This was a highly satisfying afternoon for Ross County as they sent last season’s Scottish Cup finalists crashing out of the competition on their own turf.
The majority inside Fir Park turned up excited to see Ross McCormack back in a claret and amber shirt but it was Brian Graham and Declan McManus who stole the show.
Staggies co-manager Stuart Kettlewell admitted afterwards to being apprehensive about the potential negative impact the previous week’s 4-0 drubbing at Queen of the South would have on his players but they bossed this cup tie from start to finish.
The 2-1 scoreline was a harsh reflection on a match the Dingwall men dominated and could have easily won by a far more handsome margin.
Jake Hastie’s injury-time goal gave Motherwell something to show for their efforts but the Steelmen were well beaten and looked very rusty after their winter break.
Unsurprisingly, Ross County made changes after going down 4-0 at Palmerston in their worst display of the season.
Marcus Fraser, Sean Kelly, McManus and Graham returned with Billy Mckay, Ross Stewart and Tom Grivosti dropping to the bench and Josh Mullin missing out.
For the Motherwell supporters, this was a first opportunity to see McCormack following his loan move from Aston Villa in the most eye-catching transfer of the window so far in Scotland.
McCormack moved from Fulham to Aston Villa for £12 million in the summer of 2016 but the 13-times capped Scotland international looked well off the pace before being withdrawn at half time.
Gaining promotion back to the Scottish Premiership is the priority for Ross County this season but this was a chance to test themselves against a top-flight side and they were determined to prove a point.
McManus, highly impressive on the right wing, drew an early save from Steelmen stopper Mark Gillespie before former Dundee midfielder Lewis Spence, a buzz-bomb of energy throughout, flashed an effort over the bar.
Motherwell defender Tom Aldred made a crucial intervention to prevent Jamie Lindsay tapping home at the back post with Sean Kelly’s overhead kick from the resulting corner just too high.
Ross County went in at the break frustrated to still be on level terms but it took them only seven minutes of the second half to make the breakthrough.
Lindsay and McManus were denied by excellent stops from the overworked Gillespie before his resistance finally gave way when McManus crossed for Graham to head home the opener.
The former Hibernian and Dundee United forward had only scored once since his four-goal haul against Raith Rovers in September but he was on target again only eight minutes later.
Again McManus provided the ammunition with a dangerous drilled pass across goal which Graham diverted home.
The Staggies forward almost completed his hat-trick 12 minutes from time but his close-range effort bounced back off the crossbar.
Motherwell set up a nervy finish when substitute Hastie headed home an Elliott Frear cross but County held on for the win on a day that will have only increased their desire to return to the top tier.
