Aiming to continue their positive start to the 2024-25 season, Motherwell will travel to the Easter Road Stadium to take on Hibernian for matchday seven of the Scottish Premiership.
The hosts sit ninth in the table with five points from six outings, while the visitors sit fourth with 10 points from their opening six games.
Match preview
![Hibernian Manager David Gray during the Premier Sports Cup Group C match at Easter Road, Edinburgh UK against Peterhead on July 27, 2024 [on August 2, 2024]](https://sm.imgix.net/24/31/david-gray.jpg?w=640&h=480&auto=compress,format&fit=clip "Hibernian Manager David Gray during the Premier Sports Cup Group C match at Easter Road, Edinburgh UK against Peterhead on July 27, 2024 [on August 2, 2024]")
© Imago
Hibernian have consistently alternated between finishing in the top six and bottom six in recent pre-split seasons, finishing third in 2020-21, followed by seventh, fifth, and seventh in the subsequent years.
That trend suggests they would be on track for a return to the top six this season. However, a poor start to the 2024-25 campaign may indicate a worrying sign of another bottom-six finish instead.
David Gray, who has served as interim manager four times in the past, was appointed to the permanent role ahead of this season, but his team have struggled to make an impact in the early stages.
Hibs have won just four of their opening 11 games across all competitions, only one of these in the Scottish Premiership, losing five and drawing two in that time.
These results have left Hibernian already eliminated from the Scottish League Cup and disappointingly sitting ninth in the table. However, a win on Saturday could potentially lift them to sixth place, depending on the outcomes of other matches.
Motherwell are expected to pose a tough challenge for Gray's side, coming into this match with five victories in their last six outings across all competitions, with their only defeat during that stretch being a narrow 2-1 loss to Aberdeen.
That run marks a notable improvement from their mixed start to the season which saw Motherwell lose two and draw one of their first six games, only beating three lower-division sides in that time.
With a challenging schedule ahead that includes matches against Celtic and Dundee United in their next four outings, Stuart Kettlewell will be keen to maintain his team's strong momentum with a win in this match.
Motherwell have struggled in this fixture in recent meetings, winning just two of their last 12 matchups and failing to secure a victory in any of their last three encounters.
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Team News
![Motherwell manager Stuart Kettlewell during the Premier Sports Cup Group G match at Fir Park against Partick Thistle on 28/07/2024[on August 1, 2024]](https://sm.imgix.net/24/31/stuart-kettlewell.jpg?w=640&h=480&auto=compress,format&fit=clip "Motherwell manager Stuart Kettlewell during the Premier Sports Cup Group G match at Fir Park against Partick Thistle on 28/07/2024[on August 1, 2024]")
© Imago
The hosts will certainly be without the services of Kieron Bowie, with the forward ruled out until January due to a hamstring injury that he sustained in early September.
Martin Boyle is also a doubt after the forward missed Hibernian's loss to Rangers due to undergoing surgery for an injury to his hand that his troubled him throughout the season.
Elsewhere, despite falling to a loss last time out, Hibernian created plenty of chances and could have taken more from the game, a promising performance that could leave Gray opting to name the same team here.
As for Motherwell, they are facing an availability crisis, with up to nine players possibly unavailable for Saturday's match due to injuries and suspensions.
Dan Casey is ruled out after the central defender was sent off for handball in the 47th minute of their eventual narrow 2-1 victory against St Mirren last weekend.
Callum Slattery, Filip Stuparevic, Harry Paton, Jack Vale, Johnny Koutroumbis, Ross Callachan, Sam Nicholson and Shane Blaney are all also unavailable due to injury issues.
Hibernian possible starting lineup:
Bursik; Miller, Ekpiteta, O'Hora, Obita; Cadden, Kwon, Triantis, Hoilett; Campbell, Kukharevych
Motherwell possible starting lineup:
Oxborough; McGinn, Gordon, Balmer; O'Donnell, Zdravkovski, Halliday, Wilson; Miller; Robinson, Ebiye
We say: Hibernian 1-2 Motherwell
While Hibernian have faced difficulties this season, Motherwell are coming into the game in fantastic form, leading us to believe the visitors will win here.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Ellis Stevens
