St Mirren manager Danny Lennon praised his side for learning from last weekend's 4-4 draw against Dunfermline and "handling the ugly side of the game" in their 1-0 win over relegation-haunted Hibs.
A goal from youngster Kenny McLean midway through the second half was enough to see Saints home, even though they had to hang on when defender Marc McAusland was sent off with 13 minutes to go
But the visitors were also reduced to 10 men in injury-time after Lewis Stevenson was given his marching orders – like McAusland for a second yellow card.
And Lennon, who dedicated the victory to lifelong St Mirren fan John Shannon, a soldier serving in Afghanistan, thought both decisions were harsh.
He said: "By the laws of the game, Marc's probably is a sending off, I think Marc has pulled Leigh Griffiths back.
"But I think we have to get the game right in terms of these challenges.
"I even think the Hibs one was pretty soft as well. It used to be the case a year or two ago that it was the responsibility of referees to keep 11 players on the pitch. Fans want to see two full sets of 11 players going hammer and tong."
Hibs, meanwhile, without top goalscorer Garry O'Connor, remain just three points ahead of bottom club Dunfermline, who secured their first home win of the season 24 hours earlier against Aberdeen.
And key midfielder Stevenson will now miss Wednesday's trip to Pittodrie.
Fenlon's men have lost both games SPL without scoring since their William Hill Scottish Cup semi-final win over the Dons which set up an all-Edinburgh against Hearts.