Leaders Hearts scored twice in a dramatic final five minutes as they came from behind against Motherwell to stay three points clear at the top of the Scottish Premiership on another day of high drama in the title race.

Derek McInnes' side's 19-game unbeaten home run this season looked to be in danger at a tension-filled Tynecastle as Emmanuel Longelo slotted Motherwell ahead five minutes after the break.

And, with Celtic beating St Mirren, Hearts faced being level with the Glasgow side at the summit with the prospect of being deposed by Rangers on Sunday.

However, Claudio Braga's overhead kick levelled on the hour mark after a VAR check before a Lawrence Shankland spot-kick with five minutes remaining, and a fine Pierre Landry Kabore finish, earned them another priceless victory.

Rangers can narrow the gap again to a point when they visit Falkirk on Sunday, but Hearts have ensured they will go into the top-flight split still having led the league since September.

Fourth-top Motherwell are now without a win in five games and twice handed Hearts chances early on through their own mistakes.

Shankland stabbed an effort wide, then Paul McGinn cleared from in front of his own goal after goalkeeper Calum Ward was dispossessed by Braga.

Ward made up with that with a fine, one-handed save from an Oisin McEntee header from point-blank range, while home goalkeeper Alexander Schwolow saved athletically from both Elliot Watt and Ibrahim Said from long range.

Home midfielder Blair Spittal fired a curling drive just wide before the break, but it was Motherwell who took the initiative after the break and Tawanda Maswanhise's low ball was swept home by Longelo at the back post.

However, when Stuart Findlay rose to meet a corner at the back post, Braga's overhead kick from 12 yards trickled over the line.

That inspired Hearts initially, but Longelo and Elijah Just both side-footed good chances wide before Maswanhise squandered Motherwell's best chance of a winner when firing just past after leaving two home defenders chasing shadows.

Hearts' nerves eased when Stephen Welsh's boot connected with Kabore's head as the centre-back attempted to clear and Shankland slotted in the resultant spot kick, then Kabore fired home a solo effort off the near post.

Kabore found the net again in stoppage time only to be ruled offside, but Hearts were already home and dry.

Both sides were looking to recover from disappointment last time out, with Hearts being held by bottom side Livingston and Motherwell beaten at home by Falkirk.

They had fought out two draws in their previous meetings this season, with Hearts having to come from three goals down at home to rescue a point in August.

So it was always going to be tight again, especially as Hearts had scraped victories by 1-0 in their previous four home games as the pressure looked to weigh on them.

With Stuart Findlay back from injury in central defence and Beni Beningime restored to midfield, this was as close Hearts have been to their strongest line-upfor some time and they looked better balanced than in recent weeks.

However, it was the unchanged visitors who lived up to their reputation for the more fluid football, only to be undone by poor finishing and a spirited finish by the hosts.

Braga's 13 Premiership goals this season have been worth 12 points to Hearts - the most of any player for any side in the division this term - and it was he who inspired the fightback with his fifth at Tynecastle.

For Motherwell, they played their part in a thriller and find themselves still three points clear of Hibernian after the fifth-top Edinburgh side's defeat by Aberdeen.

Hearts head coach Derek McInnes: "They caused us a bit of anxiety with their speed, but I thought our shape was a good and we shaded the first half.

"When we went 1-0 down, we had a lot of work to do and it was important we stayed calm. I wasn't sure about the penalty, but everyone who's seen it back says it is, he gets kicked in the head.

"We've managed to beat a good team by digging deep and showing our motivation. The fans stayed with us, the players stayed with each other."

Motherwell manager Jens Berthel Askou: "It took us 10-15 minutes to decide how we dealt with that [Hearts' tactics] and from there I thought we got more and more control of the game.

"They had their moments, especially on set plays, but in second half we started bright and we took control and created moments when we had to.

"I thought we were on top and the better team and then we didn't take the moments we had."

Hearts next visit derby rivals Hibernian on Sunday, 26 April (16:30 BST), with Motherwell heading to Glasgow to visit Rangers earlier that day (15:00).