Stevie Hammell’s return to the Motherwell dugout as interim manager was a disappointing one, as St Johnstone nicked all three points with a late Stevie May winner.
Stephen O’Donnell’s goal at the start of an additional six minutes cancelled out Jamie Murphy’s first half opener and provide the Steelmen with a deserved share of the points.
Ultimately, despite a stirring second half, the the Fir Park men paid the penalty for a lackluster first forty five minutes. Until the final minutes the Perth side clung on to Murphy’s goal with some solid defending and a slice of luck to keep ‘Well at bay.
On a pristine Fir Park pitch, the home fans seemed undaunted by the last performance against Sligo Rovers as they gave the players a rapturous welcome.
Hammell made two changes, Bevis Mugabi coming in for the suspended Ricki Lamie and Stephen O’Donnell filling Jake Carroll’s spot at left back.
In a positive start from the Steelmen, Sean Goss won a free kick wide of the box. Kevin van Veen elected to go for goal but his curling shot soared over the crossbar.
Goss was next to try his luck after 16 minutes, but after being set up by Josh Morris 25 yards from goal, the left sided midfielder dragged his shot wide of target.
Clumsy tackles and careless passing from both sides prevented either from gaining a hold on the game.
The game needed a spark and it almost came from Saints after 25 minutes. After conceding possession at the edge of the box the ‘Well defenders could only watch as Theo Bair drove the ball straight at Liam Kelly.
Motherwell failed to heed that warning and three minutes later they fell behind.
Mugabi and Bair rose at the edge of the box and as the ball drifted behind them, former ‘Well goal scoring hero Murphy latched onto the ball before driving his shot low across the diving Kelly and inside the ‘keeper’s far post.
That injected a bit of life into the home side and four minutes later they were inches away from an equaliser.
Barry Maguire and Morris kept possession at the edge of the Saints’ box and when the ball bobbled to Connor Shields, he fired a speculative shot past Remi Matthews only to watch it bonce back off the ‘keeper’s right hand post.
The home goal then had a lucky escape seven minutes from half-time.
Cammy MacPherson headed the ball back across the face of Kelly’s goal but with Andy Considine standing a few yards from the goal-line Sondre Solholm hammered the ball off the former Aberdeen defender and away to safety.
The first half ended with van Veen again firing over Matthews’ cross bar as the Saints’ ‘keeper waited to make his first save of the game.
Hammell recognised his side’s lack of goal threat and brought on Dean Cornelius and Joe Efford for the start of the second half.
And it had an immediate effect when van Veen sent Efford in behind Alex Mitchell but as the American striker was about to pull the trigger, the Saints’ defender made a terrific recovering tackle.
At the other end Solholm made an equally impressive intervention to squeeze MacPherson’s cross just beyond the inrushing Bair.
With an hour on the clock van Veen set out on a solo effort drifting across the box before his tame left foot drive gave Matthews a comfortable save.
As ‘Well pressed for an equaliser, chaos in the Saints’ six yard box set up a chance for Shields only to see his effort blocked by the combined efforts of Matthews and Mitchell.
Motherwell made another substitution after 67 minutes with Ross Tierney replacing Blair Spittal.
Mugabi’s mazy fifty yard run after 74 minutes earned him applause from the ‘Well fans and a free kick wide on the right but the inswinging ball from Goss found no takers.
A minute later McGinn’s inviting cross did find a team mate but Shields glancing header sent the ball wide when he really should have tested the ‘keeper.
For the third time in the second half there were strong appeals for a Motherwell penalty when Ryan McGowan barged into Tierney’s back but once again Willie Collum ignored the claims.
With eight minutes remaining Matthews’ was forced into a last gasp save when Goss mishit his trike from outside the box but the bounce was carrying the ball just under the bar until the ‘keeper raced back to palm the ball over his crossbar.
In a final attempt to grab a point Irish striker Robbie Mahon was given 10 minutes to find an equaliser.
In the first of six added on minutes ‘Well eventually found the net.
Goss whipped a corner into the six yard box and O’Donnell’s header directed the ball low into the far corner of the goal.
Incredibly, three minutes later Saints regained the lead.
Following a corner McGowan steered a header behind the ‘Well defence, where May ghosted in to steer the ball low beyond Kelly and take all three points back to Perth.