Motherwell 2 – 3 Hibernian

Kevin Nisbet scored a hat-trick as Hibernian beat Motherwell to ease the pressure on manager Lee Johnson.

The striker, who has only just returned from a serious knee injury following the World Cup break, fired in the first-half opener and added two more after the interval as the visitors looked to recover from a dismal performance.

Stuart McKinstry had made it 2-1 and Ross Tierney scored in stoppage time, but Motherwell could not avoid another defeat.

It was a relief for Hibernian manager Johnson to move up to seventh while Motherwell remain in 10th place without a win in their last seven games.

Hibs’ victory compounded Motherwell’s woes

Home manager Steven Hammell sent the same team that started the 1-1 draw away to Livingston last Monday, while Hibs boss Johnson made three changes to the team that lost 3-0 to city rivals Hearts as Ryan Porteous, Kyle Magennis and Aiden McGeady were replaced by Will Fish, Paul Hanlon and Harry McKirdy.

The Easter Road side started brightly and had the first attempt but Magennis’ header from McGeady’s cross was easily held by Liam Kelly.

At the other end, Motherwell’s Blair Spittal fired just wide from the edge of the box after Kevin van Veen had teed it up.

The visitors went ahead in the 16th minute when McGeady picked out an unmarked Nisbet with a cross from the left and the forward took a touch before drilling a clinical finish past Kelly from eight yards.

Motherwell almost leveled in the 28th minute when Callum Slattery’s shot from the edge of the box was well deflected by David Marshall. From the resulting corner, Rickie Lamie hit the crossbar.

Hibs were forced to make a substitution on the half-hour when Chris Cadden was injured. The former Motherwell player was replaced by Ewan Henderson, with Josh Campbell moving to the right.

Looked to be on top as half-time approached but couldn’t find an equalizer before the break.

Hibs extended their lead in the 52nd minute when Nisbet scored into an empty net from close range after Elie Youan raced down the right following a quick free kick from Porteous and sent a low delivery into the six yard box.

The hosts got back into the game in the 59th minute when Campbell failed to clear a long ball from Sondre Solholm and substitute McKinstry – who replaced Connor Shields at the start of the second half – was able to run clear and fire. finished beyond Marshall exposed from 15 meters out.

Motherwell piled on the pressure in search of an equalizer and almost got it in the 70th minute when Lamie headed over the bar.

Hibs restored their two-goal advantage five minutes later when Nisbet completed the treble with an emphatic finish from 10 yards after Campbell picked him out with the ball from the right following good work by Porteous to regain possession.

The visitors were made to sweat when sub Tierney drilled home a second for Motherwell in stoppage time but they held firm to see out the much-needed victory.

What’s next?

Motherwell’s next Scottish Premiership game is at home to Ross County on January 14.

Hibs host Dundee United on the same day. Both games kick off at 3pm.