Nisbet treble earns Hibs vital win at Motherwell

Kevin Nisbet’s hat-trick gave Hibernian a much-needed Scottish Premiership win at Fir Park, as Motherwell’s miserable form continued.

Stuart McKinstry had made it 2-1 and Ross Tierney ensured a nervy four minutes of stoppage time for Hibs, but Motherwell were unable to stop themselves succumbing to another loss.

It’s now just two wins in 16 Premiership games for Steven Hammell’s side and one win in nine home matches, but Motherwell stay 10th, three points from the foot of the table.

Hibs move up to seventh after earning a vital victory following last week’s chastening 3-0 derby defeat by Hearts and a dreadful league run.

Johnson’s vocal criticism of his squad in the wake of that Tynecastle loss provoked a positive reaction from his players, who started intently and got the breakthrough.

Aiden McGeady – who was excellent on his first start of the season – picked out an unmarked Nisbet in the box, and the striker took one touch with his right foot, and drilled the ball into the bottom corner with his left.

The Scotland international added his second from two yards out after the break when Elie Youan latched on to Ryan Porteous’ long free kick and squared the ball across goal.

But while Hibs were strong in spells, they were never convincing throughout.

Motherwell got back into the game when a simple long ball was missed by Hibs’ makeshift right-back Josh Campbell, allowing half-time substitute McKinstry to stroke the ball past David Marshall.

A that point the home side looked likely to find an equaliser as Hibs grew nervy, and defender Sondre Solholm Johansen cracked the bar with a header, as his centre-back partner Ricki Lamie had done in the first half.

But a minute after Johnson made some changes and put Porteous into midfield, the centre-back won the ball and put Campbell free down the right, and Nisbet brilliantly tucked away his cross to claim his hat-trick and what looked likely to be a comfortable win for Hibs.

However, substitute Tierney swept home Motherwell’s second in the 90th minute, which caused panic in the Hibs’ ranks, and Porteous had to make a last-ditch intervention to stop Kevin van Veen tapping in an equaliser at the death.

More to follow.