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All the goals from Fir Park as Jamie Murphy and a Michael Higdon hat-trick was enough to give the Steelmen all three points against Hibs at Fir Park.

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Top scorer Michael Higdon has spoke of his delight at netting his first ever hat-trick in claret and amber.

The scouse hitman took his tally for the season to thirteen and made the winning contribution to the enthralling game by slotting home two penalties and finding the back of the net with an acrobatic overhead kick.

Speaking exclusively to MFC TV he said:  “I’m obviously delighted with the hat-trick. I had a good feeling tonight about getting one goal but to get three is very special for myself.

“We’ve got lots of character in the dressing room. The manager has good man-management skills and gets us all going, The lads all believe we can win every game and we’ve produced the goods again.

“Thankfully the fans have gone home happy because I thought they were tremendous. I’m delighted to be leading goalscorer. I want to finish as that and although I haven’t been scoring in recent weeks, I’ve been contributing to the team and the gaffer is happy with me so I can’t complain.”

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‘Well boss Stuart McCall has heaped praise on his side after Motherwell’s excellent 4-3 victory over Hibernian.

After another seven goal thriller, the last seven games between the sides have produced and incredible 34 goals and McCall was quick to credit the Steelmen’s spirit to come back from a goal down and take all three vital points.

The victory now see’s the Steelmen surge twelve points above fourth place and only three behind Rangers in second.

He told MFC TV: “Credit to both sets of players, I thought it was an outstanding game. We created chances in the first half and we were confident they would come again but we also had to be careful of  not leaving so many chances for them.

“We managed to score a goal more than them; we’re disappointed with the goals we lost but all in all it was a terrific nights entertainment. Two great goals and even the build up to both penalties had some good football involved as well.

“Credit to Hibs who came and had a right good go and made it an entertaing game but also you’ve got to credit our boys because the spirit, the desire and the drive to go for the throat and go for the victory. We weren’t going to settle for the point, we wanted the three, and they were terrific in the second half.”

-WATCH THE INTERVIEW EXCLUSIVELY ON MFC TV-

Pictures from the 4-3 win over Hibernian in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League at Fir Park.

These action shots and more are available to buy online at motherwellPICS.

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 Kris Jack at Fir Park

A heroic hat-trick from MICHAEL HIGDON ensured Motherwell another three points in a gripping 4-3 win over Hibernian. 

The visitors had led 1-0 at half time thanks to an Isaiah Osbourne tap in, but when HENRIK OJAMAA was upended in the box by Graeme Stack, two minutes in to the second half, Higdon slammed home the first of six second half goals.

Motherwell took the lead when JAMIE MURPHY got on the end of a blasted OMAR DALEY cross although Hibs hit back quickly when Matt Doherty’s deflected shot beat DARREN RANDOLPH.

It what was an end-to-end game, Higdon put the Steelmen back in front with a stunning overhead kick before completing his hat-trick from the penalty spot after Doherty brought down Ojamaa inside the area.

Hibs made in a nervy finish with Ivan Sproule poked home from close range but the Steelmen hung on for another terrific victory.

This fixture was initially played as part of the SPL’s Friday Night Football experiment, which ended rather abruptly on Friday 2nd December, due to a small electrical fire in the South Stand.  Hibs had been leading 1-0 thanks to a Gary O’Connor strike in Pat Fenlon’s first game in charge, when the match was abandoned at the interval. The vouchers handed out to the disappointed fans meant they had free entry to this rearranged tie, swelling the crowd to over 8,000 for the midweek outing.

Stuart McCall’s hand was forced in changing the side that dispatched of Hearts with so much gusto at the weekend with KEITH LASLEY missing through suspension. Omar Daley came in in his place, meaning Motherwell set up with a very attack minded starting eleven.  Hibs made three changes to the team that lost 5-0 to Celtic at the weekend, with Sproule, O’Connor and Stevenson back in the starting line up.

As always seems to be the case, Gary O’Connor and Leigh Griffiths were intent on being thorns in the Motherwell side and Griffith’s had two great chances early on to get on the scoresheet, but both efforts failed to test Randolph.

Higdon looked hungry for a goal and blazed over when he should have tested Stack, when played in by Daley. Down the other end, the pacy Griffith’s then tested Darren Randolph after turning in the box, but his shot was deflected up in to the goalie’s arms via TIM CLANCY. However, on his next attack, he set up the opening goal.

A header back by Clancy was pounced upon by the on-loan Wolves forward. He rounded Randolph and squared to the waiting Isaiah Osbourne, who slotted home from all of six yards. Incredibly, shortly after, it could have been 2-0 to the visitors when Osbourne again found space after good interplay with O’Connor and Griffiths, but his effort went wide of the goal.

Higdon showed his intent for a goal when he went close with two headers, forcing Stack to save on each occasion. His opposite number Garry O’Connor almost helped himself to a headed goal when Sproule’s cross landed on his forehead, but his effort drifted past the post.

Within a minute of the restart, the game was turned on its head. Consternation in the Hibernian defence allowed Ojamaa to latch on to a bouncing ball in the box, before he was taken out by Graham Stack. Referee McLean pointed straight to the spot, and Higdon stepped up to grab his eleventh goal of the season. It was a goal that his work rate in the last few games deserved, and he was to go on to make more of an impact on the game.

Hibs looked shaken by the equaliser, but could have regained the lead when Griffith’s was picked out on the left hand side by Sproule. However, he dallied too long and Randolph made a vital save to keep the game level. Ojamaa, Daley and STEVE JENNINGS all had chances to put Motherwell ahead, but that glory fell to Jamie Murphy, just after the hour.

Jamaican Daley utilised his pace and speed to capitalize on a slack ball out from the Hibs defence, before cutting to the bye line and firing a cross at the onrushing Murphy who slid the ball home from almost underneath the crossbar.

Motherwell had the impetus after coming from behind to take the lead, but managed to concede just four minutes later, when a corner from Francomb was bundled in at the second attempt by Doherty. The fans had little time to breathe between those goals, but were treated to a third Motherwell goal soon after.

Ojamaa’s trickery was causing Hanlon and McPake no end of bother and after creating room at the edge of the box, the Estonian struck the top of Stack’s bar. The rebound was volleyed back across goal by Murphy to the waiting Higdon, who slammed home a glorious overhead kick from eight yards to send the home fans delirious. It was picture-perfect bicycle kick from the big striker, and one he won’t soon forget.

Hibernian were lucky to finish the game with eleven men when substitute Scott led with what looked like an elbow in an aerial challenge with STEVIE HAMMELL, which grounded the left back for some time. A yellow card was shown, much to the ire of the home dugout.

However, on 75 minutes, Motherwell were dealt the perfect opportunity for a clincher, when Doherty upended Ojamaa inside the box for their second penalty of the night. There was only one man worthy of taking the spot kick and Higdon showed no mercy in driving the ball in to the same spot as his first of the night, to claim his hat-trick.

The goal scoring wasn’t finished though as Ivan Sproule bundled in a third for Hibs from yet another corner with five minutes remaining to set up a grandstand finish. The Hammell/Scott collision meant there was to be five minutes of added on time, but try as they might, Hibernian could not force an equalizer and Motherwell held on for all three points.

[tab:As it happened]

Alastair Reilly at Fir Park

95mins: IT’S FULL TIME!!! 4-3 to Motherwell! Superb stuff all round and a great 3 points!

92mins: WELL SUB: Craigan on, Law off.

90mins: 5 minutes added on!

88mins: A nervy finish awaits. Come on, hold on!

85mins: 4-3 now, another goalfest. Sproule the scorer after a scrap in the box.

85mins: GOAL- Hibs

82mins: WELL SUB: Murph off, Carswell on

79mins: Hibs bring on Kujabi, the self confessed new Roberto Carlos. Who’s faster, him or Humphs?

78mins: A chance here from a free-kick. 25 yards out… Straight into the wall. 12 minutes left!

73mins: Ojamaa hauled down, it’s Higgy for the hat-trick….GOAL!!!!!

73mins: PENALTY!!!!!!

71mins: What a game this is. The goal came from Ojamaa striking the bar, Murphy back heel volleyed it back across and Higgy overheads it!

70mins: Big Higgy with an overhead kick! 3-2!

70mins: GOOALL

65mins: GOAL – Hibs , Doherty

64mins: It’s Jamie Murphy after superb link up play from Higdon and Daley. The Jamaican’s ball in eludes stack and Murph pokes home!

64mins: GOALLL!!! MOTHERWELL

57mins: Randolph to the rescue with a crucial stop from Griffiths..while straight up the other end Ojamaa goes close! Well blocked though.

50mins: Ojamaa has the ball in the net….but he’s already been flagged up for a shirt pull. Booked afterwards.

47mins: Ojamaa hauled down by Stack. Higgy to take…. GOAL!!! Slotted into bottom left hand corner

47mins: PENALTY TO ‘WELL

45mins: Second half has just kicked off.

45mins: And it’s half time. Disappointing stuff.

40mins: Osbourne is unlucky as his 20 yard effort skims past the post. Up the other end, a corner…. Which is too deep for everyone and goes out of play.

34mins: And again we go close. Daley this time with an angled shot which Stack does well to turn out of play and not into the path of Murph

32mins: So unlucky there. Daley swings it in deep and Higdon’s header is floating in until Stack gets a hand on it.

28mins: Hibs go close. O’Connor with a near post glancing header which whistles just past the post.

26mins: Bit of pressure now from the ‘Well. 2nd corner in a row coming up…….cleared by O’Connor

18mins: Less said about that the better. Slack back pass allows Griffiths to round Randolph. He then squares the ball to Osbourne who taps in

18mins: GOAL: Hibs – Osbourne

15mins: It’s a bit scrappy getting. Neither side creating a good chance since Higgy’s.

7mins: A great chance! Daley dribbles his way towards the area, his drive across goal is straight to Higgy but the big man blazes over.

4mins: Bright start for both sides. A chance a piece with balls cut across goal with no takers.

1min: And we’re kicked off! ‘Mon the ‘Well.

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Motherwell manager Stuart McCall:

“We weren’t despondent at half-time and we told the lads that we would get chances, that turned out to be the case.”I just thought the two goals we got apart from the two penalties were good goals and the build up to the two penalties was great too.

“I am delighted for Higgy (Michael Higdon), he gives everything he has got and is a vital part of the team here.

“Hibs deserve immense credit, they came here and gave us lots of problems, they played their part in a cracking game of football.” 

Hibernian manager Pat Fenlon:

“We are disappointed, we have came here and scored three goals and got nothing out of the game. I thought we killed ourselves, we gave away sloppy goals and put in rash challenges at time when we should stay on our feet in the penalty area.

“You would think before the game that if we came here and scored three goals then we would win the game but instead we have left with nothing.”

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Fancy a sparkling night out this Saturday? Why not join the Vegas Kings (a Neil Diamond & Elvis tribute act) in the Davie Cooper Suite?

There are still a handful of tickets available at £20 per person with all proceeds going straight to MacMillan Cancer Support.

The night will kick-off at 7.30pm and you’ll be dancing until the wee hours – with a short buffet break in between.

For more details or to book your seat, contact the Commercial team on 01698 338008 or email commercial@motherwellfc.co.uk.

Did you enjoy Saturday’s win from one of our Hospitality Suites? Perhaps you were in the Cooper Suite after the match? If so, maybe you have been included in our gallery.

If you are, you can purchase your snap over a number of products including photographic prints, frames, canvas’, Mousemats, Mugs, T-Shirts, Keyrings, Jigsaws and more…

-CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE HEARTS GALLERY-

Nicky Law is desperate for the Steelmen to finish the season strongly so he can realise a personal ambition of playing in European competition.

The former Rotherham midfielder said when he arrived at Fir Park last summer that he came north of the border to try and qualify for a Euro spot.

And with ‘Well battling it out at the right end of the table, the 24-year old is determined to get over the finishing line, starting with Hibs tomorrow night.

“If you ask anyone in the dressing room, well, certainly the English lads, they’d say qualifying for Europe is a massive reason to come and play in Scotland,” he admitted.

“Back home in League One and League Two you can never get the chance of playing in Europe. Every player will be watching the games on TV tonight and, as a footballer, these are the games you want to play in.

“We have been in the top three of four pretty much since the first game of the season and people have maybe wondered if we could stay there. We have, the form of the lads has been brilliant.

“To let that go now would be a crime from us; it’s everything we want now and everything we’re focusing on now and our attention is on securing it as fast as we can.”

-WATCH THE FULL INTERVIEW ON MFC TV-