Ten-man Motherwell secured fourth spot in the Scottish Premiership and guaranteed European football with a narrow win over Hibernian, who now need Celtic to win the Scottish Cup to join the Steelmen in the Conference League qualifiers.

Following a trademark spell of possession and movement from the men in claret and amber, Lukas Fadinger's deflected shot put them ahead 10 minutes before the break, eventually confirming Hibs in fifth spot and out of the automatic European places.

It was no more than they deserved, after shots from Elijah Just, Regan Charles-Cook and a diving header from Tawanda Maswanhise all went narrowly wide prior to Fadinger's opener.

Boosted pre-match by the surprise news that star man Martin Boyle had signed a new one-year deal having initially indicated he'd be moving on, the home fans had little else to cheer in an insipid Hibernian display.

They'll still be looking out their passports next season, however, if Celtic beat Dunfermline Athletic next weekend to lift the Scottish Cup. That scenario would allow the fifth placed side in the Premiership to qualify for Europe.

But for their goalkeeper Raphael Sallinger, Hibs' afternoon could have been even worse.

A terrific double save early in the second period denied Maswanhise and then Just, while an even better stop kept out Callum Slattery's volley, which appeared destined for the bottom right-hand corner.

Motherwell then thought they had doubled their advantage when Stephen Welsh headed into an empty net after a corner was pawed in the air by Sallinger, but the effort was ruled out for a foul after referee Nick Walsh was called to the monitor by the video assistant referee (VAR).

The visitors then had to play the last 25 minutes with 10 men after Elliot Watt picked up two quick yellow cards, the second for catching Hibs midfielder Miguel Chaiwa.

A fabulous goalline block from Tom Sparrow frustrated Hibs substitute Dane Scarlett, before yet another superb stop from Sallinger denied Motherwell's Ibrahim Said.

The success meant Jens Berthel Askou's debut season in Scottish football ended with a fine fourth-placed finish, adding to the superb football his side has produced in an entertaining, utterly compelling Premiership campaign.

For Hibs, hopes of consecutive top-four finishes for the first time since 2006 fall flat and they will now have a keen interest in next weekend's Scottish Cup final.

This was the Motherwell season in microcosm. Super football, easy on the eye, a struggle when they lost a man, but in the end, they got there.

Fourth is frankly the least the Steelmen and their fans deserve for playing some of the best stuff anyone has seen this season.

They were at it again at Easter Road with Just, Slattery and Watt running the show.

But for an outstanding afternoon from Hibs goalkeeper Sallinger, this would have been a demolition job.

Chance after chance, save after save. If they play like this on the continent, Europe should beware the men in claret and amber.

The biggest cheer of the afternoon at Easter Road came from the home fans at full-time, celebrating news of their city rivals Hearts' defeat by Celtic to miss out on the title.

Perhaps like the players, the Hibs supporters' minds seemed elsewhere. After the big win at Rangers in the week, there was no repeat here for David Gray's side.

They were a pale imitation of the side that has won their last two away games.

Curiously, with fourth place up for grabs, that was three defeats in a row in front of their own fans. They have not had back-to-back top-four finishes in 20 years.

The one consolation was the news their talisman Boyle will be staying for another season. That, and some schadenfreude, was about all the home comforts on offer on an otherwise difficult day.

Hibernian head coach David Gray: "It was our cup final today to try to finish fourth. After 38 games, the league doesn't lie. If we had won today we would have got what we deserved, but unfortunately on the day we got what we deserved.

"Motherwell desereved to win and congraulations to them because they finish fourth. It was disappointing because of what was at stake. But over the piece Motherwell were the better side.

"The magnitude of the game and the occasion, our first-half performance did not reflect the occasion which is really disappointing. Second half we were much more aggressive."

Motherwell manager Jens Berthel Askou: "It feels fantastic. It is amazing to stand here today and have achieved what we set out to do for a long time.

"To get a place in Europe and reach for the maximum possible in this season. I think we've got that.

"Through one performance after another that have been incredible. We have played some wonderful football lately as well, we did not quite get the points we wanted to.

"But to get it the way we did today by dominating from start to finish, it became difficult last 20 minutes with one man down. But we put up a fight and still threaten them and press forward, and defending our box with our life when we had to.

"Incredible moments to be proud of, and I'm so moved to be part of this."