Preview: Hibernian vs. Motherwell - prediction, team news, lineups

Opponents Motherwell, after going on a run of four games without a win the league, will be coming into this game with some confidence after picking up a 5-0 victory against Ross County on Tuesday.

Match preview

After a start to the season which saw Hibernian only win once in their opening five fixtures, a winning run was really needed to help give their fans more optimism for this campaign after a disappointing seventh-place finish saw the end of the road for manager Shaun Maloney at the end of last season.

Lee Johnson's side have won twice and drawn twice during an unbeaten start to the season at Easter Road so far, including earning a point against Rangers, albeit in a game that saw their opponents reduced to nine men.

Martin Boyle was on the scoresheet in that game against Rangers, and again against Ross County in Hibernian's last fixture to help them secure a 2-0 victory with his fourth goal in only five starts.

Hibs have also been strong at the back and come into this match with the second-best defensive record in the league this season, having conceded only seven goals in their opening eight games.

The signing of experienced goalkeeper David Marshall has certainly helped with that, the shot-stopper quickly being installed as captain and keeping three clean sheets so far.

Their opponents Motherwell have almost had the reverse of Hibernian's season so far, Steven Hammell's side picking up three wins in their first four league games before going on a run of four games without a win - a run which was ended in midweek.

The Steelmen currently have the second-best away record in the division, picking up three victories and losing twice, which includes the 5-0 midweek annihilation of Ross County, where Kevin van Veen continued his fine form in front of goal this season scoring a hat-trick.

The Dutch forward has found the net seven times in nine starts this season, converting three penalties, making him the joint-second highest scorer in the division, just behind Rangers forward Antonio Colak, who has scored eight goals in eight games so far.

After missing out in Conference League qualifying against Sligo Rovers, Motherwell will be hoping to finish in the European qualification places again this season, to give a better account of themselves in the European competition.

With a victory against Hibernian in this fixture, Motherwell would move above them in the table and could go as high as third dependent on other results.

Hibernian Scottish Premiership form:

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Motherwell Scottish Premiership form:

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Motherwell form (all competitions):

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Team News

Lee Johnson named an unchanged side for Hibernian's previous fixture against Ross County and after picking up another victory, there will most likely not be any need to change a winning formula.

The fixture did see the return of midfielder Kyle Magennis to the matchday squad after over a year out due to injury and he did make an appearance late in the second half, so he may be given some more minutes off the bench to ease him back into competitive football.

For Motherwell, Callum Slattery and Joe Efford both came back into the side for the victory against Ross County on Tuesday and both scored, so it is likely that they will both keep their places in the starting 11.

Forward Louis Moult, who has returned to the club, also got on the pitch for 20 minutes in this fixture but has yet to score on his return, with Van Veen being the reliable striker for the team.

Both sides will be expected to match each other up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, with it being Hibernian's preferred formation throughout the whole season and with Motherwell adopting it recently to relative success.

Hibernian possible starting lineup:

Marshall; Cabraja, Hanlon, Porteous, Cadden; Kenneh, Campbell, Youan, Newell, Boyle; Kukharevych

Motherwell possible starting lineup:

Kelly; Penney, Lamie, Johansen, McGinn; Goss, Slattery, Shields, Spittal, Efford; van Veen

We say: Hibernian 2-1 Motherwell

Hibernian will be expected to continue their winning run in this fixture although Motherwell could be a tricky test after a narrow defeat to Celtic followed by a comfortable win against Ross County.

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