Letting Celtic draw level on points could have been particularly fatal for Hearts considering the reigning champions have three of their remaining five games at home, including a potential final-day title showdown against Hearts, while both their title rivals have two.

There was plenty of tension at Tynecastle as a result, but McInnes hailed his side as they “had to dig deep” for victory.

It is not for the first time.

Hearts have won 13 points from losing positions in the Premiership this season – only Dundee United, with 16, have recovered more.

Amazingly, though, this was their first win in the seven games in which they have conceded the opening goal since 30 August against Livingston – and they will surely take confidence from that.

Emmanuel Longelo had put Motherwell ahead in the 50th minute and the visitors squandered several good chances before and after Claudio Braga levelled.

“There’s no two ways about it – we were under the cosh,” McInnes admitted. “But I still felt quite calm in the sense I thought we would score. We very rarely don’t score, particularly here at Tynecastle.”

Indeed, Hearts have found the net in 29 of their 33 games – more often than any other team in the Premiership this season, and one more than Celtic.

“The reaction of the players is magnificent,” McInnes said. “It’s exactly what you want. Nobody’s settling for a draw.

“It says so much about them that they found something just to drag themselves off the canvas again and get the win.”

A Lawrence Shankland penalty three minutes from time and a stoppage-time strike from substitute Pierre Landry Kabore secured a first win over Motherwell this season after two draws.

McInnes would “not get carried away” with going into the split still leading the table, but captain Shankland enthused: “It’s five cup finals, really, isn’t it?

“It’ll make for a brilliant end to the season for Scottish football.”