Match ends, Motherwell 1, St. Johnstone 1.
MotherwellMotherwell1St JohnstoneSt Johnstone1
John Sutton lashed in a morale-boosting equaliser against St Johnstone to end 10-man Motherwell's bad losing run.
Murray Davidson's calm finish from Chris Kane's pass had put Saints ahead early on.
The Steelmen's afternoon worsened on 25 minutes when Louis Laing was dismissed for a last-man challenge on Kane.
But Motherwell created several chances in the second half and deserved the point that Sutton's seventh strike of the season brought them.
Credit must be given to the quality of assist provided by 18-year-old Dom Thomas, who himself had tested St Johnstone goalkeeper Alan Mannus with a half-volley before creatively playing in Sutton.
Fraser Kerr had earlier been close to levelling, the defender's header from a corner requiring a goal-line clearance by Steven MacLean.
Tommy Wright's Saints struggled to push on from the advantage Davidson's second goal of the season an Laing's sending-off had given them, but remain sixth in the Scottish Premiership.
In light of a miserable five-game losing streak for Ian Baraclough's 11th-place 'Well, midweek happenings at Fir Park suggested this could be the game to turn things round.
The loan signings of centre-back Laing and left-sided player Anthony Straker, from Nottingham Forest and York City respectively, were combined with a conclusion to retired businessman Les Hutchison's takeover of the North Lanarkshire club.
But 21-year-old Laing had barely started establishing any sort of defensive understanding with Mark O'Brien before they were watching Davidson pounce.
Kane, such a thorn in Aberdeen's side with his nippy running and deft flicks last weekend, threaded a lovely pass for Davidson to run onto and steer past Dan Twardzik from 12-yards in the most laid-back manner.
The dreadful opening for Motherwell almost got better before it got even worse.
Josh Law whipped in a goal-bound free-kick from the left-hand side but Saints' Stephen Anderson was in the right place to diligently head it away from danger.
Laing's Motherwell debut then came to an end just 25 minutes in. Again, Kane's pace proved problematic from Tam Scobbie's long ball and referee Willie Collum judged that the big Englishman had leaned in and grounded the youngster when looking to get clean-through on goal.
St Johnstone's best chance to increase their lead before half-time again fell to Davidson, whose near-post shot was turned round the post by Twardzik.
Early in the second half, Steven MacLean's diving header bounced narrowly wide of the far post following a nice delivery by Gary Miller.
But the Perth side failed to find momentum and even the introduction of former Motherwell favourite James McFadden could not produce them a winner following Sutton's important left-footed equaliser.
Line-ups
Motherwell
Formation 4-1-3-2
- 12Twardzik
- 2Reid
- 45LaingBooked at 25mins
- 15O'BrienSubstituted forKerrat 46'minutes
- 38WattSubstituted forThomasat 59'minutes
- 18Law
- 4CarswellSubstituted forMooreat 71'minutes
- 5Ramsden
- 44Straker
- 9Sutton
- 19Erwin
Substitutes
- 7Ainsworth
- 13Nielsen
- 20Kerr
- 22Moore
- 26Thomas
- 29Cadden
- 39MacLean
St Johnstone
Formation 4-3-3
- 1Mannus
- 19Miller
- 6Anderson
- 3Scobbie
- 24Easton
- 4Lappin
- 25KaneSubstituted forMcFaddenat 70'minutes
- 18Davidson
- 22CroftSubstituted forGrahamat 80'minutes
- 10Wotherspoon
- 9MacLeanSubstituted forO'Halloranat 80'minutes
Substitutes
- 2Mackay
- 5Wright
- 14Graham
- 15Banks
- 16Caddis
- 17McFadden
- 29O'Halloran
- Referee:
- William Collum
- Attendance:
- 3,449
Match Stats
Home TeamMotherwellAway TeamSt Johnstone
- Possession
- Home43%
- Away57%
- Shots
- Home3
- Away8
- Shots on Target
- Home3
- Away3
- Corners
- Home2
- Away6
- Fouls
- Home10
- Away11
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Motherwell 1, St. Johnstone 1.
Post update
Foul by John Sutton (Motherwell).
Post update
Brian Graham (St. Johnstone) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Post update
Josh Law (Motherwell) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Foul by Murray Davidson (St. Johnstone).
Post update
Attempt missed. James McFadden (St. Johnstone) left footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Michael O'Halloran (St. Johnstone) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Post update
Corner, St. Johnstone. Conceded by Fraser Kerr.
Post update
Corner, Motherwell. Conceded by Brian Easton.
Substitution
Substitution, St. Johnstone. Brian Graham replaces Lee Croft.
Substitution
Substitution, St. Johnstone. Michael O'Halloran replaces Steven MacLean.
Post update
Craig Moore (Motherwell) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Foul by Simon Lappin (St. Johnstone).
Goal!
Goal! Motherwell 1, St. Johnstone 1. John Sutton (Motherwell) left footed shot from the left side of the box to the top left corner. Assisted by Dom Thomas.
Post update
Foul by Steven MacLean (St. Johnstone).
Post update
Craig Reid (Motherwell) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Foul by James McFadden (St. Johnstone).
Post update
Craig Reid (Motherwell) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Substitution
Substitution, Motherwell. Craig Moore replaces Stuart Carswell.
