Kevin van Veen was again Motherwell's hero as he kept alive their quest for a European place with a tense 1-0 win over Ross County at the Global Energy Stadium.
The Dutch striker climbed off the bench in 64 minutes and had scored the winner within four minutes, burying a soft-looking penalty award.
That puts Motherwell in the driving seat for at least the fifth European slot the Premiership offers, as they leap-frogged their hosts.
That's an incredible state of affairs, with this only being the Steelmen's second league win of 2022.
County had the majority of the possession in the game, but in truth didn't really do a lot with it, while Motherwell soaked up the pressure, hit their hosts on the counter-attack, and should have lead at the interval.
There wasn't much between the sides in the first half. County had more of the possession for the first period, but didn't do a lot with it, while Motherwell should have taken the lead through a Ross Tierney header that rippled the top of the net.
The second half was much the same, but van Veen's introduction turned the game in Motherwell's favour, with the striker showing his worth after sitting out a two-game suspension.
Ross County boss Malky Mackay made one change to the side that drew with Hearts on Saturday, with Jack Baldwin coming in for Keith Watson.
His Motherwell counterpart Graham Alexander made three changes to the side that lost 1-0 at Dundee United. Captain Stephen O'Donnell, Liam Donnelly and Joe Efford came in for Bevis Mugabi, Callum Slattery and Kaiyne Woolery.
Ranges' progress to the Europa League final means fifth spot gets a Euro slot, with Motherwell, Ross County and Dundee United battling it out for two places.
However, only Celtic had left Dingwall with three points in 2022, such were County's home performances to date.
County made the better start, with Connor Randall's cross from the right making its way to Regan Charles-Cook, but his shot was deflected narrowly wide of the right post in three minutes.
The hosts forced a series of corners in quick succession, and from the last of them Blair Spittal's set-piece was met with a fierce strike by Jake Vokins, but Liam Kelly made a comfortable enough save.
David Cancola sent a shot over the bar from about 19 yards in nine minutes as county continued to threaten.
Donnelly had Motherwell fans' hearts in their mouths in 19 minutes when he played a risky pass-back that Liam Kelly had to hurry to reach before clearing off the line. The midfielder was under no pressure at all,, but played a curling pass a distance away from his keeper.
It took Motherwell 33 minutes to have a serious effort on goal, with Efford's stike pushed past the left post by Ross Laidlaw.
Mark O'Hara's corner from the left was headed back across goal by O'Donnell, with Ross Tierney heading just over, when he probably should have scored.
A good County move ended with David Cancola sending a shot just wide of the right post, with Kelly at full stretch in 51 minutes.
County went close again in 61 minutes when Ross Callachan's strike took a deflection off Jake Carrol on its way past the left post.
Cancola then slipped Jordan White in on the left side of the box, but the former Motherwell striker didn't make full contact on the ball and Kelly gathered.
Motherwell took the lead against the run of play in 68 minute when sub Kevin Van Veen made his way into the box, where he went down under a challenge by Alex Iacovitti, with referee David Munro pointing to the spot.
The Dutchman collected the ball and confidently slotted it into the right corner, with Laidlaw diving the other way, for his 11th goal of the season.
County tried to get themselves level in 72 minutes but Joseph Hungbo bundled a corner from the left past the far post.
The hosts pushed forward for an equaliser, but didn't do enough with it, and Callachan sent a shot well over the bar in 84 minutes.
Hungbo then sent a dangerous ball across the face of goal in 86 minutes, but with no takers.
County threw everything they had at Motherwell in the five minutes of stoppage time, and Hungbo's long-range effort crept through towards the bottom left corner, only for Kelly to brilliantly push it wide, three minutes in.
However, Motherwell held on for a great result that could breathe new life into the end of their season, with Hearts and Celtic still to come.
ROSS COUNTY: Laidlaw, Randall (Watson, 55), Baldwin, Iacovitti, Vokins (Wright, 85), Cancola (Samuels, 76), Tillson (Hungbo, 46), Spittal, Callachan, Charles-Cook, White.
Subs (not used): Munro (GK), Sims, Burroughs, Drysdale, Paton.
Booked: Tillson (42), Iacovitti (90+3)
MOTHERWELL: Kelly, O'Donnell, Ojala (Slattery, 64), Lamie, Carroll, Goss, O'Hara, Donnelly, Tierney (Shaw, 72), Efford (Van Veen, 74), Shields (Cornelius, 84).
Subs (not used): Connolly (GK), Campbell, Mahon.
Booked: Ojala (14), Goss (74), van veen (84)
Referee: David Munro.
Attendance: 3067.
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