Hibs lost out to a late sucker punch against Motherwell at Easter Road this afternoon.
Having gone behind to a first-half penalty, Hibs equalised and it looked as though they would go on to take all three points but instead ended up with nothing to show for their efforts.
David Gray kept faith with the team that beat KF Malisheva 4-1 to progress in the UEFA Conference League on Thursday.
Sriker Ante Šuto recovered from injury and was listed amongst the substitutes but Rocky Bushiri, Nicky Cadden, Jamie McGrath and Callum Wright all missed out.
Motherwell made one change from their midweek win in Torshavn with Emmanuel Longelo replacing Mikey Booth.
There was a late change for Hibs on the bench with Joe Newell injured in the warm-up, so Jacob MacIntyre took his place.
First chance fell to Nathan Lowe after Owen Elding won possession in midfield but the striker’s effort was wide of the target.
A Jordan Obita cross was headed on to Felix Passlack but his shot was deflected for a corner.
A slack touch from Oscar Priestman allowed Martin Boyle into the penalty area but the Motherwell midfielder recovered to win the ball back.
Passlack sent an inviting cross into the danger area but there were no takers. The ball was recovered on the touchline by Adam Mayor who did well to win a corner.
But it was the visitors that took the lead in the 39th minute. After a patient build up Preistman was brought down inside the area by Josh Mulligan. VAR had a quick look but there was no doubt about the decision and Lukas Fadinger fired the resultant penalty kick past Raphael Sallinger.
Moments later it was almost 2-0 when Regan Charles-Cook fired narrowly wide.
The half-time whistle was greeted by a chorus of boos from the long-suffering Hibs fans.
Josh Mulligan loses the ball to Ibrahim Said and then drags the Motherwell man down to earn a booking.
Motherwell should have added a second following a mistake by Jason Kerr, who let a long ball bounce, allowing Charles-Cook to steal in at the edge of the box but Sallinger produced a fine save.
The keeper was on his toes moments later to deny the goalscorer Fadinger, although he needed two attempts to catch the ball.
At the other end Lowe almost equalised with a first time effort which was well saved by Alex Paulson.
Then nine minutes after the restart Hibs were back on level terms after Preistman brought down Boyle and the talisman sent the penalty low into the bottom corner of the net.
Paulson then produced a superb save to deny Elding and within a couple of minutes the youngster’s strike beat the keeper but was cleared off the line by Priestman.
Mayor then curled a shot over the top from the edge of the box and that was his last act as he was replaced by Rudi Molotnikov.
Willy Vogt and Jake Girdwood-Reich made way for last season’s top scorer Tawanda Maswanhise, along with new arrival Jamie Knight-Label.
In the 72nd minute Suto replaced goal scorer Boyle and Azeem Abdulai took over from Miquel Chaiwa.
Two minutes later former Hearts striker Alex Lowrie replaced Charles Cook.
Tom Sparrow was booked for a foul on Elding.
After a quickly taken free-kick, Elding fired a great ball into the centre but a sliding Lowe knocked the ball just wide from six-yards.
Paulson dropped a cross from the right and Lowe managed to get a shot away but Martin Moormann headed off the line.
But despite all Hibs pressure in the second half, the visitors took the lead with six minutes remaining.
After winning possession in midfield Lowry found Dylan Williams who slid the ball to the unmarked Ibrahim Said who calmly slotted the ball past Sallinger.
Hibs continued to attach and Paulson did well to deny Suto and in added time Elding headed a Molotnilov cross just over the bar and ‘Well held on for the victory.
The Hibs fans made their displeasure known at full-time.
Hibs: Sallinger, Passlack, Kerr, O’Hora, Obita, Mayor, Mulligan, Chaiwa, Boyle, Elding, Lowe.
Substitutes: Smith, Hanley, MacIntyre, Klidje, Molotnikov, Suto, Megwa, Campbell, Abdulai.
Motherwell: Paulsen, Sparrow, Girdwood-Reich, Moormann, Longelo, Priestman, Fadinger, Vogt, Said, Williams, Charles-Cook.
Substitutes: Connelly, Knight-Lebel, Lowry, Maswanhise, Wilson, Ross, Whyte, Booth, McAllister.
