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Understandably there's been pessimism leading into this campaign. JBA goes, then Ward, Watt and Just follow Slattery out of the door- four players integral to what the club achieved last season - and a manager who gave us some of the best football we've seen as fans. Throw in injuries to the likes of McGinn, O'Donnell and Maswanhise and you can see why doubts were creeping in. No recognised striker in three competitive games so far - no problem. HB were dispatched with relative ease, but to go to Easter Road and take three points on the back of a tricky European tie away from home only three days earlier, is perhaps beyond the start we could have hoped for. First half, there was very little in it. Controlled possession and Hibs offered little. As an attacking threat, neither did we until a smart passage of play resulted in the penalty. Second half, we looked alright until the mistake gifted Hibs a way back in. After that while not quite backs to the wall, Hibs looked the more likelier to find a winner until that stunning late breakaway goal. First game I've watched in full and my initial thought is that the style looks to be similar to last season, which is pleasing. What I'm most impressed with is how quickly he's bedded in virtually a new back four (or five if you include goalkeeper). Paulsen will need to learn when he picks and chooses to come for crosses as opponents will identify this and employ tactics to block him, but his shot-stopping was decent, while he looked comfortable with the ball at his feet. Williams was, in the main, solid aside from his poor pass that lead to the Hibs penalty. However, the standouts were Moorman and Girdwood-Reich. Moorman looks a proper centre half, demonstrated perfectly by sensing the danger when twice clearing from the line. He can play a bit too. Girdwood-Reich was composed as well. To bed these two in so quickly is impressive work. The departures of Watt and Slattery have been offset by keeping Fadinger. Think once in the second half he gave the ball away. Apart from that, he was faultless. He is absolutely pivotal to what we do and how bigger clubs haven't picked up on him yet I'll never know. His partner Priestman was decent too. Needs to break the lines more, but when he does he's very effective as shown by the penalty. Further forward, Charles-Cook and Longelo flitted in and out. The Williams-Longelo partnership showed little bits of promise on the left. Charles-Cook had moments and should have scored, but I think he may have been offside. Vogt showed some neat close control at times. I'd be interested to get others thoughts, but to me he looks a little off the pace. Would have said he was the player most on the periphery yesterday. Said, as many will agree, frustrates the life out of you, none more so than in the second half yesterday where he had three Hibs players toiling to get the ball off him, only to then hit a simple 10-yard pass out for a throw. He'd absolutely be the first player at the club you'd pick for your five-a-side team. There's no doubting the talent. Johansson's job is to make it more productive and I thought he took the goal really well given it's an area he's not renowned for. Don't know if it's too much of a stretch to say with Just gone, Said can take up his mantle? Time will tell. What I did like is the transitions between the front four, making it difficult for Hibs defenders to know who to pick up. Like many, a forward (or two) is needed, but Johansson's decision to focus on building from the back is paying early dividends. Having solid foundations is key and his recruitment, at this stage, appears impressive. I think we're really up against it on Thursday. Best we can hope for is to give ourselves a fighting chance going into the second leg at Fir Park. Regardless, it's been a start with more positives than negatives. It's not been perfect, but I think we can all agree at this stage, we've got valid reason to hope for another good season.

I don't know what was more pleasing. Scoring that excellent, one touch passing, winning goal or listening to the commentator calling it "classic Motherwell".

If you want some “glory” nights you got to play the good teams.

Is it the same with regards to the penalty spot. Always thought the ball had to be on the spot.

Bloody glory hunter.

Cheers mate, I'm sure i will - win, lose or draw!!! Especially if its a win 😂 but being realistic, would love to have the tie alive for the home leg - would certainly take a draw and an electric fir park on the 13th 👍

Enjoy the trip pal. I have never done one, not doing this one but would seriously consider freiburg.....got some brownie points with Mrs grizzly to cash in

Only seen the last 15 minutes or so, but not quaking in my boots so far.

That was from the Sky commentary.

Let's concentrate on hjk first then we can think about falkirk

Correct he was close to it and would have been even closer if the ball was properly on the spot. Have a look at it Boyle places the ball in front of the spot. Cheating diving shite bag.

1-2 loss as our Falkirk hoodoo continues.

Love the stand up for motherwell,its our anthem,bin twist and shout,cant stand it.

Need to just keep plugging away, hopefully beat HJK home and away and increase our club-coefficient for next year.

Everyone has different personalities. I am sure he will be on board same as Everyone else

Winner plays Freiburg

Also not mentioned as much but only whyte done great for 2nd goal hassling hibs player to make mistake. Williams looks a great signing. Yes made mistake for goal but brilliant fir 2nd.

I think on a fans football forum its entirely fair to point out mistakes and discuss them, just as it is with great pieces of play like the second goal, otherwise whats the point of the forum. However, Ive just finished listening to the latest Motherwell Daft Podcast, and they make a very pertinent point. Within the squad/coaching team we are encouragaing a more blameless/criticism free envornment to try and encourage bravery and confidence on the ball. The example used was Williams passback which led to the penalty. If he had been absolutely slaughtered for that (as he no doubt would have been in the past), then would he have then had the confidence to burst forward to provide the assist for the winning goal? Or would he have played it safe and sat back in position and let someone else take the responsibility? Its something Jens was very strong on (see Calum Ward) and it would seem something Alfred is continuing. If you listen to Alfred and David Gray after the game, the difference is quite stark. Gray totally focuses on mistakes and being better. Alfred swots away any talk of mistakes and focuses on the positives. I think its definitely a mindset game that we seem to be getting much better at as a club/team.

By coming for everything he forced Hibs to change their corner taking plans and they ended up putting the ball further out with every corner

Couple of slightly negative comments looking at the highlights. Firstly, I don't think that is a penalty for Hibs. Saw 50/50's like that all the time in the WC that were waved away ( McGinn included). Boyle played for the penalty and got it. Secondly, Paulsen coming for two crosses and dropping both. I like the idea of him coming for those balls (Dijkstra style) but you have to get them. On another day we would have been punished both times. It will be interesting to see if he perseveres with this. Two small negatives that in the end did not matter. Loving Lowry's contribution for the 2 Nd goal. I am going to stick with the Stephen Hughes analogy with him for now, (ex Rangers bad boy come good) and it could have been a McGhee team Version 1 goal we were watching yesterday. If Lowry has the same impact that SH had in McGhee's free flowing Motherwell team then we have a success on our hands.

Cheers. Still recovering from Easter Road so forgot that.

An important win although a tight one. AJ has done a sterling job so far, in difficult circumstances, with mass injuries and players departing for pastures new. Performance wise, a mixed bag with some dodgy defending and powder puff attack. The players dug in though and showed character (Big Jock would have been proud). Still we won at a difficult venue and competed well with Hibs. Our winning goal was a team effort and a thing of beauty. More of that please. On the plus side, more minutes in legs and the new lads got more gametime together under AJ. Our performance was a bit clunky but that should improve as the new players bed in and gel. We do need to add a bit of experience in the midfield and firepower up front. I'm confident JA and ND will bring in a couple of new faces to bolster our options. .

Brilliant to get the result & while some of it wasnt sparkling, there was plenty good in there including the goal to get excited about. I dont think we are that far away to be honest. Invest some of our war chest in a striker, play tawanda and longello either side & said in the 10 slot. Easier said than done of course & we may lose some of them before the window closes. That would seem to me to be a pretty formidable front line.

It’s a joy watching that goal back a few times. As the commentators mentioned. several times, “Magnificent Football”!

Still a bit in disbelief how we won that. The minute Hibs scored we lost our way. Hibs had the freedom of the wings and we won very few second balls. That said we employ defenders and a goalkeeper to keep the opposition out and they did just that. Outstanding backs to the wall defensive display. A good team wins ugly and that's what we did and to do so with 8 debuts in the SPFL at a difficult venue is an outstanding start to the season. Terrific away support again today. Good to see Simon Ramsden in amongst the fans enjoying the win.

Gray's heart is broooo kennnnnn Gray's heart is broooo kennnnnnn SAIDDDD.....SAIDDDDD SAIDDDDD SAIDDDDDDDDDDDDD Grays heart is brooooo kennnn What a feckin result

We may already have one in the shape of Jake Girdwood-Reich.

Our possible playoff round opponents if we get past Helsinki Play- off round UEFA Conference League Atalanta BC (ITA) SC Freiburg (GER) Panathinaikos FC (GRE) - FC CSKA 1948(BUL) Paide Linnameeskond (EST) - SK Rapid (AUT) FC Sheriff Tiraspol (MDA) FCSt. Gallen 1879 The draw is later today, some decent teams in that group