A Martin Boyle goal early in the second half and a couple of late goals from Christian Doidge and Stephen McGinn was enough to give Hibs all three points.
It was a scoreline which flattered the Edinburgh side, as Motherwell saw a first half goal ruled out for an apparent push by Mark O’Hara.
For the second time this season, Motherwell carried no luck against the Easter Road side – although the main difference was the visitor’s ability to take their chances.
Despite controlling the first half, the Steelmen couldn’t find a way past Ofir Marciano.
The Easter Road ‘keeper was fortunate, though, to see a Bevis Mugabi netted effort ruled out before the Ugandan centre half hammered a header off the post midway through the second half.
Incredibly, for only their third league game at Fir Park since September, Stephen Robinson freshened up his side with five changes.
Jordan Archer, the fifth ‘keeper on ‘Well’s books, was given his debut while Nathan McGinley was preferred on the left side of the defence.
The ‘Well boss welcomed the availability of Allan Campbell and Barry Maguire after both Scotland Under 21 players had to sit out two games due to Covid isolation protocols. Campbell’s inclusion in a three-man midfield meant that Devante Cole’s injury gave Christopher Long a starting place alongside Callum Lang and Tony Watt in the home attack.
Former Millwall ‘keeper Archer, signed as emergency cover following Trevor Carson’s injury, was anticipating some early action as efforts from Melker Hallberg and Joe Newell flashed wide of his goal.
After that, though, almost all of the play was towards the other goal.
In the 14th minute Liam Polworth sent Lang down the right and his low cross was met by the inrushing Watt but slightly impeded by Ryan Porteus he stumbled and knocked the ball wide from four yards.
A few minutes later after good work by McGinley on the left, Watt blazed his drive from the corner of the box over the bar.
The ‘Well ‘keeper meantime had to be content with vocally encouraging his defenders and some fine distribution with either foot off the deck. Archer’s only save came after 27 minutes when he comfortably held a flick from Hibs top scorer Kevin Nisbet.
Other than that all the play was towards and around Ofir Marciano’s goal. And the Hibs’ ‘keeper had a solid save to make when Campbell’s 20 yard drive had the ball moving in the air and Marciano was glad to punch the ball away as Watt chases in on a slip.
With 37 minutes played the ‘keeper was again in the thick of it scrambling the ball off his line, as Watt slid in front of him in an attempt to get a touch on Stephen O’Donnell’s low ball towards goal.
Hibs goal then had a narrow escape four minutes from the break. Polworth, who had been testing the visitor’s defence with a series of corners, found O’Hara in the six yard box. His downward header was immediately volleyed into the net by Bevis Mugabi, only for referee Andrew Dallas to award a free kick to Hibs for an alleged push on Paul Hanlon.
Despite having the upper hand in the first half, the Steelmen had nothing to show for their efforts as they kicked off the second forty-five knowing that Hibs would surely respond after the break.
And as the Edinburgh side stepped up their game,the first bit of work came Archer’s way after 10 minutes. The ‘keeper, though, perfectly lined up his wall to deflect a Nisbet free kick from 18 yards.
A minute later a lung bursting box to box run from O’Donnell set up Watt at the edge of the box but he fired the chance high over Marciano.
With 57 minutes on the clock Archer pulled off a terrific one handed save to beat away Martin Bolye’s shot from a couple of yards and keep the scores level.
The Hibs striker was not to be denied, however, and a minute later he latched on to Hallberg’s cross to smash the ball into the net and put the Easter Road men ahead.
The Fir Park men responded almost immediately and deserved to be on level terms again in the 64th minute. From yet another Polworth corner, Mugabi rose unchallenged and his thumping header rebounded from the inside of the post behind the static Marciano and across his goal to safety.
Three minutes later the home side had another opportunity to test the Hibs’ goal but from 20 yards O’Hara’s curling free kick sailed a couple of feet over the crossbar.
With 20 minutes remaining Sherwin Seedorf replaced Long as ‘Well searched for a deserved equaliser.
Jake Hastie was then given 10 minutes to make an impact but it was the Hibs’ sub Christian Doidge who wrapped up the points three minutes from time.
With ‘Well pushing forward until the final whistle Hibs found space and time for Newell to roll the ball in front of Doidge who stroked the ball low into the corner of the net and make certain that all three points were heading back to the capital.
In added on time, McGinn slipped the ball into the net to leave Hibs with a scoreline that was harsh on the home side.