Motherwell 2 Hibernian 3:Hibernian banished memories of May's spectacular Fir Park collapse as they came from behind to edge another high-scoring thriller against Motherwell.
John Sutton gave Motherwell an early lead but Anthony Stokes bundled home from close range in first-half stoppage-time before Paul Hanlon did the same despite suspicions of handball.
Liam Miller doubled the advantage for Hibs and unlike last season, when they lost a four-goal lead to draw 6-6, the visitors held on despite Jamie Murphy pulling one back from the spot.
Motherwell started brightly but almost fell behind in the fifth minute when Stokes took advantage of a slip by Mark Reynolds, but Darren Randolph steered the Irishman’s effort wide with his foot.
Well then took the lead in the 13th minute when Sutton got in front of Chris Hogg at the near post before getting a deft touch on Tom Hateley’s low inswinging cross to guide the ball inside the far post.
Hibs levelled when Bamba headed down Derek Riordan’s inswinging free-kick for Stokes to sweep home from two yards.
Motherwell came back out intent on restoring their lead and Graham Stack held Murphy’s low shot after Keith Lasley’s long pass almost sent the Scotland Under-21 striker clean through, before Reynolds flashed a 30-yard strike just wide.
Randolph produced another great save when he pushed away a stunning 30-yard shot by Stokes from wide on the left.
Hibs took the lead in the 64th minute after another brilliant delivery by Riordan. The former Celtic player swung the ball towards the back post and Hanlon forced it over the line, although the ball appeared to come off his arm.
Sutton had a strong penalty claim dismissed by Craig Thomson after he was clumsily bundled over by Hogg, and Hibs immediately went further ahead in the 73rd minute when Riordan played Miller into the left channel for the Irishman to drill home.
Murphy sent Stack the wrong way to make it 3-2 with 15 minutes remaining. But the comeback never materialised this time as Hibs took the sting out of the game.