Motherwell's hopes of moving off the bottom of the Bank of Scotland Premier League table before the end of the season took a blow as they left Easter Road empty-handed.

Hibernian took all three points when Grant Brebner converted from the penalty spot after Ian Murray had been brought down in the area by David Partridge.

Hibs suffered a worrying setback before the game kicked off when Alen Orman appeared to suffer a fit during the warm-up and was stretchered off.

The midfielder suffered a similar attack last October during a televised match against Rangers and he was replaced by Steven Whittaker.

Hibs had little to play for heading into the game and that, combined with injuries, gave youngsters Derek Riordan and Scott Brown a starting place.

For Motherwell, there was everything to play for - they headed into the game still rooted to the bottom of the table with relegation still a possibility until the SPL clubs vote on whether to allow Falkirk promotion to the top flight.

But the first half proved to be a dull, lacklustre affair with little in the way of chances from either side.

Motherwell started the better, Stephen Pearson trying to square the ball into the path of Dirk Lehmann in front of goal but the move was intercepted by Janos Matyus.

That proved to be their best chance of the opening 45 minutes and Hibs looked the stronger side after that.

The Easter Road men claimed for a penalty just after the half-hour mark when Riordan appeared to be hauled down in the area by Partridge but referee Willie Young ignored the pleas.

A few seconds later, Hibs could have taken the lead but Brown bulleted his header just wide of the post.

They had another decent chance when Riordan burst past Partridge into the box, only to be denied by Francois Dubourdeau, who raced off his line to block before the youngster could pull the trigger.

Motherwell starlet James McFadden had been quiet throughout the first half but he showed some magic shortly after the restart to almost set up a chance for Well only to be hauled down just outside the box by Paul Fenwick, who was cautioned.

Brebner tried his luck with a 30-yard drive but it went well over the crossbar.

However he had more luck from the penalty spot after 64 minutes when Murray was brought down in the box by Partridge.

Brebner stepped up for the spot kick and coolly slotted past Dubourdeau from 12 yards to give Hibs the lead.

Motherwell had a chance to haul themselves back into the game when they were handed a free-kick just outside the area with 15 minutes remaining but Stevie Hammell's drive was easily blocked by Hibs goalkeeper Daniel Andersson.

Hibs were also in search of more goals and Riordan almost added his name to the scoresheet with a decent shot but the effort took a deflection and fell wide for a corner.

Riordan should have killed the game off with four minutes to go when he went on an amazing run only to watch in horror as his shot smacked off the post.

Teams

Hibernian: Andersson, Smith, Fenwick, Doumbe, Whittaker, Jack (Wiss 83), Brebner, Murray, Matyus, Riordan, Brown (Reid 89).

Subs Not Used: Colgan, Townsley, Nicol.

Booked: Fenwick, Jack, Brebner.

Goals: Brebner 66 pen.

Motherwell: Dubourdeau, Vaughan (Craig 87), Partridge, Ramsey, Corrigan, Lasley (Clarkson 72), Leitch, Pearson, Hammell, Lehmann, McFadden.

Subs Not Used: Woods, McDonald, Kinniburgh.

Booked: Ramsey, Lehmann.

Att: 7,809

Ref: W Young (Scotland).