Motherwell made it four wins and a draw in six games under Stuart Kettlewell with a resounding 3-1 win over Hibernian at Easter Road.
Sean Goss got Motherwell ahead with a postage stamp free kick before Kevin van Veen made it 20 goals this season with two goals either side of a Kevin Nisbet header in the second half.
Van Veen had the first big chance of the game on five minutes, when the Dutchman went 1v1 with David Marshall but the Scotland keeper was there to block.
However, Dean Cornelius would be fouled outside the area following Marshall’s save and Sean Goss stepped up to curl a beautiful free kick into top corner, leaving Marshall with no chance.
Liam Kelly was called into action on 12 minutes when he had to tip Hoppe’s header over the bar.
Van Veen was again presented with a golden chance to double the Steelmen’s lead when Dan Casey’s long ball forward found the Dutchman in behind the Hibernian defence but he couldn’t turn his touch on target.
With Motherwell on top in the first half, they started the second half in similar fashion.
Casey with an audacious overhead kick found Blair Spittal lurking at the back post, who chased the ball down and got there ahead of Marshall who clattered into the former County man and the referee pointed to the spot.
Van Veen converted from the spot with his penalty crawling underneath the keeper. 0-2.
Nisbet pulled one back for the hosts when Chris Cadden crossed into the area and Nisbet was on hand to nod past Kelly.
With Hibernian seemingly looking back in the game, Van Veen made sure of the points with a curling right footed free kick with nine minutes to go, which he whipped past the wall and the keeper.
The result moved Motherwell above St Johnstone in the table and into eighth place.