Motherwell bagged their first Premiership win in 12 attempts as they beat St Mirren 2-1 at Fir Park.
That was the Lanarkshire side's first home win since August 20, and their first three points since October 29.
With interim boss Stuart Kettlewell taking the team for the first time, it was clear to see a battling quality about Motherwell that fans haven't seen for months.
Kevin van Veen got Motherwell off the mark in eight minutes with his 15th goal of the season, with Max Johnston adding a sensational second 11 minutes later.
That looked like putting the Steelmen into a strong position but Saints hit back in 24 minutes with Ryan Strain slamming a shot into the net following good work by strikers Tony Watt and Curtis Main.
Both sides more or less huffed and puffed after that, and pretty much cancelled each other out.
The Steelmen were looking for a first league win in 12, and on a run of four straight defeats in all competitions, which ultimately cost Steven Hammell his job on Saturday night.
Caretaker boss Stuart Kettlewell made four changes to the side that last 3-1 at Raith Rovers in the Scottish Cup fifth round. Max Johnston, Sean Goss, James Furlong and Dean Cornelius came in for Stephen O'Donnell, Callum Slattery, Ross Tierney and Riku Danzaki.
St Mirren boss Stephen Robinson made just one change to the side that last 5-1 to Celtic at the same stage of the competition, with ex-Well striker Watt making his first start, in for Alex Grieve.
Motherwell got off to the best possible start in eight minutes when Blair Spittal played the ball through to van Veen, who held off a defender and drew Trevor Carson before slipping a low shot into the bottom left corner.
The hosts doubled their lead in 19 minutes when Sean Goss sent a raking crossfield ball to Johnston, who took it on his chest before hooking a shot into the far post corner from an acute angle.
St Mirren pulled a goal back in 24 minutes when Watt and Main combined down the left with Watt cutting the ball back to Strain, who smashed into the net.
Sub Thierry Small, who replaced injured Scott Tanser, tried an ambitious lob from the left touchline about 25 yards out, but it flew over the top right corner by a fair distance.
Main's first action of the second half was to blast a shot over the bar from the left side of the box.
Strain tried for an equaliser with a shot from just outside the box, but it was well held by Liam Kelly.
Mark O'Hara tried his luck with a shot from just outside the box in 75 minutes, but it was well held.
Sub Jack Aitchison should have ended it for Motherwell in 84 minutes when he found himself free in the box, but blazed over.
MOTHERWELL: Kelly, Johnston, Casey, McGinn, Furlong (O'Donnell, 90+2), Butcher, Goss, Corneliuis, Spiittal (Slattery, 84), van Veen (Aitchison, 78), Obika.
Subs (not used): Oxborough (GK), Crankshaw, Danzaki, McKinstry, Tierney, Dunachie.
Booked: Obika (35)
ST MIRREN: Carson, Fraser, Gallagher, R. Taylor, Strain (Flynn, 79), Baccus, O'Hara, Gogic (Kiltie, 57), Tanser (Small, 31), Watt (Jamieson, 79), Main.
Subs (not used): Urminsky (GK), Shaughnessy, Dunne, Offord, F. Taylor.
Booked: Kiltie (63), Gallagher (90)
Referee: John Beaton.
Attendance: 4978.
Follow Lanarkshire Live Sport on Twitter via @LanLiveSport, like us on Facebook or find us on Instagram for the latest sports news, pictures and video.
