St Johnstone and this was the chance to throw themselves a lifeline before Dundee's game against Rangers on Wednesday.

But, as we have seen so often from Hibs this season, they could not manage to see the game out. From their eight shots, four of which were on target, they only found the back of the net once and that was from the penalty spot.

The failure to secure top six will no doubt raise further questions of the head coach, who was already in a bit of trouble before kick-off.

Motherwell will no doubt take some positives from the fact that they were able to snatch a point so late on, but again they made life hard for themselves.

The mission now will be to finish as high as possible in those bottom-six places for both sides.

What the managers said

Motherwell manager Stuart Kettlewell: "If we get top six, we're punching well above our weight, everybody knows that.

"The task becomes very simple now. We want to try and finish top of the bottom six."

Hibernian head coach Nick Montgomery: "Everybody is devastated in the dressing room. They put their heart and soul into the performance.

"We were 20 seconds away from still having a great chance to be in the top six, so we will have to reflect on that now and move forward."

What's next?

Both sides begin their post-split fixtures over the last weekend in April.

Line-ups

Motherwell

Formation 3-4-1-2

  • 1Kelly
  • 15Casey
  • 16McGinn
  • 20Blaney
  • 2O'DonnellSubstituted forNicholsonat 69'minutes
  • 17ZdravkovskiSubstituted forHallidayat 70'minutes
  • 38MillerSubstituted forShawat 89'minutes
  • 3Gent
  • 7SpittalBooked at 56minsSubstituted forFerrieat 89'minutes
  • 28ValeBooked at 45minsSubstituted forMosesat 69'minutes
  • 14Bair

Substitutes

  • 5Mugabi
  • 11Halliday
  • 13Oxborough
  • 18Shaw
  • 19Nicholson
  • 24Moses
  • 30Ferrie
  • 39Ross
  • 66Butcher

Hibernian

Formation 4-2-3-1

  • 1Marshall
  • 12Cadden
  • 5Fish
  • 33BushiriBooked at 55mins
  • 21Obita
  • 30Moriah-WelshBooked at 48minsSubstituted forLevittat 67'minutes
  • 11NewellBooked at 15mins
  • 10BoyleBooked at 56minsSubstituted forCampbellat 80'minutes
  • 20Marcondes
  • 7Youan
  • 17Maolida

Substitutes

  • 4Hanlon
  • 6Levitt
  • 9Vente
  • 13Wollacott
  • 16Stevenson
  • 19Le Fondre
  • 29da Veiga Vieira Tavares
  • 32Campbell
  • 44MacIntyre
Referee:
William Collum
Attendance:
7,083

Match Stats

Home TeamMotherwellAway TeamHibernian
Possession
Home51%
Away49%
Shots
Home8
Away9
Shots on Target
Home1
Away4
Corners
Home4
Away6
Fouls
Home7
Away10

Live Text

  1. Post update

    Match ends, Motherwell 1, Hibernian 1.

  2. Full Time

    Second Half ends, Motherwell 1, Hibernian 1.

  3. Post update

    Attempt missed. Oli Shaw (Motherwell) right footed shot from very close range is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Ebiye Moses with a cross.

  4. Goal!

    Goal! Motherwell 1, Hibernian 1. Shane Blaney (Motherwell) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the top left corner.

  5. Post update

    Foul by Sam Nicholson (Motherwell).

  6. Post update

    Élie Youan (Hibernian) wins a free kick on the left wing.

  7. Substitution

    Substitution, Motherwell. Mark Ferrie replaces Blair Spittal.

  8. Substitution

    Substitution, Motherwell. Oli Shaw replaces Lennon Miller.

  9. Post update

    Foul by Theo Bair (Motherwell).

  10. Post update

    Will Fish (Hibernian) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  11. Post update

    Attempt missed. Andrew Halliday (Motherwell) header from the centre of the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Georgie Gent with a cross.

  12. Post update

    Corner, Motherwell. Conceded by Will Fish.

  13. Post update

    Attempt saved. Chris Cadden (Hibernian) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Emiliano Marcondes.

  14. Post update

    Foul by Shane Blaney (Motherwell).

  15. Post update

    Josh Campbell (Hibernian) wins a free kick on the right wing.

  16. Post update

    Paul McGinn (Motherwell) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  17. Post update

    Foul by Emiliano Marcondes (Hibernian).

  18. Substitution

    Substitution, Hibernian. Josh Campbell replaces Martin Boyle.

  19. Post update

    Attempt missed. Élie Youan (Hibernian) right footed shot from the left side of the box is close, but misses the top right corner. Assisted by Myziane Maolida.

  20. Post update

    Attempt missed. Sam Nicholson (Motherwell) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the right. Assisted by Ebiye Moses.

As It Stood

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Celtic33246380265478
2Rangers31242570205074
3Hearts33195946341262
4Kilmarnock33131284334951
5St Mirren33127143843-543
6Dundee321010124454-1040
7Hibernian33912124451-739
8Motherwell33813124651-537
9Aberdeen33811143549-1435
10St Johnstone33710162446-2231
11Ross County3269172954-2527
12Livingston3339212259-3718
View full Scottish Premiership table