Source: Team_Talk
Hibs v Motherwell reaction
Motherwell manager Stuart McCall insisted he was paying no attention to rising expectations levels after watching his side beat Hibs.[LNB] Jamie Murphy's eighth-minute header gave the dominant Steelmen a 1-0 win, although they should have had the victory wrapped up long before they were forced to endure a nervy ending to the match.[LNB]Hibs goalkeeper Graham Stack was man of the match after pulling off a string of fine saves, including a superb double block after the break to deny Stephen Craigan and then Michael Higdon.[LNB]The win put Well three points clear of Celtic in second spot, but McCall refused to get carried away with talk of splitting the Old Firm come the end of the campaign.[LNB]He said: "We're not thinking about that. Before the split we knew we had to go to Tannadice and come to Easter Road. To pick up six points and to deservedly do it is great.[LNB]"Expectations grow from outside but we know our aims as a group. We'll get beaten in games but as long as the desire is there to go from the first to the last whistle, that's all you can ask for.[LNB]"I'm delighted with the win. We said at half-time that as much as we dominated the game we had not killed them off and they would come at us second half.[LNB]"Hibs produced better, but we still had all the chances and Stack has been outstanding. We've hit the post and bar.[LNB]"It can get a bit edgy in the last 10 minutes when it's still 1-0 and the game should have been out of sight, but I thought all round it was a good performance."[LNB]McCall singled out Steven Jennings for praise after the midfielder blanked out off-field problems to produce a solid display.[LNB]The 26-year-old was one of nine men arrested last week on suspicion of conspiracy to defraud following a joint operation by Merseyside Police and the Gambling Commission. The probe followed reports from some bookmakers of irregular betting patterns on Motherwell's 2-1 defeat by Hearts last December, during which Jennings was sent off.[LNB]He was bailed until January pending further inquiries.[LNB]McCall said: "He's not had the greatest of starts to the season if I'm being honest.[LNB]"He is showing signs of getting back and I thought today he bossed it.[LNB]"He played in a role just in front of the back four and I thought he was one of our star players.[LNB]"He came in to training last Monday, he was bright and he just wants to get on with the game. I thought he was excellent."[LNB]Hibs manager Colin Calderwood admitted Motherwell thoroughly deserved the win.[LNB]He said: "They were terrific, they dominated the first half, that was obvious for everyone to see and that alone makes them deserved winners.[LNB]"We didn't get on the front foot, didn't play as the home team and didn't affect Motherwell.[LNB]"We didn't cope with what they did and we didn't run hard enough. You have to get them back to work but you have to expose them to the criticism that is deserved on occasions."[LNB]
