Match ends, Hibernian 3, Motherwell 3.
Hibernian 3-3 Motherwell
By Brian McLauchlin
BBC Scotland
- From the section Football
John Sutton scored an injury-time equaliser to deny Hibernian their first home win against Motherwell since 2010.
Strikes by Sutton and Lionel Ainsworth saw Motherwell establish a two-goal lead at Easter Road.
Hibs responded through headers from Jordon Forster and Michael Nelson - via the crossbar - before Paul Heffernan fired them ahead.
But Sutton, with his second goal of the game, ensured both sides would earn a point apiece from a pulsating clash.
The hosts forced a couple of early corners but Motherwell's defence dealt comfortably with the deliveries before breaking the deadlock.
McFadden found space on the left-hand side and played in Ainsworth. He in turn fired the ball across goal where Sutton was waiting to hammer it high into the roof of the net.
Hibs responded with a Danny Haynes shot that was fired over the crossbar and a James Collins header that drifted wide.
And the home fans were further stunned just before the half-hour mark when Motherwell doubled their advantage.
Iain Vigurs played a simple pass through to Ainsworth who curled the ball around the advancing Williams into the top corner.
Terry Butcher, arms folded, looked bemused as he watched on from the dugout and would have been preparing a blistering half-time team-talk for his under-performing side.
However, Hibs reduced the deficit just before the break when the Motherwell defence failed to clear a corner. Paul Cairney swept a cross into the box where Forster was waiting to nod home from six yards.
Forster then spurned a great opportunity to equalise moments later, heading wide with the goal at his mercy.
Buoyed by Forster's goal, Hibs came flying out of the traps in the second half and came close to an equaliser with a minute of the restart.
Cairney's cross was met by James Collins but the striker's effort came back off the base of the post before he sent the rebound straight into the arms of Lee Hollis.
Cairney then played in Haynes but he blazed his shot over the bar.
Hibs wouldn't be denied, though, and equalised when Nelson's header was adjudged to have crossed the line after rebounding back off the bar as Hollis clawed it away.
Substitute Heffernan fired Hibs in front for the first time but Sutton struck with his second of the game to ensure a share of the spoils.
Line-ups
Hibernian
- 1Williams
- 23Forster
- 3McGivern
- 10Craig
- 5Nelson
- 4Hanlon
- 11CairneySubstituted forHandlingat 84'minutes
- 26Stanton
- 33HaynesSubstituted forHeffernanat 75'minutes
- 14Collins
- 16StevensonSubstituted forHarrisat 66'minutes
Substitutes
- 7Harris
- 15Boateng
- 18Maybury
- 19Handling
- 21Murdoch
- 24Heffernan
- 35Cummings
Motherwell
- 1Hollis
- 2Reid
- 23Murray
- 26Leitch
- 6McManus
- 5Hutchinson
- 25AinsworthSubstituted forMooreat 71'minutes
- 14Lasley
- 9Sutton
- 7McFaddenSubstituted forCaddenat 74'minutes
- 11Vigurs
Substitutes
- 3Hammell
- 21Stewart
- 22Moore
- 29Shirkie
- 30Thomas
- 32Neill
- 34Cadden
- Referee:
- Steven McLean
- Attendance:
- 8,277
Match Stats
Home TeamHibernianAway TeamMotherwell
- Possession
- Home52%
- Away48%
- Shots
- Home13
- Away10
- Shots on Target
- Home5
- Away6
- Corners
- Home8
- Away2
- Fouls
- Home11
- Away4
Live Text
Full Time
Second Half ends, Hibernian 3, Motherwell 3.
Corner, Hibernian. Conceded by Euan Murray.
Attempt missed. James Collins (Hibernian) left footed shot from the right side of the box is close, but misses to the right.
Goal!
Goal! Hibernian 3, Motherwell 3. John Sutton (Motherwell) header from very close range to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Iain Vigurs with a cross.
Foul by James Collins (Hibernian).
Craig Reid (Motherwell) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Attempt missed. Jack Leitch (Motherwell) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the right.
Attempt missed. Iain Vigurs (Motherwell) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left.
Substitution
Substitution, Hibernian. Daniel Handling replaces Paul Cairney.
Attempt missed. James Collins (Hibernian) header from the centre of the box misses to the right.
Attempt saved. Paul Cairney (Hibernian) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
Corner, Motherwell. Conceded by Ryan McGivern.
Goal!
Goal! Hibernian 3, Motherwell 2. Paul Heffernan (Hibernian) right footed shot from the right side of the box to the top left corner. Assisted by Paul Cairney.
Goal!
Goal! Hibernian 2, Motherwell 2. Michael Nelson (Hibernian) header from the right side of the six yard box to the top left corner. Assisted by Paul Cairney with a cross.
Substitution
Substitution, Hibernian. Paul Heffernan replaces Danny Haynes.
Corner, Hibernian. Conceded by Shaun Hutchinson.
Substitution
Substitution, Motherwell. Christopher Cadden replaces James McFadden.
Paul Hanlon (Hibernian) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Keith Lasley (Motherwell).
Foul by Jordan Forster (Hibernian).
Craig Moore (Motherwell) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Attempt missed. James McFadden (Motherwell) right footed shot from the right side of the box is just a bit too high.
Substitution
Substitution, Motherwell. Craig Moore replaces Lionel Ainsworth.
Samuel Stanton (Hibernian) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Jack Leitch (Motherwell).
Substitution
Substitution, Hibernian. Alex Harris replaces Lewis Stevenson.
Foul by Lewis Stevenson (Hibernian).
Shaun Hutchinson (Motherwell) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Corner, Motherwell. Conceded by Ryan McGivern.
Foul by Danny Haynes (Hibernian).
James McFadden (Motherwell) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Samuel Stanton (Hibernian).
James McFadden (Motherwell) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Attempt missed. Paul Cairney (Hibernian) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left.
Attempt missed. Danny Haynes (Hibernian) right footed shot from the right side of the box is too high.
Attempt saved. John Sutton (Motherwell) header from the centre of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal.
Foul by Paul Hanlon (Hibernian).
James McFadden (Motherwell) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
James Collins (Hibernian) hits the right post with a right footed shot from very close range.