This was a game that had a strange start with a booking inside two minutes when Brian McLean, making his first Motherwell start, was shown yellow for a foul on Derek Riordan. He was quickly followed by Ivan Sproule and Richie Foran into the book as the ref showed a touch of trigger finger.
David Clarkson saw a fine run ended by an equally fine save from Hibs keeper Zbigniew Malkowski at his near post, while at the other end Garry O'Connor saw an angled drive flash past Smith's near post.
The ref then showed that he had created a problem for himself as he allowed bad tackles from Shaun Fagan and Guillaume Beuzelin to go without a yellow.
It took until the 19th minute for sanity to be restored. Michael Stewart hit a stinging drive from 20 yards and Smith was at full stretch to tip over. From the corner Beuzelin could not believe his luck when he had acres of space from Riordan's corner to head into the bottom corner.
The early stages of the second half saw a fired-up Motherwell go at the visitors from the kick off. McDonald twisted and turned against Chris Hogg and saw his shot well held at the near post by the keeper.
Hibs capitalised on the pressure they had built up when they doubled their lead half way through the half. Smith saved once again from Riordan this time, but the ball popped up kindly for Stewart to score from close range. This was the former Hearts man's first goal for his new club.
The visitors all but wrapped up the three points with 11 minutes left when Riordan latched on to a pass from Sproule to fire low across Smith and in off his far post.
Motherwell did manage a late consolation when O'Donnell tumbled in the box under the challenge of Glass and the ref awarded a softish penalty. Foran fired a shot high to Malkowski's right to leave him helpless.
Hibs boss Tony Mowbray was satisfied with the result and his side's performance, saying: "Any result away from home is decent and over the 90 minutes we deserved it on chances created. I don't think there will be any complaints at the result."
Hibs capitalised on the pressure they had built up when they doubled
their
lead half way through the half, Smith saved once again from Riordan
this
time but the ball popped up kindly for Stewart to score from close
range.
This was the former Hearts man's first goal for his new club.
The visitors all but wrapped up the three points with eleven minutes
left
when Riordan latched on to a pass from Sproule to fire low across Smith
and
in off his far post.
Motherwell did manage a late consolation when O'Donnell tumbled in the
box
under the challenge of Glass and the ref awarded a softish award. Foran
fired a shot high to Malkowski's right to leave him helpless.
Hibs boss Tony Mowbray was satisfied with the result and his side
performance, "Any result away from home is decent and over the 90
minutes
deserved it on chances created. I don't think there will be any
complaints
at the result.