Stephen Nicholas was drafted into the Motherwell side to form a new strike force with Derek Adams as the hosts decided to give youth a fling in the Scottish Premier League against St Johnstone.

Saints also made one change from the side which beat Hibernian on Sunday, with Mark McCulloch replacing the injured John Paul McBride.

Motherwell looked the more alert at the kick-off as efforts from Adams then Nicholas slid wide of goal. A free-kick from Said Chiba was headed back into the goal area by James Oloki - but Jim Weir cleared the danger.

Saints' first chance came after 10 minutes, but a snap shot from Paul Hartley from just inside the box was well off its mark.

Teams:

Motherwell: Woods, Corrigan, Okoli, Strong, Hammell, Twaddle (McFadden 76), Chiba, Leitch (Lasley 63), Elliott, Adams (Wood 54), Nicholas.

Subs Not Used: Ramsey, Connolly.

Goals: Elliott 24.

St Johnstone: Main, McClune, Weir, Kernaghan, Ross Forsyth, Hartley (Parker 59), Dasovic, McCulloch (Kane 66), Lovenkrands, Sylla (McCluskey 85), Lowndes.

Subs Not Used: Crozier, Cuthbert.

Att: 4,600

Ref: D McDonald (Scotland).