Grant Russell at Easter Road
Motherwell fought hard to complete a second comeback in the capital in the space of a week but ultimately came up short as Hibs ran out 2-1 winners.
Curtis Main’s second half strike reduced the deficit after goals from Kamberi and Barker but it wasn’t enough to take a point.
Manager Stephen Robinson made two changes to the team which started the weekend draw at Hearts. Nadir Ciftci and Chris Cadden dropped out, with Craig Tanner and Liam Grimshaw directly replacing them.
With just five minutes on the clock, the hosts came within inches of taking the lead.
Tanner’s attempt at a short free kick backfired, allowing Brandon Barker the chance to run the length of the park. The ball eventually fell to Martin Boyle to get a shot away from just inside the area.
With the ball beating Carson, the ‘Well were thankful for the late intervention of Cedric Kipre, who slid in to stop the effort inches from crossing the line.
From the resulting corner, the visitors were in danger again. The deep ball to the back post caused Carson problems and allowed Paul Hanlon the header, but it cannoned back off the woodwork.
Motherwell took time to settle but it didn’t stop them carving out chances. Curtis Main was first to try his luck from outside the area, with his opportunistic left-footed shot whistling past the left post.
Hibernian though were enjoying the lion’s share and made the breakthrough with 27 minutes on the clock.
A low cross from the left flank was well cut out by Charles Dunne but his clearance found its way to the edge of the box, where debutant Kamberi was lying in wait to cannon the ball home off the underside of the crossbar.
Motherwell continued to look for opportunities on the counter and Allan Campbell came close as the first half wound to a close.
Andy Rose’s ball from the left was well held in by Tanner in the box. With his back to goal, he laid the ball neatly into the path of the onrushing Campbell but his left foot shot skidded past the right hand post.
Campbell continued to be the scourge in between Hibs’ defence and midfield and he set up a chance for Tanner soon after. Robbing McGregor, he played the ball wide to the forward but the left foot shot dipped into Marciano’s hands.
The second half was barely a minute old when Hibs doubled their advantage.
Boyle found space down the left hand side and his cut back found Barker, who steered the ball past Carson and into the net.
Chris Cadden and Gael Bigirimana replaced Liam Grimshaw and Andy Rose on the hour mark and the pair instantly combined to carve out a big chance for the visitors.
Cadden engineered space on the right to swing in a cross to the near post but it was just too high for the unmarked Bigirimana to get his head on.
Cadden was again involved on the 77th minute mark. The ball breaking to him on the edge of the box, he caught the half volley well but Marciano got down well to stop it.
Seconds later, ‘Well got the goal back that their pressure deserved. Main’s strength got him a shooting chance at an angle on the left of the area and his low shot found the back of the net.
The introduction of Nadir Ciftci gave the Steelmen plenty in attack as they pressed for an equaliser, with an aerial threat from Tom Aldred also joining the attack on occasion.
In the dying moments Motherwell continued to push and Main came desperately close to grabbing the equaliser. His chipped shot looked like it might just dip under the crossbar but Marciano was quick to tip it over.
