Goals by Scott Brown and Abdessalam Benjelloun gave Hibernian victory over Motherwell in their Bank of Scotland Premier League clash at Easter Road.

In the 65th minute, after a dire first-half, Ivan Sproule reached the byline and cut the ball back to Scotland international Brown, a target for Celtic, and he coolly slotted past the helpless Fir Park keeper Graeme Smith.

With the last kick of the ball, Hibs substitute Benjelloun, on at the interval for Lewis Stevenson, made it 2-0 when he converted another fine pass from Sproule at the back post.

It was a welcome if unconvincing three points for Hibs who bounced back well enough from their 3-0 defeat at Inverness Caledonian Thistle last week.

A lot of the interest around this match surrounded Hibs' midfield duo Kevin Thomson and Brown, who were reported to be subject to another failed bid by Celtic last night.

Ultimately, it was Brown's contribution which proved the most important but the Leith side were made to wait until the very end before they could relax.

The first half was simply dreadful. The Lanarkshire men appeared to be content with occasional breaks but in the 11th minute right-back Martyn Corrigan's deep cross to the back post was met by Richie Foran with Hibs keeper Andrew McNeil hesitating as the ball flew across his line of vision.

However, the Irishman's header back across goal floated past harmlessly.

That incident turned the game slightly in favour of Motherwell, who threw more players forward quickly, sensing a fragility in the Easter Road defence.

However, as it transpired, inspiration was at a premium as the first half unfolded, Well defending doggedly while Hibs' inability to string two passes together had their fans groaning.

Neither goalkeeper was seeing much action although Steven Fletcher's acrobatic attempt from 20 yards just after the half-hour mark gave the Hibs supporters something to get excited about although Motherwell keeper Smith saved comfortably enough.

The game deteriorated rapidly as the interval approached, a packed midfield nullifying the possibility of any free-flowing football.

John Collins brought on Guillaume Beuzelin and Benjelloun for Michael Stewart and Lewis Stevenson and re-jigged his formation.

Motherwell manager Maurice Malpas introduced Trevor Molloy for Darren Smith but it was the home side who appeared to get an immediate boost, Benjelloun firing over from the edge of the box seconds after the start.

In the 50th minute, Thomson picked up a poor Stephen Craigan clearance 30 yards out and returned a volley high over the bar but it was another indicator that Hibs were ready to take control.

Malpas replaced Fitzpatrick with Kevin McBride just before the hour mark but by that time the game was in danger of reverting back to its earlier state.

There was a brief flurry of excitement in the 62nd minute when the visitors almost took the lead.

McDonald's cut-back found Foran whose goal-bound shot from 12 yards was blocked by Hibs defender Steven Whittaker.

When the ball rebounded to the Irishman he quickly and cleverly laid it off to McBride but his drive was blocked brilliantly blocked by the advancing McNeil.

However, in the 65th minute the Easter Road side got their noses in front after good work by Sproule down the left.

The Northern Ireland international sprinted past Corrigan on his way to the byline, his cut-back coolly dispatched by Brown from 14 yards out.

The goal relaxed the Hibs players and fans a little but it also inspired the visitors to break free of their defensive shackles and push for an equaliser.

A more open game ensued and Fletcher had a great chance to make it 2-0 in the 78th minute when Benjelloun rolled the ball across the penalty area but the 19-year-old snatched at the opportunity and the ball sailed over the bar.

However in the dying seconds of injury time Benjelloun made it 2-0 when he slid in another fine pass from Sproule.

Teams

Hibernian McNeil, Whittaker, Martis, Jones, Murphy,Scott Brown, Stewart (Beuzelin 46), Thomson,Stevenson (Benjelloun 46), Sproule, Fletcher (Shields 83).

Subs Not Used: Simon Brown, Hogg, McCann, Lynch.

Goals: Scott Brown 66, Benjelloun 90.

Motherwell Graeme Smith, Corrigan, Craigan, Reynolds, Murphy,Darren Lee Smith (Molloy 46), Kerr, Fitzpatrick (McBride 59),Foran, Maguire, McDonald.

Subs Not Used: Meldrum, McCormack, Keegan, Kinniburgh, Quinn.

Att: 14,280

Ref: M McCurry (Scotland).