St Mirren moved nine points ahead of Bank of Scotland Premier League bottom side Dunfermline but will look upon Motherwell's visit as a missed opportunity.

Well goalkeeper Graeme Smith made some impressive first-half saves and Saints squandered several more chances.

The visitors, who had Darren Smith stretchered off, never looked like scoring but dug in for a point which takes them up to eighth.

Motherwell handed Ross McCormack his first start since August following a long spell of illness with David Clarkson dropping to the bench.

On-loan Celtic youngster Paul Lawson made his St Mirren debut in the heart of midfield while John Sutton came in up front as Gus MacPherson reverted to a 3-5-2 formation.

The visitors began confidently on the back of three successive wins and Scott McDonald's long-range effort rose a foot over the bar.

Saints appeared willing to test Motherwell's defence in the air and Graeme Smith was forced into a superb stop in the 11th minute.

Home debutant Eddie Malone whipped in a free-kick and Smith brilliantly pushed away Kirk Broadfoot's close-range header.

Well started to spray the ball around without finding a killer pass.

Saints came close again after Richard Brittain's well-worked corner midway through the half.

Stephen O'Donnell's first-time volley from the edge of the box was flicked on by Sutton, but Kean just failed to turn it home at the back post.

Chris Smith clutched the ball on the line after McCormack and Broadfoot challenged in the air following a Danny Murphy free-kick.

Well were looking vulnerable in the air and Smith scrambled wide Brittain's powerful drive after the ball fell for the midfielder 25 yards out.

The hosts grew in confidence and Kean missed a good chance just before the break.

Lawson burst forward and slipped the ball to the former Ayr hitman, but he fired over from 15 yards after stepping inside Stephen Craigan.

Sutton's left-foot strike from 25 yards flew just wide at the start of the second half.

Motherwell wide men Darren Smith and Jim Paterson briefly swapped wings after failing to make an impact on the game but Smith crossed weakly after breaking down the left.

With just one win in their previous 18 SPL games, Saints would have accepted the scrappiest of goals, and almost got it when Martyn Corrigan's clearance bounced off Sutton and landed a yard wide.

Saints were running out of ideas and Well had a rare half chance when McDonald hooked the ball a yard over from a tight angle after latching on to Murphy's high ball.

The home fans grew frustrated as each move broke down and Gus MacPherson threw on Mark Corcoran and Garry Brady.

Motherwell boss Maurice Malpas had the worrying sight of a stretcher taking off winger Smith, who missed six months of last year with a knee injury, after the winger landed awkwardly.

St Mirren's lack of confidence in front of goal was underlined when Corcoran skied a rebound after Sutton's weak effort was blocked.

And O'Donnell headed into the side-netting from close range in the dying seconds.

Some Buddies fans thought the ball was in but most of the 3,636 supporters who missed Celtic's Champions League clash with Milan on TV would have seen the goalless draw coming from early on.

Teams:

St Mirren (0) 0 Motherwell (0) 0

St Mirren Smith, van Zanten, Maxwell, Broadfoot, Potter,Malone (Corcoran 72), O'Donnell, Lawson (Brady 73), Brittain,Kean, Sutton.

Subs Not Used: Hinchcliffe, Millen, Reid, McKenna, Gemmill.

Booked: Lawson, Brittain.

Motherwell Graeme Smith, Corrigan, Murphy, Craigan, Reynolds,Fitzpatrick, Kerr, Darren Smith (Molloy 77), Paterson,McCormack (Keegan 83), McDonald.

Subs Not Used: Meldrum, Clarkson, McGarry, Quinn, Vadocz.

Booked: Corrigan.

Att: 3,576

Ref: I Brines (Scotland).