Motherwell star Wilkinson: Hibs wouldn't have put to sword without Mika Bierth's excellent debut

Motherwell striker Conor Wilkinson helped put Hibs to the sword, but reckons the Steelmen would have been slayed if not for a dream debut from strike partner Mika Biereth.

The 20-year-old Arsenal loanee lit up the game at Fir Park when he climbed off the bench early in the second half to tee up Wilkinson for a 66th minute opener.

Biereth then sealed the points with a strike of his own five minutes from time, before a stoppage time penalty from Adam Le Fondre made the hosts sweat for the points.

The Danish U21 international delivered Wilkinson's first league goal since joining on a two-year deal in the summer, and he admits the super sub changed the game after a stuffy opening hour.

Wilkinson said: "If Mika wasn't on the pitch we wouldn't have won the game.

"It either finishes 0-0 or, with their penalty, they win 1-0.

"He was fantastic and as debuts go, they don't get much better.

"I am over the moon for him. It's his first goal in Scotland and his first assist, so that's fantastic.

"He has been working hard in training, he's had to bide his time and be patient, but he's got his reward with his opportunity and he's taken it.

"He is a strong boy, he's very quick as well and he's agile, so he can get about the pitch and put himself about.

"When he came in on he showed he can do that and he showed what he can do for the team.

"For the first 60 minutes it was tough for me.

"I've learned that I've got older not to get too emotionally invested in the game because I probably only had seven or eight touches in the first half.

"I didn't have a chance at all.

"But in the second half I had a chance five minutes before the goal where the defender got to it, but it's about taking your chances and when Mika crossed for me I put it in,