A stunning second-half strike from Brian Kerr paved the way for a comfortable Motherwell victory that leaves Dunfermiline at the bottom of the table with Livingston.
Kerr's goal was right out of the top drawer and lifted his team-mates who have suffered consecutive defeats to the Old Firm.
Kerr picked up Lee Makel's misplaced pass 25 five yards out and fizzed a right-foot shot into the top corner of Allan McGregor's net.
You could see the confidence growing in the Motherwell team after the goal, and yet up until that point Dunfermiline had created the clearer chances.
Gary Mason had a great chance to put the Pars in front, but failed to make contact with Darren Young's inviting cross.
And then Motherwell keeper Graeme Smith pulled off a breathtaking one-handed save to deny Andy Todd from a close-range header.
Even early in the second half, both Young and Simon Donnelly missed good opportunities before Kerr's strike sparked Motherwell into action.
The second goal came when Jim Hamilton nodded Scott McDonald's cross back into the danger area and Martyn Corrigan glanced the ball home.
A mistake from Aaron Labonte gifted Hamilton an easy third when the defender knocked the ball into his path 12 yards out with Hamilton knocking the ball past McGregor with his right foot.