Motherwell grabbed back-to-back Premiership wins for the first time this season, with a solid victory over high-flying Hearts surely pushing caretaker boss Stuart Kettlewell into prime spot.
Goals either side of the interval by Jon Obika and Blair Spittal had the Steelmen cruising to a win that even a few days ago had looked decidedly unlikely, given their respective positions in the league table.
As it is, the win moves Motherwell four points away from eighth-placed St Johnstone, but crucially three clear of Kilmarnock below them - a major boost with a trip to Ayrshire and a visit to Ross County in their next two games.
The win was also deserved; Hearts might have struck woodwork twice in the game, but they looked strangely toothless, while Motherwell grew into the game in spades.
Obika got Motherwell off the mark in 40 minutes and it was probably just about deserved for the intensity of their play.
That said, Hearts hit the woodwork twice, with Lawrence Shankland heading off the post and Stephen Kingsley hitting the bar with a free kick.
Motherwell weren't without their chances though and Sean Goss also hit the bar with a shot, and Kevin van Veen was denied a decent penalty claim after being clattered by Robert Snodgrass.
Well doubled their lead through Spittal a minute into the second half and never looked back, in truth though Hearts pushed strongly.
Motherwell interim boss Stuart Kettlewell perhaps unsurprisingly kept faith with the side that beat St Mirren 2-1 in midweek. Bevis Mugabi made the bench, having last played in November.
Hearts gaffer Robbie Neilson made two changes to the side that knocked Hamilton Accies out of the Scottish Cup nine days ago. Lawrence Shankland returned from suspension alongside goal-scorer Cammy Devlin, as they replaced Jorge Grant and Josh Ginnelly.
Hearts started the more lively side, but didn't do a lot with their possession.
Motherwell created the first chance in nine minutes when Job Obika flicked the ball on to Kevin van Veen and he headed on to Max Johnston, but the defender's angled shot whistled past the far post from the right wing. He was flagged offside, but it was a flash of what the hosts brought against St Mirren on Wednesday night.
Hearts came at Motherwell in 21 minutes and Michael Smith strode down the right before picking out Stephen Humphrys in the middle, but his shot was high and wide.
Van Veen appeared to be tripped inside the box in 30 minutes as he darted in from the left, but referee Don Robertson wasn't interested.
But Hearts went close to scoring a minute later when Robert Snodgrass's cross from the left was headed off the left post by an angled header from Shankland, before it was hacked clear.
Devlin saw a shot deflected past the left post in 37 minutes, following good play by Stephen Kingsley.
Sean Goss then saw a shot touched onto the bar by Zander Clark two minutes later.
From Blair Spittal's corner, however, Goss's shot was turned in by Obika from close range.
Kingsley hit the bar with a free kick just outside the box, right on the stroke of half-time.
Motherwell doubled their lead a minute into the second half when van Veen's cross was headed off the right post by Spittal and he reacted fastest to sweep the rebound into the net.
Dean Cornelius saw a low shot deflected narrowly wide in 51 minutes as Motherwell tried to turn the screw.
Hearts thought they had pulled a goal back in 55 minutes but Toby Sibbick's shot was saved on the line by Liam Kelly.
Spittal's free kick from the left caused havoc in the Hearts box in 63 minutes but van Veen saw his headed flick land just over the bar.
Motherwell were in the mood and from good work by James Furlong, Johnston sent a shot just past the left post a minute later.
Liam Kelly was called into action to save sub Jorge Grant's stinging volley in 73 minutes, and held a somewhat tame McKay effort shortly after that.
Spitttal's corner from the left was headed past the near post by van Veen in 87 minutes as Motherwell tried to add polish to their victory.
MOTHERWELL: Kelly, Johnston, Casey, McGinn, Furlong, Butcher (Mugabi, 88), Goss (O'Donnell, 83), Cornelius (Slattery, 80), Spittal (Danzaki, 88), van Veen, Obika.
Subs (not used): Oxborough (GK), Crankshaw, Aitchison, McKinstry, Tierney.
Booked: Furlong (71), van Veen (85)
HEARTS: Clark, Hill (Atkinson, 60), Sibbick, Cochrane (Oda, 78), Smith (Forrest, 60), Devlin (Grant, 46), Snodgrass, Kingsley, Humphrys (Kuol, 60), McKay, Shankland.
Subs (not used): Stewart (GK), Kiomourtzoglou, Rowles, Halliday.
Referee: Don Robertson.
Attendance: 6450.
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