Motherwell 1, Hibs 1: Well's top-six bid fizzles out as they take a point

Motherwell's bid for a top-six Premiership finish fizzled out at Fir Park as they were held to a draw by Hibs.

Myziane Maolida's second-half penalty looked like being enough to take the points back to Edinburgh, only for Shane Blaney to blast a shot into the top left corner inside stoppage time.

Stuart Kettlewell's side will now scrap it out to try and be the best of the rest while others battle to stay in the top flight.

It had looked good for Motherwell in 61 minutes when Theo Bair had the ball in the back of the net, but was denied by a tight-looking offside, and Hibs opened the scoring from the spot four minutes later.

It looked like that was how the game would end, before Blaney popped up to send a scorcher into the back of the net, and Oli Shaw was unlucky not to score a winner.

With so much at stake, both sides seemed nervous and they were playing into a howling wind for the entire first half, which reduced the likelihood of a spectacle.

Motherwell had a lot of possession but didn't do a lot with it, while Hibs carved out the better chances.

Elie Youan should have done better than curl a shot over the top right corner with just Liam Kelly to beat, while the Well captain produced a terrific save to deny Chris Cadden.

Motherwell came out flying in the second half, and Theo Bair had the ball in the net, only to be denied by a tight offside.

Hibs then won and scored a penalty, converted by Maolida, to give them a crucial lead.

Motherwell huffed and puffed but, if anything, Hibs looked more likely to add to their tally, forcing more saves from Kelly.

But the Steelmen didn't stay down for long.

Motherwell boss Stuart Kettlewell made two changes to the side that beat Dundee last weekend, as Stephen O'Donnell and Lennon Miller came in for Adam Devine and Andy Halliday.

Nick Montgomery also made two changes to the Hibs side that lost 2-1 at St Johnstone last time out. Elie Youan and Nathan Moriah-Welsh came in for Nectarios Triantis and Adam Le Fondre.

Hibs hearts were in their mouths in nine minutes when Jack Vale pounced on a poor clearance by David Marshall on the right, but his cut-back was cleared before Theo Bair could capitalise.

Vale found space for a shot in 20 minutes, which was well blocked by Will Fish, at the expense of a corner.

Hibs threatened in 24 minutes when Myziane Moulida and Emiliano Marcondes combined to set up Youan, but he curled his effort well over the top right corner.

Moments later, Chris Cadden sent a rocket shot arrowing towards the top left corner from the right flank, but Kelly got a touch on it to divert it over.

Maolida was just too far away from a neat ball over the top from Marcondes in 28 minutes, when a touch may have been enough to send it past Kelly.

A high wind was wreaking havoc and Kelly was nearly caught out by it in 31 minutes as he hesitated to clear, but Maolida did too, and his attempted pass was booted away.

Blair Spittal sent Bair through on goal in 47 minutes but he got the ball stuck under his foot with just Marshall to beat and was forced back the way, with Hibs conceding a free kick just outside their box.

Kelly was called into action to keep Youan's shot out of the top left corner in 51 minutes as Hibs threatened.

Youan had another go when he was sent down the left flank, but Kelly parried his powerful shot at the near post in 53 minutes.

Bair was sent through on goal by Spittal in 61 minutes and raced through to blast the ball low past Marshall, only for an offside flag to go up, which was upheld.

But Hibs took the lead in 65 minutes when Fish was tripped in the box and Maolida confidently slotted in the penalty.

Georgie Gent picked out Bair with a neat ball in 75 minutes, but the Canadian striker lifted his shot high and wide of the right post.

Youan could have made sure of the win as he tore down the left flank in 77 minutes, but lifted his shot over the bar.

Sub Josh Campbell should have made an immediate impact when he was given a sight of goal by Marcondes, but Kelly blocked well.

But Motherwell struck in stoppage time as Shane Blaney ripped a shot into the top left corner.

Shaw could have given them all three points, but fired inches wide of the right post with practically the last kick of the ball.

MOTHERWELL: Kelly, O'Donnell (Nicholson, 69), McGinn, Casey, Blaney, Gent, Miller (Shaw, 90), Zdravkovski (Halliday, 69), Spittal (Ferrie, 90), Vale (Moses, 69), Bair

Subs (not used): Oxborough (GK), Mugabi, L. Ross, Butcher

Booked: Vale (45), Spittal (56)

HIBERNIAN: Marshall, Cadden, Fish, Bushiri, Obita, Moriah-Welsh (Levitt, 67), Boyle (Campbell, 80), Hanson, Newell, Maolida, Youan

Subs (not used): Wollacott (GK), Hanlon, Levitt, Vente, Stevenson, Le Fondre, Tavares, MacIntyre

Booked: Newell (15), Moriah-Welsh (48). Bushiri (55), Boyle (56)

Referee: Willie Collum

Attendance: 7083

Follow Lanarkshire Live Sport on X via @LanLiveSport, like us on Facebook or find us on Instagram for the latest sports news, pictures and video.