Hibernian last night saw their unbeaten start to the new season and hopes of defending the CIS Insurance Cup emphatically ended by a rampant Motherwell side at Easter Road.
John Collins' players, who ended a 16-year major trophy drought against Kilmarnock in March, were left down and out as Mark McGhee's side took hold of the first half.
Collins' side, fresh from a 3-2 win over champions Celtic, opened brightly when French striker Mickael Antoine-Curier fired over after just 35 seconds. But Motherwell found their stride and David Clarkson dragged a shot wide, while home goalkeeper Yves Ma-Kalambay had to rush off his line to clutch the ball ahead of Steven McGarry.
Donaldson, in for the injured Steven Fletcher, then marked his home debut with a fine goal. Brian Kerr played the ball down the left and Donaldson dummied Stephen Craigan and slotted under Graeme Smith.
The opener just seemed to galvanise Motherwell, who responded in style with three goals in seven minutes. In the 17th minute, they were level when Ross McCormack's inswinging corner caught Ma-Kalambay flat-footed and Clarkson glanced in a header.
Smith then denied David Murphy with his legs at the other end, before Motherwell went ahead in the 20th minute when McGarry's cross picked out the unmarked Keith Lasley at the back post.
Hibs were all at sea at the back and Clarkson almost added to the misery when he saw a goal ruled offside from another McGarry centre.
But a third for Mark McGhee's attack-minded side was only delayed until the 24th minute thanks to the brilliance of McCormack. The former Rangers striker collected 25 yards from goal and angled a lob over Ma-Kalambay into the top left-hand corner.
Collins had seen enough and hauled off Lewis Stevenson and Dean Shiels at the interval, bringing on Filipe Morais and Merouane Zemmama.
The Easter Road side were in desperate need of a quick reply, but Smith palmed away Rob Jones' header in 50 minutes and Morais then fired a drive just over.
Any hope of a comeback for Collins' side finally ended when Chris Porter neatly slotted in an 83rd-minute fourth goal with Hibs again badly exposed.
The home side's summer signing Antoine-Curier pulled one back two minutes later, his first goal for the club, from Morais' cross but it was too little too late.
Hibernian Kalambay, Gathuessi, Hogg (McCann 67), Jones, Murphy, Shiels (Morais 45), Kerr, Beuzelin, Stevenson (Zemmama 45), Donaldson, Antoine-Curier. Subs: McNeil, O'Brien.
Booked Jones.
Motherwell G Smith, Quinn, Reynolds, Craigan, Paterson, Hughes, Lasley, McGarry (Fitzpatrick 68), Porter (Grabban 90), McCormack, Clarkson (Mensing 86). Subs: Kinniburgh, Meldrum. Booked Hughes, Lasley, McGarry, G Smith.
Referee M Tumilty.
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