Motherwell 1-0 Hibernian

A first-half header from Stephen McManus made the difference as Motherwell edged out Hibs at Fir Park to move third in the Premiership.

The Scotland defender was left all alone to nod in a Lionel Ainsworth corner after 23 minutes.

Shaun Hutchinson was sent off late on for bringing down Paul Heffernan on the edge of the Motherwell penalty area.

But Hibs could not make their late pressure count, with Gunnar Nielsen saving well from Heffernan.

The win pushes Motherwell above Aberdeen, level on 22 points with second-placed Inverness, while managerless Hibs remain in seventh spot.

Following Pat Fenlon's resignation on Friday, Jimmy Nicholl took charge of the visitors but the familiar failings remained as Hibs struggled to create openings.

It was a bright enough start on a sunny Lanarkshire Sunday, with Hibs eager to take the match to Stuart McCall's men.

Ten minutes in, Heffernan stabbed a Kevin Thomson cross wide of the mark and the striker soon tested Nielsen at his near post after ballooning a shot over from a promising position.

At the other end, Motherwell's John Sutton delivered a cross that Henri Anier turned towards goal but Hibs keeper Ben Williams got on top of it.

The only goal arrived when McManus popped up spare at the front post in the 23rd minute, out-jumping Ryan McGivern to head home Ainsworth's corner.

Anier then sprinted towards goal to blast in an angled shot that keeper Williams struggled to contain, the ball striking his boot and bouncing awkwardly out for a corner.

Hibs midfielder Scott Robertson jinked into the Motherwell penalty box for a sight at goal but delayed a fraction and his shot was blocked by Fraser Kerr.

With half-time approaching, Anier raced on to a long clearance from his keeper but could not find a way past Williams and Stuart Carswell stabbed an angled shot narrowly wide.

Immediately after the restart, Motherwell players were queuing up to take a shot at goal but Ainsworth's well-controlled effort sailed into the arms of Williams.

Hibs controlled the lion's share of possession for the final half hour but were too often let down by their final ball.

McManus blocked a shot from Robertson in front of goal and Nielson pushed out a long-distance effort from Liam Craig.

With five minutes remaining, Hutchinson was dismissed for bringing down Heffernan right on the edge of the Motherwell penalty area and substitute Rowan Vine struck the resultant free-kick tamely against the defensive wall.

Fellow repalcement James Collins snatched at a shot and sent it wide after good work from Craig on the left.

And the last chance of the game fell to Heffernan in stoppage time as his powerful strike from 18 yards was pushed away by the flying Nielsen to protect the Steelmen's lead.