[tab:Match report]
Phil McGhee at McDiarmid Park
Motherwell lost yet another late goal, their sixth in the last ten games, to lose 2-1 to St Johnstone this afternoon.
The visitors had went ahead when Louis Moult nodded James McFadden’s corner home in the 33rd minute, but David Wotherspoon caught out Connor Ripley at his near post with an excellent strike two minutes before the interval.
The game looked to be heading for a draw but there was yet another late sting in the tail when Tam Scobbie converted Simon Lappin’s free-kick just as the 90 minutes were up to seal all three points.
Motherwell initially named the same team and 3-4-2-1 formation that won 3-0 at Tannadice on Tuesday but Scott McDonald pulled out after the warm-up because of a tight hamstring. Wes Fletcher took his place.
St Johnstone had the first early chance when Louis Laing lost the ball but Steven MacLean fired over from 22 yards.
The pitch was cutting up badly and there was little quality on show but Motherwell began to exert some territorial advantage and threaten from corners.
Their tactic was for McFadden to put the ball into a crowded six-yard box and Alan Mannus twice palmed away the former Saints player’s deliveries before the next one went straight behind for a goal kick.
But the former Scotland international was more successful with his next effort. Moult came back out to meet the inswinging cross on the six-yard line and head into the far corner.
The Perth side came alive and Wotherspoon was the threat. He forced Ripley to push his corner over and then set up Craig, who fired over first time from eight yards.
Motherwell appeared to be expecting another cross when Wotherspoon collected Craig’s pass on the angle of the box on the left-hand side, but the former Hibernian player swerved a shot inside Ripley’s near post.
Motherwell switched to a 4-4-2 at half time as Steven Hammell replaced McFadden, who had picked up a knock late in the opening period.
They looked the likelier team just after the restart but could not test Mannus.
Chris Cadden stabbed over Marvin Johnson’s cross, Moult headed over Hammell’s free-kick and Fletcher shot weakly at the keeper after intercepting Darnell Fisher’s pass.
Saints improved and Graham Cummins glanced Scobbie’s cross past the far post before Ripley held Murray Davidson’s effort at the second attempt.
Craig missed a great chance in the 78th minute when he volleyed Wotherspoon’s cross just past from 10 yards but Motherwell could not hold on.
A tired Ben Hall tripped Sutton on the edge of the area, allowing another former ‘Well man, Simon Lappin, to whip in a free kick. His cross found Tam Scobbie and he rose almost unopposed to head home.
[tab:As it happened]
Ally Reilly at McDiarmid Park
FT: St Johnstone 2 – 1 Motherwell
90′ | 2-1
Goal – Scobbie heads home Lappin’s free-kick delivery.
89′ | 1-1
Hall booked for a foul on Sutton about 30 yards out
84′ | 1-1
Cadden bursts past Scobbie and is hacked to the ground. Could easily have seen red but ref shows the yellow.
80′ | 1-1
Final St Johnstone change, Lappin on for Craig.
79′ | 1-1
Motherwell sub, Fletcher off for Ainsworth.
78′ | 1-1
What a chance for Craig to put Saints 2-1up but he pulls his shot wide of the post. A let-off.
73′ | 1-1
Davidson gets on the end of a low cross to the edge of the box. He volleys first time but it’s comfortable for Ripley.
71′ | 1-1
St Johnstone sub, MacLean off for Sutton.
68′ | 1-1
Glorious chance for Cummins as he has a free-header in the box but can’t divert it on target.
65′ | 1-1
Loose pass is intercepted by Fletcher. With no support he has to go alone but his shot from range is weak and Mannus gathers.
And a St Johnstone change, Thomson off for Cummins.
64′ | 1-1
Motherwell sub, Gomis makes way for Pearson
59′ | 1-1
Fisher booked for obstructing Johnson. Free-kick wide on the left for ‘Well….Hammell finds Moult but he heads over!
429 ‘Well fans here today in the 3039 attendance. Thanks as always for your support. #SJFCvMFC
49′ | 1-1
Chance! Johnson swings it in low, deflects off Fletcher and falls to Cadden but under pressure he fires over from 6 yards!
Second half is underway. COYW!
Half time sub for Motherwell, McFadden off for Hammell.
HT: St Johnstone 1 – 1 Motherwell #SJFCvMFC
43′ | 1-1
Goal – Wotherspoon pulls Saints level with a shot from the left hand side of the box. 1-1 here at McDiarmid.
41′ | 0-1
Good chance for Craig as he gets on the end of Wotherspoon’s low ball but he scoops it well over the bar from 15 yards.
….and is impeded on the third delivery. Free-kick to ‘Well.
36′ | 0-1
Lasley has to head Craig’s cross wide for a corner. Ripley palms the delivery over the bar for a second corner……
McFadden whips in a great ball to the head of MOULT who does the rest and nods home. 1-0 to ‘Well!
32′ | 0-1
And another corner. ‘Well have yet to make their delivery count…..GGOOOAAALLL!!!!
30′ | 0-0
Cadden wins another corner down the right hand side.
26′ | 0-0
Cadden’s cross is deflected out for a corner by Shaughnessy.
25′ | 0-0
Fletcher cushions Johnson’s cross into the feet of Moult who fires well over the bar from just outside the box.
16′ | 0-0
Both players back in the action after a look from the physios.
15′ | 0-0
Fletcher and Scobbie off the pitch getting treatment for a head knock. Looked a sore one.
13′ | 0-0
McFadden does well down the left and wins a corner. Fires it in low and finds McManus at the front post but his shot is blocked!
4′ | 0-0
First chance of the game as MacLean robs Laing and sets up Davidson outside the box but thankfully he fires well over the bar
Motherwell get the game underway. COYW! #SJFCvMFC
[tab:Reaction]
Motherwell manager Mark McGhee:
“In general it was fine. We played well enough, we played the conditions, it’s not a pitch you can play any football on.
“The commitment and attitude was good. If you don’t get a second goal you have got to be vigilant. We didn’t do well enough, we defended the free-kick too deep.”
St Johnstone manager Tommy Wright:
“I’m pleased for the players and proud of them as well. Because at 1-0 there were a few jitters around the ground. I suppose with the levels of success we have had, that’s to be expected.
“But we showed character to get back in the game and keep going right to the end. It was never a pretty game, it was never going to be, and we came out the right side of it.”
[tab:Man-of-the-match]
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