Hibernian 3-3 Motherwell
- Published
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.
- Published8 March 2014