Kilmarnock ended Motherwell's seven-game unbeaten run and recorded their first shutout of the season in a deserved win at a blustery Rugby Park.
Both sides tried to play the ball in dreadful conditions, with swirling winds and driving rain adding to an already slippery surface.
Kilmarnock's Peter Canero was out to catch Berti Vogt's eye, and the Scotland coach would have been impressed as he watched the midfielder score the opening goal.
Canero picked up the ball wide on the right and drove at Martyn Corrigan. He cheekily nut-megged the fullback and as the defence prepared for a cross, he drove the ball home, curling it inside the far post.
Canero was lucky not to be sent off in the 25th minute when he hauled down David Clarkson on the edge of the box as the striker prepared to shoot.
But referee Mike McCurry only awarded the free-kick, which Derek Adams drove in powerfully and produced a brilliant save from his former Motherwell team mate Francois Dubourdeau, who was still seeking his first clean sheet in the Kilmarnock goal.
Colin Nish had a golden chance for Kilmarnock in the 42nd minute after Stevie Murray and Steve Fulton had bullied Corrigan off the ball. The ball broke to Kris Boyd who selflessly gave Nish a clear sight of goal, but he chipped wide with the goal gaping.
Motherwell started the second half strongly, forcing a series of corners but Dubourdeau and his defence held firm and it was the home side who extended their lead.
Stevie Murray's cross spun high off a Motherwell defender and Kris Boyd stuck out a leg to squeeze the dropping ball past Gordon Marshall, despite the close attention of David Partridge.
Gary McSwegan almost made it three two minutes from time with a typical snap-shot, which fizzed six inches wide of Marshall's goal.