When Stuart Dougal suspended business near the end of this game to suggest Mixu Paatelainen indulge in deep breathing to calm himself down, it highlighted the traumatic nature - if you were a member of the Hibs travelling party - of a gripping 90 minutes.

By the time the manager had had his discussion with the referee, two of his players - Thierry Gathuessi and Colin Nish, perhaps having forgotten their side were chasing third place - had talked out of turn to such a degree that Dougal had sent them off.

Ian Murray, the Easter Road left-back whose uncertainty in the 62nd minute presented Darren Mackie with his equaliser, spoke about his manager's post-match frustration.

Murray said: "The gaffer was not happy. We got ahead, which we've done a lot this season, and then threw it away.

"We seem to be focused and determined until we take the lead, then we relax a bit. Maybe we're a bit weaker than we should be psychologically."

Of course, Paatelainen was extremely disappointed by the lack of thought from his two sinners, especially as Gathuessi had given away a spot-kick in the 70th minute by barging Lee Miller in the area, and the Aberdeen striker immediately gave his team the lead.

Only minutes later the Hibs defender, having fouled Miller again, was shown yellow, then red in quick succession as he argued with the referee.

By then, the clever goal from Dean Shiels which had given the Easter Road side the lead in the 55th minute, had been all but forgotten.

To compound Hibs' anguish there was disbelief 10 minutes from time when Nish, on the pitch for less than eight minutes as a replacement for Steven Fletcher, was dismissed for abusive language.

Murray added: "Thierry was angry because it was never a penalty he gave away earlier on but he has to learn you can't change the referee's mind."

Motherwell remain favourites to finish third in the league and it will be difficult for the Leith fans to comprehend the actions of two players who might have ruined their team's opportunity.

Aberdeen achieved satisfaction from their performance as they await news from Miller on where his future lies. He said: "Talks are still ongoing and I am keeping an open mind."