A second half goal from Momo Sylla gave St Johnstone their first victory over Motherwell this season.

With both sides free from the fear of relegation, the game was termed meaningless before the kick-off and it looked that way in the first half as the quality of football seldom rose above average.

The second half continued in the same vein until Sylla broke the deadlock in the 62nd minute.

Racing on to a Tommy Lovenkrands pass the Ivory Coast striker took a touch before firing low into the net from 16 yards.

It was the visitors who started the game better and enjoyed the first chance in the seventh minute following a through ball from midfielder Paul Kane which found Paul Hartley on his own at the edge of the Motherwell box.

The ex-Hibs player's volley was powerful enough but slipped just wide of Motherwell keeper Stephen Woods' right hand post.

The home side gradually fought their way back into the game and in the 20th minute Kevin Twaddle went on a run which took him into the St Johnstone box but the midfielder stumbled at the last moment allowing Saints goalkeeper Alan Main to gather.

Moments later Twaddle sent a dangerous cross in from the right hand side which had Main struggling, only clutching the ball at the second attempt.

The home side were in control now and should have taken a lead in the 24th minute when Stephen Nicholas found himself with only Main to beat but his hesitant shot from outside of the box was saved by the Saints keeper at the expense of a corner.

Seconds later the Fir Park men had an even better opportunity after St Johnstone youngster Ross Forsyth was short with a pass-back.

This time it was Moroccan striker Said Chiba who was left with the keeper to beat but the shot from ten yards was wide of the post.

It was the Saints who had the first chance of the second period seven minutes after the restart when a David McClune pass found Keigan Parker sixteen yards from goal.

The young Saints striker took a touch before firing in his shot from 16 yards but his effort went inches past the far post.

Both sides were positive enough in their approach but the game was being played like a practice match and there was little in the way of goalmouth incidents.

Then, out of the blue, in the 63rd minute, St Johnstone took the lead with a simple goal.

A Lovenkrands pass wrong-footed the Motherwell defence, which was far too square, and found Sylla at the edge of the box.

The striker took a touch to kill the ball stone dead and then drove a low ball past Woods into the net.

Although Scott Leitch came close for Motherwell in the dying seconds, Sylla's goal was enough to ensure all three points left Fir Park for Perth for the first time this season.

Teams

Motherwell: Wood, Ouiefio, Okoli, Strong, Hammell, Elliott, Harvey (McFadden 59), Leitch, Chiba, Nicholas (Adams 65), Twaddle.

Subs Not Used: Corrigan, Lasley, Connolly.

St Johnstone: Main, McClune, Weir, McCluskey, Ross Forsyth, Hartley (Lowndes 79), McCulloch, Kane (Dods 46), Lovenkrands, Sylla, Parker.

Subs Not Used: Kernaghan, Crozier, Cuthbert.

Booked: Weir.

Goals: Sylla 63.

Att: 3,195

Ref: K Toner (Scotland).