Ross County came from behind to punish 10-man Kilmarnock and end the visitors' run of five games unbeaten in the Scottish Premiership.
Kilmarnock, fresh from victory over Rangers last Sunday, led at the break thanks to a low Corrie Ndaba drive.
But they conceded almost instantly after Liam Donnelly was sent off on the hour mark - their fifth red card of the season already - when Jordan White hooked in.
Joe Wright then diverted into his own net from a corner to gift County all three points and move them above Kilmarnock into seventh place.
It took half an hour for the first chance of note. Marley Watkins got a toe to a Danny Armstrong cross, but he was leaning back and stabbed the ball a yard wide.
Stuart Findlay’s chance was far more eye-catching. Receiving the ball 30 yards from goal, he went past three or four defenders before a tame right-foot effort was easily saved by Ross Laidlaw.
County should have heeded that warning, as Kilmarnock scored moments later. A cross was not adequately cleared, allowing Ndaba to drill into the bottom corner.
The hosts have a poor record when they trail at half-time, but they were gifted a way back into the match by Donnelly.
Booked just after half-time for delaying a throw in, he then cynically pulled back Noah Chilvers as County advanced and was dismissed.
Seconds later, Don Cowie's side were level. The resulting free-kick was clipped towards Kacper Lopata at the back post, he nodded down and after a bit of pinball, White struck from close range.
The hosts did their utmost to force home their man advantage, but when they eventually got the winner it was another present from Kilmarnock.
A deep corner from Chilvers glided past a few bodies, with the ball bouncing off the unfortunate Joe Wright at the back post and past the keeper.
As the game came to a tense finale, Kilmarnock were briefly awarded their second red card of the day.
Joe Wright - who has already been sent off twice this season - caught Akil Wright with a desperate lunge. But, after being called to the VAR screen, referee Matthew MacDermid downgraded the card to a yellow.
County grind out valuable victory
Last season, County's home record was the seventh best in the league and the foundation for their survival in the top flight.
Cowie spoke of the importance of maintaining that before the game and once again they proved how stubborn they are in Dingwall.
Although not among the strongest squads in the league, there is still a feeling that the players will run through walls for their manager and they really had to grind it out here.
The only games they have lost at home this season were to unbeaten Celtic and Aberdeen and they pushed both of those sides close.
The mild concern was that Kilmarnock made it far easier than it should have been, and County still only won by a goal. When Ronan Hale isn't firing, they need to find other routes to goal.
Kilmarnock construct their own demise once more
It is a wonder Derek McInnes has any hair left, given how frustrating it must be watching his own side throw away points again and again this season.
A fifth red card of the season - and a really stupid one at that - was the start of their downfall in Dingwall, in a game that they looked like seeing out.
They have good Premiership players in this squad - Danny Armstrong, Matty Kennedy, David Watson among them - but they cannot be expected to continually bail out their team-mates.
McInnes had predicted a tough game and that was what he got before the red.
Kyle Vassell was quieter than normal and the best first-half chances came from defenders marauding forward.
What they said
Don Cowie discusses 2-1 victory over Kilmarnock
Ross County manager Don Cowie: "We did the basics really well in the first half, in terms of competing and making it difficult for Kilmarnock. We came off it for about 10 minutes and that's when they capitalised and went 1-0 up.
"Second half it was about coming out and trying to do the same, with a bit more intent in the final third. The sending off has a big impact in the game but you have to take advantage of that and we did that."
Kilmarnock boss Derek McInnes: "We've seen a lot of soft sending offs. The first one - Liam's guilty of stopping the play and he doesn't need to do that. But we've not seen a yellow card for that all season.
"We're not arguing the point too much on that, because it's silly on his part. The second - he's trying not to grab him because he knows he's on a yellow. It's not last gap, he's done everything not to bring him down. I think it's in the soft variety."
Derek McInnes discusses 2-1 defeat to Ross County
