Battling Hearts handed themselves the slenderest of European lifelines when Andy Webster's 88th-minute equaliser gave them a point at Hibernian in the Bank of Scotland Premierleague.

Garry O'Connor had given the home side an eighth-minute lead after latching onto a Scott Brown pass.

But the Jambos fought back to equalise with a terrific 23rd-minute goal from Lee Miller to send the Tynecastle side into the interval level.

In the 63rd minute, Derek Riordan fired the Leith side into the lead with a terrific goal.

However, just when the three points seemed set to remain at Easter Road, Webster popped up to head home a Paul Hartley free-kick and keep the gap between the two Edinburgh sides to eight points.

And with Aberdeen winning at Motherwell, the three-way fight for third place goes on although the Tynecastle side face an uphill battle to cut the current eight-point gap on their neighbours.

It was the Easter Road side who controlled the opening period with Riordan looking dangerous on the left wing.

Indeed, it was from his corner from the left in the eighth minute that the home side took a deserved lead.

The unconvincing Hearts defence failed to clear their lines and when the ball fell to Brown on the right-hand side of the penalty area, he whipped it back into the six-yard box where O'Connor was standing unmarked to sweep the ball past Craig Gordon.

But, in the 23rd minute, the visitors equalised with a great goal.

Hartley knocked the ball into the box to Miller, who cleverly dummied it to Mark Burchill.

The former Celtic player's accurate pass found Miller, who had continued his run, and the on-loan striker fired into the roof of the net from an acute angle.

Miller then got booked for his over-exuberant celebrations towards the Hibs supporters but the equaliser cranked the pace up a notch.

Webster came close with a header from a Joe Hamill corner before Riordan fired a shot from distance just over the bar.

But the tide had turned towards the visitors and, after another good through ball from Hartley, Hibs keeper Simon Brown and defender Gary Caldwell got into a mess which almost allowed Burchill in to almost score a second.

But the Leith side battled back and, in the 43rd minute, only the combined defending of Hamill and Gordon prevented Caldwell's header from a Riordan cross going over the line.

Then Miller's cross-cum-shot - after yet another incisive pass from Hartley - flashed across the six-yard box moments before Dean Shiels passed up a good chance to shoot at the other end.

Hibs flew out of the traps in the second half and midfielder Antonio Murray's snap-shot from 20 yards forced Gordon to scramble across his line to concede a corner.

In the 53rd minute, Amadou Konte did have the ball in the net from a Shiels' cross but the Mali-born striker was adjudged offside.

The ebb and flow was relentless and minutes later Riordan's driven cross from the left had O'Connor stretching at the back post only to see the ball go inches wide.

However, in the 63rd minute, the home side regained their lead almost out of the blue with a wonderful goal from Riordan.

The Hibs striker picked up the ball from Gary Smith on the left and glided past Robbie Neilson effortlessly before smashing a powerful left-footed shot high past the helpless Gordon from around 18 yards out.

Now it was Hearts' turn to fight back as they saw their European hopes slip away and Brown was lucky not to concede a penalty when he appeared to bring down Miller after the Jambos' striker had nicked in to rob him of the ball.

But, in a desperate ending, the Gorgie side equalised with just two minutes to go.

Hartley's free-kick was met by Webster who re-directed the ball past Brown from close range.

Teams

Hibernian Simon Brown, Whittaker, Caldwell, Smith, Glass, Shiels, Scott Brown, Antonio Murray, Riordan, Konte (Fletcher 82), O'Connor (Morrow 72).

Subs Not Used: Alistair Brown, Hogg, McCluskey, McDonald, Sproule.

Booked: Scott Brown.

Goals: O'Connor 8, Riordan 63.

Hearts Gordon, Neilson, Webster, Pressley, Wallace, Hamill, MacFarlane (Simmons 85), Hartley, Mikoliunas (Cesnauskis 70), Burchill, Miller.

Subs Not Used: Moilanen, Wyness, Berra, Stewart, Sives.

Booked: Miller, Hartley, Simmons.

Goals: Miller 23, Webster 88.

Att: 16,620

Ref: M McCurry (Scotland).