Motherwell showed their clinical side at Pittodrie to secure an impressive and important 2-0 Premiership win against Aberdeen.
The Steelmen failed to register a shot to the Dons' 12 during a first half dominated by those in Red but Graham Alexander's men soon flipped the game on its head.
Kevin Van Veen netted four minutes after the restart and again before the hour-mark to put Motherwell into a dream position.
Captain and goalkeeper Liam Kelly was kept busy and made a few super stops as the Fir Park club go fifth in the league with their first clean sheet since beating Aberdeen in September ahead of the international break.
'Well manager Alexander made three changes to the side that was thrashed 6-1 at Fir Park by Rangers last Sunday. Bevis Mugabi moved into right-back in place of the suspended Stephen O'Donnell, allowing Juhani Ojala to come into centre-back.
Barry Maguire replaced Callum Slattery in midfield while Van Veen returned to attack in place of Connor Shields. Aberdeen meanwhile kept the same XI which beat Hearts 2-1 last weekend.
Motherwell were seeking a response to the humbling at home last week. Their last clean sheet heading into this match came against the Dons in September, and another was needed for defensive morale.
But just three minutes in and the first goal was almost conceded. Sondre Solholm Johansen misjudged the flight of a long ball from Dons captain Scott Brown, doing just enough to recover and throw Marley Watkins off-course.
Christian Ramirez was next to try and trouble the Motherwell defence a minute later but his effort was clawed away by Kelly.
The Steelmen looked shaky at the back and another individual error almost gifted Aberdeen the lead. Mugabi's pass towards Kelly was picked up Ryan Hedges on 17 minutes, but it was fortunately deflected high and away from goal.
Danger wasn't averted though as Lewis Ferguson picked the ball up and ghosted into the box, but he fired well wide. The visitors at Pittodrie were living dangerously.
Kelly's goal was being peppered and while Dean Campbell's free shot outside the box on 20 minutes didn't trouble him, it served as another warning sign, not threatening at the other end.
Maguire and Van Veen both picked up bookings within a minute of each other a few moments later as Alexander's men tried to stop Aberdeen's attacking flow.
Watkins was causing Motherwell all sorts of problems and his cross on 28 minutes found Campbell. Kelly just about managed to bundle it behind for a corner after initially dropping the ball from his hands.
Motherwell's keeper had one more thing to do before the half-time whistle on 44 minutes, Watkins again in-behind but the Scotland international's leg denied him.
The Steelmen may have kept Aberdeen at bay in the first half but they hadn't registered a shot on target. Much more was needed if they were to take maximum points.
And sure enough, their first shot on goal brought the deadlock. Sean Goss' floated ball into the box was delicately knocked beyond Dons goalkeeper Joe Lewis by Van Veen on 49 minutes.
Motherwell's second effort at Lewis' net brought another goal eight minutes later - a well-worked one too. Goss again was the architect, his free-kick onto the head of Ricki Lamie knocked back for Van Veen to score.
The game's narrative had completely flipped as Aberdeen were ruthlessly punished for not taking their first half chances. But Hedges' effort was saved by Kelly on 66 minutes to show this game wasn't done.
Stephen Glass' Dons were trying to throw the kitchen sink at Motherwell but Alexander's men were more aggressive in the second half and it had paid dividends. Aberdeen's chances had dropped, and the away side didn't need to create too many more.
Kelly was still to be called upon, making an unbelievable stop to somehow prevent Ferguson scoring with a header on 78 minutes. Ferguson would soon have another go but again Kelly was there.
After a tough run of results, a first win in six attempts provides a big boost for Motherwell heading into the break.
Aberdeen XI: Lewis, Campbell (Hayes, 86), McCrorie, Bates, Ojo, Brown, McGeouch (McGinn, 61), Ferguson, Watkins, Hedges, Ramirez.
Subs : Woods, Emmanuel-Thomas, Gurr, Samuels, Longstaff.
Booked: Ferguson, McCrorie, Ojo.
Motherwell: Kelly, Mugabi, McGinley, Soholm, Ojala (Lamie, 52), Maguire, O'Hara, Goss, Roberts, Van Veen (Woolery, 80), Watt (Carroll, 68).
Subs : Fox, Slattery, Grimshaw, Shields.
Booked: Maguire, Van Veen, Roberts, McGinley, Mugabi.
Referee: Don Robertson.
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