Hibs ratings and report as Easter Road side show grit to battle back against much-admired Motherwell

Hibs maintained their unbeaten league run in front of a full house at Easter Road, battling back from a goal down to grab a hard-earned draw against much-admired Motherwell. A single point in their first home game of 2026 saw David Gray’s men stay within two points of the fourth-placed Steelmen.

In a contest with plenty of promise but not huge amounts of goalmouth action, a sweet Tawanda Maswanhise strike early in the second half put the visitors ahead. But Kieron Bowie had a packed Easter Road rocking with a brilliantly-taken equaliser just over 20 minutes from time.

Both sides had chances to win a game that became increasingly stretched as it hurtled towards the opening stages. But, on balance, each would probably admit to being satisfied with a draw.

The home side had the better of the opening half hour, on chances created, with a flurry from about the 20th minute on arguably producing chances enough to build a commanding lead. Elie Youan had two of his own, just failing to corral a Josh Mulligan through ball and heading tamely at Motherwell keeper Calum Ward, while Grant Hanley and Jordan Obita also squandered opportunities.

But the visitors came into the game towards the end of the first half, forcing Raphael Sallinger into a couple of fine saves, first from Thomas Sparrow and then the livewire Maswanhise. With Ibrahim Said’s movement off the front line increasingly causing problems, it was suddenly a much more even contest – albeit one in need of a goal.

Maswanhise was just the man to provide it, the all-action attacker finishing off a Motherwell counter-attack – just after Hibs had failed to convert another good position at the other end – with a low finish of genuine quality. Hibs, who had lost Jamie McGrath to injury just moments earlier, were now under serious pressure.

That was relieved in thumping fashion with 68 minutes on the clock, as Dan Barlaser found the advancing Jordan Obita with a beautiful pass that dropped just overt the head of the Motherwell right back. Obita’s low cross was slightly behind Bowie – but the big man improvised a bit of control with his left foot before rifling the ball into the roof of the net with his right.

That was it for the scoring, though not the action. Or the controversy, with yellow cards flying – or not – as referee Matthew MacDermid struggled to keep control of a game with plenty of flashpoints over the closing stages.