Kevin van Veen was Motherwell's hero again as his second-half penalty winner against 10-man Livingston gave his side back-to-back Premiership victories.
The Dutchman struck in 68 minutes after a corner kick from the left was judged to have struck a Livingston defender's arm and he stepped up to ram in his third goal of the season.
Livingston made it easier for their hosts when sub Dylan Bahamboula was shown two yellow cards inside three minutes, reducing them to 10 men with 13 minutes left.
It was a deserved Fir Park win for Motherwell, who had emerged as the better side in the second half, following a frankly dull first half, and moves them up to third in the Premiership table.
There wasn't a lot going on in that first half, where both sides pretty much cancelled each other out.
Motherwell probably edged it in terms of chances created, but never tested keeper Shamal George, while Livingston didn't test Liam Kelly with anything other than a routine save from Nicky Devlin.
But the Steelmen took the lead in 68 minutes when van Veen smashed a penalty into the net after handball was given against a Livingston defender from a corner.
Motherwell boss Stevie Hammell made one change from the side that beat Aberdeen 3-2 last weekend, as Ricki Lamie came in for benched Bevis Mugabi after serving his suspension.
New signing Stuart McKinstry, on loan from Leeds United for the season, was on the bench.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, Livingston manager Davie Martindale kept faith in the same team that beat Hibs 2-1 last time out. Striker Scott Pittman made his 310th appearance, a record for the West Lothian club.
Livingston had the first real shot at goal in four minutes when a good move led to Joel Nouble sending Nicky Devlin down the right and his angled shot was taken at the near post by Liam Kelly.
It took 21 minutes for Motherwell to register their first real chance, when Sean Goss' deflected free kick was dive-headed narrowly wide of the left post by Lamie.
The hosts went close again though in 28 minutes, as Blair Spittal sent a low shot just wide of the right post with George at full stretch.
Kevin van Veen then pinged a neat pass through to Connor Shields in 32 minutes, but Christian Montano read it well and saw the ball go back to George.
Livingston's Sean Kelly tried to test brother Liam in the Motherwell goal with a 20-yard free kick in 38 minutes, but sent it wide of the right post.
There was a moment of controversy in 53 minutes when a defensive lapse by Livingston's Ayo Obileye let Spittal through, but the defender recovered brilliantly to clear.
Moments later van Veen broke through on the right but could only find the right side-netting.
Stephen O'Donnell tried his luck with a curling effort that flew over the top right corner in 59 minutes as Motherwell continued to threaten.
Sub Joe Efford went close in 66 minutes as he cut in from the left and unleashed a shot that took a nick off a defender and could have gone anywhere, but flew past the left post.
From the corner a handball decision was given against Livingston.
Up stepped van Veen to smash the ball into the left corner for his third goal of the season.
Efford tried his luck after a mazy run moments later, but George saved his low effort comfortably enough.
Sub Bahamboula then picked up two crazy yellow cards in 74 and 77 minutes to compound Livingston's misery.
Stephane Omeonga went close to equalising with a dipping half-volley that dropped past the left post in 87 minutes, with Kelly stranded.
But Motherwell comfortably held on for a good win and should have added to it in stoppage time when van Veen and Efford both had chances to score.
MOTHERWELL: Kelly, O'Donnell, McGinn, Solholm, Lamie, Goss, Cornelius (Morris, 55), Slattery, Spittal (Maguire, 82), Shields (Efford, 55), van Veen.
Subs (not used): Oxborough (GK), Mugabi, McKinstry, Johnston, Tierney, McMahon.
Booked: Morris (61)
LIVINGSTON: George, Devlin , Fitzwater, Obileye, Montano, Holt (Mullin, 81), Omeonga, Kelly (Bahamboula, 64), Shinnie, Pittman, Nouble.
Subs (not used): Konovalov (GK), Longridge, Goncalves, Brandon, Bitsindou, Cancar, Penrice.
Sent off: Bahamboula (77)
Booked: Bahamboula (74)
Referee: Nick Welsh.
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