Johansson's Motherwell starts season strong with gritty 2-1 win at Hibernian
Alfred Johansson guided Motherwell to a 2-1 triumph over Hibernian, signalling a positive early start for the new manager.
Facing a demanding debut, Alfred Johansson inherited a Motherwell side that had finished fourth in the Scottish Premiership while operating on one of the league’s smallest budgets and saw the exits of Elijah Just, Elliot Watt and Calum Ward. After a convincing 5-0 aggregate victory over HB Torshavn in the Conference League qualifiers, Johansson’s team earned a 2-1 win at Hibernian, with Ibrahim Said scoring the decisive break-away goal.
He highlighted the collective effort, citing Martin Moormann’s blocking, the front three’s defensive work, and Alex Paulsen’s saves, as well as the enthusiasm of eight league debutants. Former manager Callum Davidson praised the gritty display, while players such as Regan Charles-Cook and Oscar Priestman described the squad as a close-knit family. New signings like Moormann and Jake Girdwood-Reich have filled the gaps left by departures, and the club now looks ahead to a Conference League tie against HJK Helsinki.
Why it matters
The win shows Johansson’s ability to maintain Motherwell’s competitiveness despite a thin squad and key player losses.
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