Floodlight failure cuts SPL fixture short

Hibernian led Motherwell 1-0 in their Scottish Premier League clash when floodlight failure forced it to be suspended on Friday.

Forward Garry O’Connor fired in a rebound in the 16th minute to give Hibernian, under new manager Pat Fenlon for the first time, the lead at Fir Park.

But the lights failed at half-time due to an electrical fire, forcing the abandonment of the encounter.

Several fire engines arrived behind the South Stand during the first half with stewards and police also gathering after numerous coded messages over the public address system.

The second half was delayed by 10 minutes when one of the floodlights went out, before the match was called off.

Strathclyde Police chief inspector Brian Connel said it was unsafe to continue the contest because of the possibility of further fires.

“Shortly before half-time, we saw smoke on the CCTV system. This was coming from the south-east corner of the South Stand,” he said.

“Fire and Rescue identified the seat of the fire was in the electrical framework for the lighting column. Initially, it was clear there had been an electrical fire.”

“They managed to isolate part of that frame, however, I could not be given assurance there was not the danger of further fire or the fact they would need to isolate the light, whereby the floodlight would have been off anyway.”

Earlier, O’Connor had put the third-placed visitors ahead when he pounced on a rebound after forward Leigh Griffiths struck the post.