A goal from Jamie Murphy nine minutes from time consigned Hibernian to their third defeat in just six days - but only after the Easter Road side had to play for two-thirds of the game with just ten men following a harsh red card for midfielder Liam Miller. After suffering their heaviest defeat in five years it was no surprise to see manager John Hughes make five changes to his starting line-up with Smith, Zemmama, Hanlon, Benjelloun and Riordan all dropping out and replaced by Stack, Cregg, Stevenson, Wotherspoon and Gow.

The Hibernian players all wore black armbands this afternoon following the passing of former player Alan Gordon, and there was a steely determination about the Easter Road men determined to show their midweek setback was a one-off. The home side however created the first chance of the afternoon after 8 minutes when Sutton tried to catch out Stack with a snap shot from the edge of the penalty area; the Hibernian goalkeeper had his angles right and saved comfortably.

O'Brien pounced on a loose ball after Bamba and Sutton contested a cross, only to fire well wide of goal before Hibernian carved out an opportunity when Stokes' cross from the right found Gow but his header was easily saved by goalkeeper Ruddy. Graham Stack then kept the scores level when he produced a stunning save to keep out a powerful drive from Coke that took a wicked deflection from Cregg on route to goal, the goalkeeper quickly readjusting his feet and throwing himself across goal to push away the ball with his fingertips.

A promising break from the visitors resulted in them being awarded an indirect free kick inside the Motherwell penalty area when Reynolds was short with a back-pass and Miller released Stokes, the striker held the ball up before slipping in Gow but Craigan intercepted and knocked the ball back to goalkeeper Ruddy. There was no question it had been a pass back and for the free kick every Motherwell player was back on the goal-line before Stokes blasted over the crossbar from Rankin's pass.

On 31 minutes there was chaos after a challenge from Miller on O'Brien resulted in a straight red card for the Hibernian midfielder - whilst the Motherwell man was very fortunate to stay on the park for reacting to the tackle by raising his hands and sparking a mass scuffle. The officials decided that only deserved a yellow card, a decision that ultimately changed the game firmly in favour of the home side. Despite being a man short Hibernian continued to push forward in numbers and a fantastic turn and shot from Stokes was matched by an equally impressive stop from Ruddy as the half time whistle approached.

It had been a reasonable first half performance from Hibernian with neither side really having the better of their opponents.

Half Time: Motherwell 0 Hibernian 0

Both sides returned unchanged for the second half with Hibernian now shooting towards their supporters. Motherwell, with their extra man advantage started positively and they went close to breaking the deadlock when Hogg and Stack hesitated for a brief moment following a near post cross from O'Brien, and were beaten to the ball by Murphy who couldn't quite redirect the ball on target and he fired wide from only a couple of yards.

The home side continued to pressurise with Sutton heading straight at Stack from O'Brien's cross, before Hibernian had a let off after Murphy went beyond Hogg on the right before being bundled to the ground as he attempted to cut the ball back, referee Norris awarding nothing other than a goal kick. On the hour Coke was replaced by Humphrey by Craig Brown as the Motherwell manager looked to navigate a path through a resolute Hibernian defence that has stood firm so far. On 65 minutes Motherwell were awarded a free kick 25 yards from goal but there was still no way through for the Steelmen as Hateley's effort struck the defensive wall.

Moments later Stack fumbled a header from Sutton around the post to gift Motherwell a corner kick and it appeared that it was only a matter of time before a goal would be produced by the Fir Park men. The home supporters thought it had arrived when Stevenson was short with a header back to goalkeeper Stack and Lasley nipped in to loft the ball over his head - only for Wotherspoon to read the situation unfolding before him perfectly and race back to his goal before hooking the Motherwell player's effort off the line.

Hibernian's first change saw Zemmama replace Cregg but on 81 minutes the home side broke the deadlock when O'Brien's cross saw Sutton and Bamba tussle for the ball and when it broke free to Jamie Murphy who coolly fired it back across goal and into the far corner of the net. The goal came as a hammer blow to Hibernian after the Edinburgh side had looked to have weathered the storm. Hibernian tried to hit back quickly and won a corner kick following persistence from Stokes. Zemmama's delivery found Hogg at the back post but the skipper completely missed the ball when attempting a header and the chance was gone

Motherwell were unlucky not to double their lead when an attempted pass back from Rankin was intercepted by Sutton only for the striker to stab the ball wide under pressure from the diving Stack. In the dying moments a Zemmama free kick was deflected wide by the defensive wall and from the resulting corner kick Hogg headed powerfully towards goal but his effort lacked the direction to get beyond Ruddy who gathered easily. In the first of 2 minutes additional time fantastic play from Murphy saw him escape the clutches of Murray before racing into the penalty area and firing a low cross that was just out of reach of the sliding O'Brien.

That proved to be the final action of a disappointing afternoon for John Hughes' men, but despite a third defeat in six days he will have been pleased with the application and commitment of his men.

Motherwell: Ruddy, Hammell, Reynolds, Craigan, Coke, Jennings, Sutton, Lasley, Murphy, O'Brien, Hateley. Subs: Fraser, Humphrey, McGlinchey, Forbes, McHugh, Saunders, Lawless.

Hibernian: Stack, Hogg, Murray, Cregg, Rankin, Stevenson, Stokes, Wotherspoon, Bamba, Gow, Miller. Subs: Smith, Zemmama, Riordan, Thicot, McBride, Benjelloun, Hanlon.

Report: Richard Payne