Ten-man Motherwell won the fight for fourth spot in the Scottish Premiership and guaranteed European football after a well-deserved victory over Hibs at Easter Road.
Hibs now need Celtic to win the Scottish Cup to join the Steelmen in the Conference League qualifiers.
Both managers freshened things up after tough midweek matches.
Hibs brought in Rocky Bushiri, Nicky Cadden, Joe Newell and Jamie McGrath.
Motherwell were without goalkeeper Callum Ward due to injury so Matty Connolly made his first Premiership appearance of the season.
Liam Gordon, Stephen Welsh, and Regan Charles-Cook also started.
There was some good news for the Hibs fans ahead of kick off when it was announced that Martin Boyle had signed a new one-year contract.
The visitors started on the front foot and created several good chances.
Hibs suffered a blow in the 14th minute when Bushiri limped off and was replaced by Grant Hanley.
Elijah Just, Regan Charles-Cook and Tawanda Maswanhise all went close before the visitors took the lead in the 35th minute when Lukas Fadinger’s deflected shot beat Raphael Sallinger.
The disgruntled Hibs fans made their feeling known and the news that Hearts had taken the lead at Parkhead didn’t lighten the mood although Celtic’s equaliser did.
Gray made a double substitution at the break with Josh Mulligan and Dan Barlaser replacing Newell and McGrath.
Ten minutes after the restart Hanley stayed down after losing possession and was replaced by Dale Scarlett.
Moments later Sallinger produced a sensational save to deny Callum Slattery.
In the 61st minute Motherwell looked to have doubled their lead when a corner from the left struck the crossbar and was headed into the net by Stephen Welsh.
After a lengthy VAR check referee Nick Walsh was sent to the monitor and disallowed the goal.
Elliot Watt was shown a second yellow card for a late challenge on Miquel Chaiwa and Ante Suto replaced Owen Elding as Hibs looked to get back into the game.
A fabulous goal line block from Tom Sparrow denied Hibs substitute Dane Scarlett, before yet another superb stop from Sallinger kept out Motherwell’s Ibrahim Said.
Despite Hibs best efforts it was not to be, and Motherwell held on to secure the win and fourth place.
The biggest cheer of the afternoon came from the home fans at full-time, celebrating news of their city rivals Hearts’ defeat by Celtic to miss out on the title.
After the final whistle Gray told BBC Scotland: “It was our cup final today to try to finish fourth. After 38 games, the league doesn’t lie. If we had won today we would have got what we deserved, but unfortunately on the day we got what we deserved.
“Motherwell desereved to win and congraulations to them because they finish fourth. It was disappointing because of what was at stake. But over the piece Motherwell were the better side.
“The magnitude of the game and the occasion, our first-half performance did not reflect the occasion which is really disappointing. Second half w
Motherwell manager Jens Berthel Askou added:”It feels fantastic. It is amazing to stand here today and have achieved what we set out to do for a long time.
“To get a place in Europe and reach for the maximum possible in this season. I think we’ve got that.
“Through one performance after another that have been incredible. We have played some wonderful football lately as well, we did not quite get the points we wanted to.
“But to get it the way we did today by dominating from start to finish, it became difficult last 20 minutes with one man down. But we put up a fight and still threaten them and press forward, and defending our box with our life when we had to.
“Incredible moments to be proud of, and I’m so moved to be part of this.”
Hibs: Sallinger, O’Hora, Bushiri, Obita, Passlack, N Cadden, Chaiwa, Newell, McGrath, Boyle, Elding.
Substitutes: Smith, Hanley, C Cadden, Iredale, Mulligan, Barlaser, Campbell, Scarlett, Suto.
Motherwell: Connolly, Sparrow, Gordon, Welsh, Longelo, Fadinger, Watt, Slattery, Just, Charles-Cook, Maswanhise.
Substitutes: Oxborough, O’Donnell, Robinson, Nicholson, Koutroumbis, Preistman, Ross, Hendry, Said.
