Stephen Craigan's dramatic injury-time strike denied Hibernian what would have been an undeserved victory at Fir Park and moved Motherwell level on points with sixth-placed Inverness Caledonian Thistle.

Stephen Glass looked to have handed the visitors a smash-and-grab win after Chris Killen had cancelled out Phil O'Donnell's opener.

But Craigan pounced late on to leave Motherwell behind the Highland side on goal-difference while seemingly ending Hibernian's hopes of beating Rangers to third place in the Bank of Scotland Premier League.

Motherwell were chasing their first win over Hibernian since February 2002 while Tony Mowbray's men had hoped to close the gap on the Ibrox giants to just a single point with success in Lanarkshire.

The Hibernian defence found themselves under siege early on and they needed a fine save from Zbigniew Malkowski in the seventh minute to keep the scores level.

Scott McDonald went past Celtic-bound defender Gary Caldwell at ease and played the ball up to Phil O'Donnell inside the area.

The midfielder knocked the ball back into the path of Richie Foran but the goalkeeper flung himself to his left to turn the ball away.

Scotland Future captain Martyn Corrigan then had Malkowksi scurrying frantically across his goalline as he cut between two players with quick feet before firing a left-footed shot wide.

That woke the visitors, who looked to be in a daze after last week's defeat to Celtic, and top-scorer Derek Riordan chipped the ball just past Colin Meldrum's far post with a cheeky effort from out wide.

The home supporters and some players, who saw a well-taken McDonald goal ruled out for offside, were screaming for a penalty in the 29th minute when Brian Kerr's header struck Glass in the area.

But referee Mike McCurry saw no handball, as boos echoed around the stadium.

Motherwell were much the better side and Riordan summed up Hibernian's first half in the 38th minute when he curled a free-kick over from a tight angle after Ivan Sproule had been fouled.

Kerr missed two good opportunities to test Malkowski but the midfielder's finishing failed to match the build-up play.

Riordan tried to inject some life into the visitors but his right-footed effort was comfortably saved by Meldrum by his post.

But Motherwell deservedly took the lead in the 40th minute when McDonald crossed for O'Donnell to coolly flick the ball past Malkowski and into the far corner of the goal.

Stephen Craigan caused some anxiety just before the break when he sliced a clearance towards his own goal and Meldrum adjusted to make the save under his crossbar.

McDonald could have doubled Motherwell's advantage straight after the restart but he could not force the ball past Malkowski.

Motherwell quickly paid for that as Hibernian snatched a 48th-minute equaliser.

They allowed Sproule to retrieve the ball from the touchline and he crossed for Killen to bundle it home from close range.

But Hibernian continued to live dangerously and David Murphy kept them on level terms with a crucial header in the 56th minute.

Brian McLean got on the end of Steven Hammell's corner to send a header towards goal but the defender was on the line to make a clearance.

Mowbray decided to make a change on the hour mark when he introduced Steven Fletcher for the disappointing Dalglish.

Amazingly Hibernian were still in the game and Killen stung Meldrum's cold hands with a long-range drive in the 69th minute.

Butcher also made a change in the 72nd minute when he brought Paul Quinn on for Corrigan.

But Motherwell could not believe their luck in the 77th minute when Hibernian snatched the lead against the run of play.

Killen fed the overlapping Glass and he slotted a left-footed shot past the hand of Meldrum and into the far corner.

Butcher responded by bringing on Jim Hamilton for O'Donnell and Mowbray replaced Sproule with Amadou Konte.

But in the dying seconds Craigan gave the home side a deserved share of the points after steering home Kerr's effort.

Teams

Motherwell Meldrum, Corrigan (Paul Quinn 74), Craigan, McLean,Hammell, McBride (Paterson 88), Kerr, O'Donnell (Hamilton 79),McCormack, McDonald, Foran.

Subs Not Used: Martin, Leitch, Clarkson, Kinniburgh.

Goals: O'Donnell 40, Craigan 90.

Hibernian Malkowski, Whittaker, Caldwell, Gary Smith, Murphy,Sproule (Konte 79), Dalglish (Fletcher 62), Thomson, Glass,Killen, Riordan (McCluskey 83).

Subs Not Used: McNeil, Hogg, Shields, Darren Smith.

Booked: Sproule.

Goals: Killen 48, Glass 78.

Att: 6,724

Ref: M McCurry (Scotland).