Motherwell almost certainly condemned St Johnstone to Bell's Scottish League
football with a win which almost certainly guaranteed their own SPL
survival at McDiarmid Park.
Billy Stark's side Saints looked dead and buried before the game, with defeats
against Hibernian and Rangers leaving them 12 points adrift at the foot of the
table.
And James McFadden penalty and Dirk Lehmann header worsened the home side's
plight in a game watched by just 3,282 fans - the league's lowest crowd of the
season.
The Saints are now 15 points adrift with just six games remaining and could be
condemned to the First Division by next week.
Motherwell, though, have been revived by manager Eric Black and with the
injection of youngsters like the impressive McFadden they now require just two
more points to secure their top-flight status.
The home side certainly showed no signs of feeling sorry for themselves with
an encouraging start.
A backheel from Tommy Lovenkrands found Keigan Parker, but Paul Hartley - the
subject of interest from Hearts - failed to connect properly and the ball
bounced well wide.
Parker caused more problems soon after by pulling the ball dangerously across
the face of goal, but Eric Deloumeaux made a vital interception with Ross
Forsyth lurking ominously.
But their faint hopes lasted just nine minutes before Motherwell took the lead
from the spot.
On-loan youngster Mark Lynch recklessly brought McFadden down in the box and
the Motherwell striker himself fired home.
The home side should have gone further behind just three minutes later when
Roberto Martinez' cross found David Ferrere at the back post, but he headed wide
with just the keeper to beat.
The rain soon made matters worse for the home side, whose early promise and
little confidence drained away.
The outlook should have got a lot more gloomy for them in the 20th minute when
Martyn Corrigan's right-wing cross picked out Ferrere perfectly at the back
post, but he headed wide again.
A rush of blood from Corrigan moments later brought the first booking of the
day as he cut Hartley down and referee Dougie MacDonald had to intervene to calm
the furious Saint down.
McFadden, who signed a new contract on Thursday, almost enhanced his growing
reputation further in the 24th minute by attempting to chip Kevin Cuthbert, but
he failed to get the height to beat him.
The home side then carved out two decent openings. First captain Jim Weir got
on the end of Lovenkrands' left-wing cross, but he headed wide before McBride
blazed a right-foot shot over the bar as space opened up for him.
Stark must have had some harsh words for his players in the dressing room at
the break as they looked to have discovered their spirits after the restart.
They would have almost certainly scored in the 47th minute when Hartley's
curled a dangerous free-kick into the box, but Dirk Lehmann made a crucial
headed clearance with Weir shaping up to pounce.
Parker tried to give his side something to celebrate in the 56th minute when
he fired a speculative right-foot shot into the side-netting, but Stephen Woods
seemed to have it covered.
McCluskey was booked for a foul on Martinez in the 59th minute, but he almost
made them pay moments later when he let fly with a powerful right-foot drive
which Cuthbert saved to his right.
But there was little the youngster could do to prevent his side falling two
goals behind in the 61st minute when McFadden chipped to the back post and an
unmarked Lehmann headed home.
St Johnstone were losing their heads as Grant Murray hacked McFadden down and
was deservedly booked.
Well were threatening to run riot with Steven Hammell firing into the
side-netting before Lehmann was sent clean through, but a good save from
Cuthbert denied him.
The final whistle could not come quick enough for the home side as Motherwell
went close again through Hammell when he chipped the keeper, but Forsyth was on
the line to head clear.
The referee quickly put the Perth side out of their misery - but they still
have many more dark weeks to come.
Teams
St Johnstone: Cuthbert, Murray (Maher 67), Weir, McCluskey,
Forsyth, Lynch, Hartley, McBride (Panther 67), Lovenkrands,
Parker, Jones.
Subs Not Used: Devlin, McCulloch, Macdonald.
Booked: McCluskey, Murray, Forsyth.
Motherwell: Woods, Corrigan, Ready, Strong, Hammell, Lasley,
Deloumeaux, Martinez, Ferrere (Elliott 75),
McFadden (Pearson 82), Lehmann.
Subs Not Used: Brown, Adams, Soloy.
Booked: Corrigan.
Goals: McFadden 10 pen, Lehmann 62.
Att: 3,282
Ref: D McDonald (Scotland).
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