Simon Lappin (third from right) is congratulated on his opening goal

A stylish display by Motherwell was rewarded with a two-goal victory at Easter Road.

The Steelmen took the lead after three minutes when Simon Lappin curled a free-kick past a helpless Andy McNeil.

Jamie Murphy scored his first senior goal when he scored a second-half penalty after Hibs captain Rob Jones had brought down Ross McCormack.

Steven Fletcher and Colin Nish had chances cleared off the line, but the home side couldn't match Well's play.

Motherwell had already claimed the Uefa Cup spot before the teams met in their final match of the season, but Hibs were keen to better Dundee United's result against Celtic to leapfrog the Tayside club for fourth spot.

The opener for the visitors came as a result of a Guillaume Beuzelin foul on Stephen Hughes just outside the box. Lappin's resultant free-kick was beautifully executed, curling away from McNeil in the Hibs goal.

The home side soon found their rhythm and twice in two minutes Motherwell had to clear off the line from Steven Fletcher and Colin Nish.

Simon Lappin's free-kick curls beyond Andy McNeil

Alan O'Brien sent in a delicious cross for Fletcher at the back post after 29 minutes, which the Easter Road striker should have converted from just six yards, but somehow Hibs' top marksman headed wide.

Gradually the Motherwell defence got to grips with the movement of Fletcher and in doing so limited the scope for a Hibs equaliser.

Mark McGhee had to change his line-up when Steven Hammell went off injured and was replaced by Darren Smith, whose recent goal against Aberdeen helped secure European football at Fir Park next season.

Jamie Murphy was introduced as a substitute for Motherwell for the second half and within four minutes he had scored from the penalty spot.

A long ball from the Motherwell defence did not look as if it possessed much of a threat, but centre-half Jones and McNeil each thought the other was going to clear.

Their hesitancy allowed McCormack to nip between them and when he gathered the ball, Jones brought the striker down in the box.

Referee Charlie Richmond showed the Hibs captain only a yellow card as McCormack was running away from goal to reach the ball and didn't have a clear goalscoring chance.

Motherwell played some attractive football and showed the crowd why they finished in third place in the league. In 61 minutes Ross McCormack's shot, the culmination of a move involving 16 passes, was tipped round the post by McNeil.

The Easter Road crowd tried to in vain to urge their team forward, but Mark McGhee's team controlled the remainder of the match.

Hibernian: McNeil, Gathuessi, Hogg, Jones, Hanlon, Shiels, Beuzelin (Rankin 79), Chisholm (Stevenson 46), O'Brien, Fletcher (Campbell 66), Nish.
Subs Not Used: Grof, Donaldson, Morais, McCormack.

Booked: Jones, Gathuessi.

Motherwell: Daniels, Brian McLean, Craigan, Reynolds, Hammell (Darren Smith 33), Lasley, Hughes, Lappin, McGarry, McCormack (McHugh 76), Porter (Murphy 46).
Subs Not Used: Meldrum, Clarkson, Fitzpatrick, Slane.

Goals: Lappin 4, Murphy 50 pen.

Attendance: 7,650

Referee: Charlie Richmond