YOU could be forgiven for mistaking the side in pole position for third and fighting for their Premiership future at Easter Road yesterday.

But a goal in each half bought Motherwell some daylight at the bottom of the table and simultaneously prevented Hibs from ending Aberdeen’s hopes of a third placed finish. Graham Alexander’s men carried out their game plan to a letter. Hibs were unable to break down their compact shape and were ultimately undone by two impressive pieces of play from the visitors’ front three.

The frustration for Motherwell supporters is that this sort of resolution and guile has been fleeting far too often this campaign, but more performances like this will see them steer safely clear of relegation. Alexander was shown a red card seemingly for his protests to a late corner award to Hibs, but he understandably wanted to talk instead about the application of his team.

“The front three were such a handful for Hibs today, the midfield three were like dogs of war behind them and the back four and goalkeeper were magnificent and that’s what it took for a team to win,” he insisted at full time.

“Everything we worked for this week from last Saturday with two big games the players have done absolutely everything that was required of them. The last two games have shown the spirit, togetherness and quality we have in the club and it’s all underpinned by {the players} work ethic and their togetherness.”

Hibs made one enforced change from their home victory over Hamilton last week. Josh Doig, who this week signed a long-term deal at the club, was replaced by Lewis Stevenson due to injury. Motherwell had recorded a welcome clean sheet in midweek after shipping three against St Johnstone and four to Hamilton in their two previous games. Graeme Alexander was understandably in no mood to change the side which had taken a point in Paisley on Wednesday.

Motherwell started the game aggressively and their narrow 4-3-3 gave them a real foothold in the match. Devante Cole, Jordan Roberts and Tony Watt went man for man to Hibs’ back three of Paul Hanlon, Darren McGregor and Paul McGinn instead of tracking the home side’s wing backs. This not only forced Hibs to play long more than they would have liked but allowed the visitors to isolate the pace of Roberts and Cole to the less agile Hanlon and McGregor.

Cole in particular looked a threat and was inches away from clear efforts on goal after good interplay by the front three on two occasions. Watt should have also done better than hit the side netting when through on goal. But Hibs didn’t heed to the warning of earlier half chances and midway through the opening period Motherwell deservedly took the lead. Cole found Watt who played a cute ball through for Roberts with the outside of his foot from just inside the opposition half and Roberts was able to run off Paul McGinn and finish confidently through the legs of Ofir Marciano.

Hibs did threaten themselves and were given plenty of space out wide, something perfectly suited to the pace of the absent Doig. Chris Cadden, facing his former club, occupied the right flank and caught a volley with excellent technique when picked out by Stevenson that was close to nestling in the top corner.

Within a minute of the restart Motherwell would double their advantage. Again, Hibs’ back three looked shaky and after Roberts glided into the box, he found Cole free in the centre who opened his body up well to stroke the ball into the far corner. That goal accelerated the introduction of Ryan Porteous and Kevin Nisbet who have been restricted to bit-part roles since being left out due to transfer speculation late last month.

Motherwell gradually fell deeper as the front three tired from earlier excursions but as a unit they defended superbly and aside from two Christian Doidge efforts, the latter of which saved superbly well by Liam Kelly from close range, the hosts had little in the way of incision. The introduction of Declan Gallagher 20 minutes from time helped close any avenues they had threatened to expose.

"The concession of the two goals are very disappointing from our point of view in terms of they're very soft. Every manager will say they're avoidable {but} they are, our back three gets crossed easily and then we don't defend a throw in properly in terms of our set up," Ross admitted at full time.

"It was an afternoon where there wasn't much in the game but the key moments obviously went Motherwell's way."