Three things we learned from Hibs v Motherwell

Here are three Hibs-orientated things we gleaned from the Easter Road side's match against Motherwell ...

Christian Doidge bundles the ball into the net to pull Hibs level with Motherwell. Pic: SNS

Superb start

Jack Ross couldn’t have asked for a better start as Hibs head coach, watching as his side shook off losing the first goal to put Motherwell on the back foot and going in at half-time deservedly in front.

Ross, however, would have seen that there is plenty of work for him to do with the Steelmen dominating the second half and causing a few nervy moments in a defence which has looked far from secure, particularly going into the final few minutes of matches this season.

But with Scott Allan pulling the strings in midfield they rode the storm and secured back-to-back league wins for the first time since April, Daryl Horgan wrapping up the points and Stevie Mallan denied a fourth by the post.

Attack is best plan

The benefit of playing two up front was again underlined with both Christian Doidge and Flo Kamberi getting on the scoresheet with goals strikers enjoy - from not too far out.

Former boss Paul Heckingbottom was reluctant to field such a pairing but Kamberi and Doidge worked well together at St Johnstone to great effect.

The Welshman finally getting off the mark in terms of league goals with a hat-trick and he was in the right place to bundle home from a yard out before Kamberi, who had impressed at McDiarmid Park without netting, did well to dig the ball out from under his feet to put Hibs in front.

Melker magic

Hibs fans rightly questioned the decision to allow both Marvin Bartley and Mark Milligan to leave during the summer, their departures resulting in the obvious lack of a midfield anchor, a player capable of shielding the back four.

But in Melker Hallberg they now appear to have that figure. The Swedish player didn’t have the benefit of a pre-season under his belt when he arrived at Easter Road, admitting he was some way short of full match fitness. But week by week that has come and he now looks totally comfortable snuffing out danger in the middle of the park.