The big forward opened the scoring inside 2 minutes when he latched onto a through ball from Grant Brebner and ran free from the Motherwell defence before slotting past Marshall.

The 40 year old keeper had one of his best games for Motherwell since signing pulling off save after save in the first half to keep the Hibees out. The best of those came when he saved well from a Glass free kick.

Phil O'Donnell also started to look the player he was in his previous spell at Fir Park, getting his first goal on his return. McDonald split the defence with a reverse pass at the edge of the box and the midfielder fired past Brown to equalise.

Motherwell started the second half brightly and created a few chances from Jim Paterson who was causing the Hibs so much problems that he found himself being marked by two defenders. The former Dundee United midfielder had his chance to pull ' Well in front but fired straight at Brown from only 10 yards out.

The sucker punch came after 78 minutes, O'Conner volleyed past a helpless Marshall.

Murdock was sent off as Hammell was taking a free kick on the edge of the area, Murdock appeared to elbow O'Donnell inside the penalty area but referee John Underhill never awarded a penalty because the ball wasn't in  play.

Grant Brebner followed Murdock for an early bath in the closing stages after slapping Craigan in the face. It was too late for Motherwell to take advantage of the situation.

Motherwell: Marshall, Corrigan, Hammell, Craigan, Kinniburgh, Fagan (McBride 62), O'Donnell, Leitch, Scott McDonald, Paterson (Foran 81), Burns (Clarkson 74).

Hibernian: Simon Brown, Whittaker, Murphy (Shiels 45), Caldwell, Murdock, Beuzelin, Scott Brown, Brebner, McManus (Morrow 45), O'Connor (Shields 81), Glass.

Attendance : 5,859

Referee : John Underhill

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