Motherwell vs Hibernian
1 August 16300hrs
Football – Scotland – Premiership
Pick Hibernian
Bookmaker Betvictor
Odds: 23/20 odds taken 2000 GMT, Friday 30 July
Motherwell and Hibs is the last game of the opening weekend of the Scottish Premiership as both target three points to get their seasons off to a flyer.
Table of Contents
Motherwell Preview – Can ‘Well make home advantage count to get a valuable three points?
Motherwell come into this campaign having endured a challenging season last time around – one which seen Stephen Robinson leave the club and be replaced by Graham Alexander. Alexander’s had a somewhat indifferent spell at Fir Park to date and knows he will be judged by what he and his team do from this point onwards.
‘Well finished in eighth place last season which – considering they were third the season before – was very underwhelming. A top six finish needs to be the objective this season but there are doubts as to whether this squad have the quality required to compete in the top half.
Motherwell’s League Cup campaign was mixed as well. They topped their section as they would expect to against teams from the lower leagues but they were soundly beaten by local rivals Airdrie, going down 2-0 in a game what will just increase pressure on the manager and players before the league season even gets underway.
Stephen O’Donnell – fresh of his involvement with Scotland at Euro 2020 – and Tony Watt will be key players for Motherwell. They were inconsistent like the rest of the team last season so have to provide some leadership as the club bid to improve on last season.
Hibernian Preview – Will Hibs pick up there they left off last season and prove they’re still one of the top teams in Scotland?
Whilst Hibernian’s first full season under Jack Ross should be considered a success considering they finished third and reached the Scottish Cup final (and also the semi-final of the League Cup), there was still a lot of frustration amongst the club’s support. Failure to win the big games – particularly their meek performance in the final against St Johnstone – remains a concern under Ross. Fans believe there needs to be more creativity and attacking threat from this squad.
It’s not a hugely different group of players whom Ross starts the season with. Jackson Irvine has moved on and there have been a couple of retirements. Hibs still have prized assets such as Ryan Porteus and Josh Doig whilst Martin Boyle and Kevin Nisbet will provide the threat going forward.
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Hibs’ started their competitive season with a two legged tie against Andorrans FC Santa Coloma in the second round of qualification for the Europa Conference League. They won 5-1 on aggregate and will now take on Rijeka from Croatia in the next round. That is likely to prove much more of a test.
Those games should have them primed for this one and with how competitive the race for the top four is going to be this season, they will be hoping for a fast start.
Motherwell vs Hibernian Betting Advice
The games between the two were shared last season. A win for both in the league along with a draw whilst Hibs edged Motherwell in the quarter-final of the Scottish Cup on penalties.
Key Facts – Motherwell vs Hibernian Betting Tip
- Graham Alexander embarks on his first full season in charge at Fir Park having taken over in January
- Hibs come into this game after comfortably progressing into the next round of the European Cup
- The sides met four times last season with one win apiece and the other two ending in draws
There are some concerns as to where the goals will come from for Motherwell. Hibs have much more threat going forward and that could well be the difference in this one. Back the visitors to get off to a winning start.
Best Betting Odds for Motherwell vs Hibernian
