Motherwell 2-1 Hibernian

Ross McCormack wheels away after putting Well ahead against Hibs

Ten-man Hibernian spurned the opportunity to go top of the league as they surrendered a one-goal lead to lose a thrilling encounter at Fir Park.

Two goals in two minutes by Ross McCormack were enough to consign the Edinburgh club to their first league defeat of the season.

Hibs had Felipe Morais sent off before Steven Fletcher put them ahead from the penalty spot after half an hour.

But McCormack's first-half double moves Well up to fifth spot in the SPL.

Interview: Hibernian manager John Collins

Interview: Motherwell manager Mark McGhee

Motherwell manager Mark McGhee made no changes to the side that lost 1-0 to Dundee United in their last league match, but set out an attacking formation with three players up front.

Hibernian won their last match 1-0 at Ibrox, but John Collins brought Lewis Stevenson into defence, and played Felipe Morais on the wing.

Mickael Antoine-Curier dropped down to the bench, and Guillaume Beuzelin sat out after having a knee operation.

John Collins' men visited Fir Park hoping to exact some revenge for the 4-2 defeat Motherwell inflicted on them in the third round of the CIS Cup in September.

And their early exuberance bolied over on 20 minutes when Portuguese winger Felipe Morais was shown a straight red card by referee Charlie Richmond for a two-footed lunge on Motherwell's Jim Paterson.

But despite being a man down, it was the Easter Road side that took the lead in the 30th minute.

Striker Steven Fletcher latched onto Clayton Donaldson's through ball, and was brought down in the box by home goalkeeper Graeme Smith as he tried to take the ball off Fletcher's toe.

The Scotland Under-21 front man dusted himself down to dispatch the kick low to Smith's right.

However, the lead was short-lived as Motherwell drew level with a stunning strike from Ross McCormack on 35 minutes, that left Yves Ma-Kalamby in the Hibernian goal with little chance as it crashed in off the bar from the edge of the area.

And just two minutes later McCormack got his second to put the home side ahead when he curled a free-kick past Ma-Kalamby from 19 yards.

Motherwell's Steven McGarry was denied a killer goal on three occasions in the second period, twice striking the woodwork, and also forcing a finger-tip save from Ma-Kalamby.

And at the other end Hibernian captain Rob Jones agonised as he watched headed efforts rattle the crossbar twice in the last ten minutes as his side pressed for an equaliser.

Goal hero McCormack was substituted in the closing stages to a standing ovation as the home side claimed their first league victory over Hibernian for four years.

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Motherwell: Graeme Smith, Quinn, Craigan, Reynolds, Paterson, Hughes, Lasley, McGarry, McCormack, Porter, Clarkson. Subs: Meldrum, Mensing, O'Donnell, Grabban, Fitzpatrick, Kinniburgh, Jamie Murphy.

Hibernian: Ma Kalambay, McCann, Jones, Hogg, Murphy, Morais, Kerr, Chisholm, Stevenson, Donaldson, Fletcher. Subs: McNeil, Zemmama, O'Brien, Gathuessi, Antoine-Curier, Shiels, McCormack.