A second half Derek Townsley goal was enough to give Motherwell all three points at St Mirren.

Townsley fired the ball through goalkeeper Ludovic Roy's legs in the 74th minute to send the Love Street side back to the foot of the Premier League in a game which Saints manager Tom Hendrie admitted he had to win.

But the home side had been first out of the blocks when Moussa Dagnogo surged forward through the middle in the sixth minute.

The big striker unleashed a long-range effort from 25 yards but pulled the shot just wide.

The Frenchman was threatening again a few minutes later but this time Motherwell defender Greg Strong cleared the danger from inside the box for a corner.

But Townsley should have given the visitors the lead after 16 minutes.

Chris Kerr was brought down just outside the 18-yard box by Steven Hammell.

Ricky Gillies stepped up for the set piece but sent the ball just over the crossbar.

At the other end of the park, Motherwell had a decent chance four minutes later.

Martyn Corrigan's shot came off Strong, who laid the ball off to Lee McCulloch but his shot was just over.

'Well goalkeeper Andy Goram was called into action for the first time after 23 minutes.

Paul Rudden's effort looked promising until the former Rangers keeper just managed to tip the ball over the crossbar.

A Kevin Twaddle cross found Keith Lasley just after the half hour mark. His shot looked goalbound but Tommy Turner blocked on the line, allowing goalkeeper Roy to claim the ball.

Saints looked certain to open the scoring after 36 minutes.

The ball fell to Graham Fenton just a few yards out but the shot came off Goram's feet.

The goalkeeper again blocked Fenton's rebound before Scott Walker eventually sent the ball over the crossbar.

It was St Mirren who had the first chance of the second half - just two minutes after the re-start.

A Fenton cross found Dagnogo at the far post and the big striker looked like scoring until Benito Kemble forced a clearance.

A couple of minutes later, Corrigan had a shot on target but it was easily held by the Saints goalkeeper.

After 55 minutes, Jose Quitongo went on a great solo run before firing a long range shot that looked to have Goram beaten, but fell just inches wide.

Dagnogo again came close in the 69th minute with a shot from just outside the 18-yard box but sent the ball over the crossbar.

Saints looked to have a decent penalty claim turned down when Kerr flighted the ball into the box where it appeared to have been handled by Stephen McMillan but the referee waved play on.

But the Love Street side found themselves behind after 74 minutes.

Douglas Ramsay's cross found Derek Adams who sent a pass through to Townsley and the Motherwell player fired the ball through goalkeeper Roy's legs.

St Mirren's luck turned from bad to worse when Ricky Gillies was stretchered off after 79 minutes.

Hendrie had already used all his subs and found his side down to 10 men.

But Gillies made a remarkable recovery and was back on the pitch just four minutes later but the Love Street side could still not salvage a point.

Teams: St Mirren: Roy, Turner, McGowan, Walker, Rudden (Nicolson 68), Gillies, McKenzie, Quitongo (Yardley 68), Kerr, Dagnogo, Fenton (McGarry 71).

Subs Not Used: Scrimgour, Baltacha.

Motherwell: Goram, Corrigan (Elliott 58), Kemble, Strong, McMillan, McCulloch (Nicholas 76), Hammell, Townsley, Lasley (Ramsey 66), Adams, Twaddle.

Subs Not Used: Connolly, Wood.

Booked: Hammell, Adams, Elliott, Ramsey.

Goals: Townsley 74.

Att: 4,034

Ref: D McDonald (Scotland).