Hibernian manager Colin Calderwood praised Derek Riordan for atoning for his derby indiscretion as the striker earned his side a 2-1 Clydesdale Bank Premier League win over Motherwell.
Riordan missed the 3-0 midweek victory over Rangers through suspension after being sent off in the latter stages of Hibernian's 2-0 loss to Hearts for a knee-high challenge on Rudi Skacel. But Calderwood left out David Wotherspoon to accommodate Riordan for the visit of Motherwell and was repaid within 27 minutes as the former Celtic player overturned Nick Blackman's early penalty.
Calderwood said: "It was a good response. Whatever happens in life, a career or a match, it's a response that is probably more important than the action because the action is finished and gone."
Riordan latched on to two Valdas Trakys knockdowns to net, although he owed a debt of gratitude to Motherwell skipper Stephen Craigan.
Darren Randolph looked slow to get down to Riordan's equaliser, but his 22-yard strike had taken a deflection off Craigan. The Motherwell skipper then mis-kicked completely after Trakys had headed on a long ball to allow Riordan to slot home from 12 yards.
The one-time Scotland international came close to a hat-trick on several occasions, notably with a brilliant late volley that Randolph did very well to divert over with his fingertips.
"He was very unlucky not to get his hat-trick," added Calderwood. "He has produced our one moment in the second half."
Hibernian survived some sustained Motherwell pressure after Riordan's second goal but the visitors failed to maintain their creativity after an immediate flurry of chances.
The visitors had a goal wrongly disallowed in the 71st minute when Steven Saunders was flagged offside as the slotted home Steve Jennings' reverse pass.
Jennings said: "We can't just rely on that one chance but we've looked at it on the video and even when he's taken a touch he is still behind the player."
Source: PA
