After a run of eight defeats and 11 SPL matches without a win Motherwell's drought ended in spectacular style in a flood of goals at Fir Park.
Three goals up after only 26 minutes and a further goal to the good by half-time Motherwell went on to complete a famous 6-1 victory.
Even this was not enough to lift them off the foot of the table although Dundee United's defeat at Dunfermline means that the gap is down to just two points.
Hearts suffered their second thrashing in four days but where as they was circumstances against Rangers on Sunday this time the Edinburgh club were totally overwhelmed.
Stephen Pearson, back in the side after suspension, began the rout with a fierce right-footed finish after a poor first touch seemed to have cost him any chance of scoring.
Boy wonder James McFadden then won a penalty when he was tripped by Andrew Webster and McFadden himself sent keeper Roddy McKenzie the wrong way from the spot.
If few had expected McFadden to miss, fewer still anticipated his second goal as he sprinted on to a long ball from Steven Hammell and beat McKenzie from a difficult angle.
Pearson's cross set up a headed fourth goal for Derek Adams and although Hearts had earlier gone close through Webster, Andy Kirk and Scott Severin it was a Motherwell player who produced their best moment of a dismal first half, when defender David Partridge deflected the ball against his own crossbar.
Hearts at least showed some fighting sprit after the break and pulled a goal back through Kirk, but full-back Martyn Corrigan restored Motherwell's advantage with a right-foot rocket from 22 yards and sub Steve Ferguson completed the scoring in injury time