Alfred Johansson praised the spirit of his largely rebuilt Motherwell side after they came from behind to beat Hibernian 2-1 at Easter Road, giving the new manager a third victory in three matches.
Late counter ends Hibs hopes
The decisive moment came in the 85th minute when Ibrahim Said finished a counter-attack to secure the win. Motherwell had taken the lead from the penalty spot through Lukas Fadinger, only for Martin Boyle to level for Hibs in the 56th minute with a spot-kick of his own.
Johansson singled out several performers for praise, pointing to defensive resilience and important interventions from the goalkeeper and centre-back that helped preserve the victory.
"I am very proud that we have a group of players that can show this commitment this early on."
The manager emphasised that the win was down to the players’ character rather than the coaching staff, highlighting examples of effort across the team: goalkeeping saves, goal-line blocks and a front trio prepared to defend deep. He also praised Tom Sparrow for his consistent involvement through pre-season and the opening of the campaign.
What stood out
- Eight debutants started their Premiership careers for Motherwell under Johansson.
- Key defensive actions — Alex Paulsen produced several notable saves and Martin Moorman cleared two efforts off the line.
- Ibrahim Said scored the late winner after a composed finish, despite having only three goals last season.
Johansson also spoke warmly about Said’s qualities, describing him as a wholehearted player he has observed previously while working in Denmark. The manager said that if Said can produce greater consistency in his performances then he expects the midfielder to take the next step in his development.
| Event | Player | Minute |
|---|---|---|
| Penalty (Motherwell) | Lukas Fadinger | — |
| Penalty (Hibernian) | Martin Boyle | 56 |
| Winning goal | Ibrahim Said | 85 |
For Hibernian, the defeat will be a disappointment after a period of control in the second half, but Motherwell’s ability to withstand pressure and strike late underlines Johansson’s point about team spirit. The result extends the new manager’s perfect start and will give supporters optimism as a number of new faces bed into the squad.
Motherwell’s next fixtures and how Johansson integrates his new arrivals will be watched closely by fans keen to see whether the early momentum can be sustained in the Premiership.
