Motherwell started 2026 in perfect fashion, with a convincing 2-0 win over St Mirren in the William Hill Premiership.
Tawanda Maswanhise netted his 14th goal in all competitions in the first half, with Elliot Watt making it two goals in two games to seal the points for the Steelmen.
Despite the heroics of their last outing, changes were still made to the Motherwell team, three in total. Johnny Koutroumbis dropped out of the squad, with Oscar Priestman and Tom Sparrow moved to the bench. Tawanda Maswanhise returned to the starting 11 at the first time of asking, following his return to Scotland from his Africa Cup of Nations heroics with Zimbabwe.
Stephen Welsh was back in action after missing out against his parent club Celtic last time out, with Emmanuel Longelo restored to the starting 11.
The first opening came at the visitor’s end, but after Elijah Just whipped the ball into the six-yard box, neither Ibrahim Said nor Maswanhise could get a decent touch to worry Shamal George.
With 21 minutes on the clock, Calum Ward needed more than a decent touch, rising high to his left to push away Miguel Freckleton’s shot from the edge of the box.
That sparked a response from the Fir Park men, and after holding off a couple of challenges, Callum Slattery fed the ball to Lukas Fadinger, and his thumping left-foot drive was destined for the top corner until the ball was turned over the bar by George.
Slattery then tested the Saints’ keeper firstly with a low drive, which George palmed away at full stretch before he comfortably held Slattery’s tame volley.
Motherwell were finding gaps in the Saints’ box, and when Maswanhise found Just, he should have shot first time, but in an attempt to get the ball onto his left foot, the chance was wasted.
Two minutes later the New Zealander repaid the favour, and Maswanhise, after his stunning goal at AFCON, was in no mood to pass up the chance.
Playing the ball out from their own goal line, Just’s superb pass sent the Zimbabwe striker racing towards George before slipping the ball past the keeper and opening the scoring.
As the home side dominated possession, Saints lost their composure, with three players booked in a crazy two minutes before the break.
Stephen Robinson decided to tighten things up for the second-half moving the experienced Alex Gogic into his back four.
That plan only lasted 12 minutes until the Saints’ defence was breached again. Said’s run and cutback created a great opening only for Maswanhise and Slattery to get in each other’s way. The opportunity appeared to be lost as the ball found its way to Elliot Watt at the edge of the box until his wicked curling drive flew past George and high into the net to make it 2-0.
That forced Saints to change their game plan, but as they chased a goal, Motherwell found more space, with Just, Said and Maswanhise using their trickery and pace to keep the visitors’ defenders on their toes.
The ‘Well boss made his first changes after 73 minutes, replacing the tiring Watt and Maswanhise with Tom Sparrow and Oscar Priestman.
Despite continuing to swarm around the Saints’ box and creating a few more openings, Well couldn’t add to the scoreline, although at the other end Ward will be delighted to extend his home clean sheets to seven consecutive games.
Motherwell Team: Ward, O’Donnell, McGinn, Welsh, Longelo, Watt, Fadinger, Slattery, Just, Said, Maswanhise.
Motherwell Subs: Connelly, Gordon, Balmer, Sparrow, Priestman, McAllister, Osong, Ross, Stamatelopoulos.
