David Clarkson's second-minute strike gave Motherwell victory in their Clydesdale Bank Premier League encounter with Hibernian and moved the Fir Park side level on points with third-placed Dundee United.

The home forward's early strike, his team's first in four matches, proved to be the only goal of the game and, combined with a defeat for Dundee United who had started the day three points better off, put Mark McGhee's side back in pole position in the race for European football.

Substitute Clayton Donaldson had Hibs' best effort 10 minutes from time, but was denied by a superb block by home goalkeeper Graeme Smith.

Motherwell carved an opening inside the first minute when Keith Lasley slid the ball through to Chris Porter on the six-yard line, but Martin Canning made an assured block.

However, the home side only had a further minute to wait to open the scoring in the crucial European battle - Quinn played a long crossfield ball to Clarkson, who brought it down with his chest and tucked a precise finish into the bottom right corner.

The home assault continued as Marc Fitzpatrick fired just over soon afterwards and then Quinn blasted a Lappin corner well oer the bar on 10 minutes.

Hibs had a brief spell of pressure when Mark Reynolds was needed to clear from Colin Nish in the box and goalkeeper Smith clutched a Merouane Zemmama corner, but Motherwell remained in the ascendancy with some neat play and came close to a second when Bob Malcolm headed just wide of the right-hand post.

The visitors struck the woodwork in the 25th minute as they went for goal following a free-kick - Zemmama flighted the ball in from just outside the left corner of the box and it was laid back to Dean Shiels, but his effort crashed off the crossbar.

Motherwell should have made it two just after the half-hour when good link play between Lasley and Stephen Hughes on the right produced a promising ball right across the face of goal, but first Clarkson and then Porter were unable to stretch to turn it in.

Hibs made a change at the start of the second half by withdrawing John Rankin and introducing Abdessalam Benjelloun in a three-pronged attack.

Motherwell continued to look impressive, with Hughes and Lasley again linking to create opportunities on the right flank - Malcolm blazed over on the hour, but Hibs' closest venture towards goal was a tame Benjelloun effort which Smith routinely scooped up at the left-hand post.

The hosts had another good chance to double their lead as the second half approached its midway mark - Clarkson collected a wayward pass in his own half and went on a solo break but Fitzpatrick's effort from the resulting ball in was weak.

Lasley then fired past the left-hand post when Clarkson had done well to collect possession after the ball hit off Rob Jones, while Zemmama had a drive from outside the box headed clear.

Zemmama summed up Hibs' day in front of goal as the game entered its final quarter, failing to get any power into an effort from the edge of the area which was easily collected by Smith.

Ian Murray lifted a speculative 25-yard shot well over the bar, but then Hibs had their best chance of the game nine minutes from time when the ball bounced through to substitute Donaldson on the right side of the box, and he unleashed a dangerous-looking shot which was superbly blocked by home goalkeeper Smith, rushing out to narrow the angle at the right-hand post.

Jones jumped up and headed over from the subsequent Zemmama corner, while a scramble of bodies prevented Hughes sliding home a stoppage-time second.

Teams:

Motherwell Graeme Smith, Quinn, Craigan, Reynolds, Lappin,Hughes, Lasley (McGarry 87), Malcolm, Fitzpatrick,Clarkson (McCormack 73), Porter.

Subs Not Used: Daniels, Brian McLean, Darren Smith, Murphy,

Archdeacon.

Booked: Malcolm, Fitzpatrick.

Goals: Clarkson 3.

Hibernian McNeil, Morais (Donaldson 70), Hogg, Jones, Canning,Zemmama, Murray, Rankin (Benjelloun 46), Hanlon, Nish, Shiels.

Subs Not Used: Grof, McCann, Stevenson, Chisholm, Campbell.

Att: 6,580

Ref: K Clark (Scotland).