Updated

Motherwell, Scotland (SportsNetwork.com) - A first-half goal from Stephen McManus was enough to carry Motherwell to a 1-0 win over Hibernian on Sunday at Fir Park Stadium.

Hibs was playing its first match since manager Pat Fenlon resigned on Friday, but caretaker boss Jimmy Nicholl was unable to help the team avoid a third defeat in nine days, leaving the club in seventh place.

Motherwell joins Inverness on 22 points with the win, and those two sides sit five points adrift of leaders Celtic.

After a positive start from Hibernian that saw the side squander a few decent chances, Motherwell snatched the lead in the 23rd minute from a corner kick as Lionel Ainsworth drove the ball to the near post where McManus redirected a header past goalkeeper Ben Williams.

The home side was reduced to 10 men in the 87th minute when Shaun Hutchinson was sent off for a professional foul, but the best chance Hibernian had at an equalizer was denied in stoppage time by Motherwell goalkeeper Gunnar Nielsen, who produced a fine diving save to keep out Paul Heffernan's effort.