St Johnstone have been hardly ever troubled by struggling Motherwell
St Johnstone ended a run of seven defeats by beating an abject Motherwell 2-0 to intensify their hosts’ Scottish Premiership relegation worries.
Drey Wright and Melker Hallberg scored both facet of half-time for Callum Davidson’s facet, who did not should get out of second gear and sit eighth.
Motherwell by no means regarded like scoring, and have been booed off by the few followers that remained at full-time.
Solely objective distinction retains Steven Hammell’s facet off backside spot.
Callum Davidson stated earlier than kick-off that his gamers have been bang up for this recreation, and that confirmed as they raced into an early lead.
Wright arrived within the field utterly unnoticed and, after Nicky Clark fed the ball into his path, the vast man slid his first-time shot past Liam Kelly into the web.
The guests continued to dominate, and may need had a penalty when Motherwell debutant Riku Danzaki regarded to clip Adam Montgomery’s heels within the field. Nevertheless, Don Robertson waved play on and there was no intervention from VAR.
Motherwell’s clearest sight of objective within the first half got here when Jack Aitchison, additionally on his debut, introduced down a protracted ball contained in the field, however he noticed his goal-bound shot blocked.
Hammell’s facet have been booed off at half-time, and he made two modifications on the break in an try to show issues round – sending on Dean Cornelius and James Furlong – however as within the first half, St Johnstone scored early.
Hallberg performed a neat one-two with Stevie Might, and the Swedish midfielder was on their lonesome within the Motherwell field to shoot below Kelly.
Stuart McKinstry and debutant Jonathan Obika have been thrown on as Motherwell desperately regarded for a spark, however St Johnstone by no means regarded below any stress, and comfortably noticed out the remainder of the second half for a much-needed win.
Participant of the match – Nicky ClarkThe St Johnstone striker – enjoying after his enchantment towards Saturday’s sending off was profitable – was a continuing menace to a beleaguered Motherwell defenceMotherwell’s deficiencies in each bins spell severe hassle – evaluation
That’s now 10 league video games and not using a win for Motherwell, who face the very actual prospect of second-tier soccer subsequent season for the primary time since 1985.
On a day of bleak stats, essentially the most eye-catching is that St Johnstone now have extra wins at Fir Park this season than Motherwell.
A facet that offers up straightforward targets and struggles to create tends to battle, and that’s precisely what Hammell’s facet did.
Each objective scorers have been left in acres of area to fireside previous a helpless Kelly, who should take a look at the chaos in entrance of him with utter despair.
On the different finish, neither Danzaki nor Obika confirmed any life on their debuts, and Davidson reduce a really relaxed determine on the touchline from the fifth minute onwards.
What’s subsequent?
Motherwell journey to fellow crisis-club Aberdeen on Saturday (15:00 GMT), whereas St Johnstone host Celtic on Sunday (12:00).
Line-ups
Motherwell
Formation 4-3-3
1Kelly
16McGinn20Blaney4Lamie2O’Donnell
14Danzaki8Slattery27Goss
15Aitchison9van Veen12Crankshaw
1Kelly16McGinn20BlaneySubstituted forJohnstonat 27’minutes4Lamie2O’DonnellSubstituted forCorneliusat 45’minutes14DanzakiSubstituted forMcKinstryat 60’minutes8SlatteryBooked at 32minsSubstituted forFurlongat 45’minutes27GossBooked at 61mins15Aitchison9van VeenSubstituted forObikaat 66’minutes12CrankshawSubstitutes7Spittal13Oxborough17McKinstry18Cornelius22Johnston24Furlong26Tierney34Dunachie99ObikaSt Johnstone
Formation 5-3-2
1Matthews
14Wright5Mitchell6Gordon4Considine19Montgomery
34Phillips22Hallberg18MacPherson
7May37Clark
1Matthews14Wright5Mitchell6Gordon4Considine19Montgomery34Phillips22HallbergSubstituted forCareyat 80’minutes18MacPherson7MayBooked at 56minsSubstituted forMcLennanat 70’minutes37ClarkSubstitutes2Brown10Wotherspoon16Rudden17Bair20Sinclair21Crawford23Carey26McLennan29Murphy
Referee:Don Robertson
Attendance:4,131
Dwell Textual content
Match ends, Motherwell 0, St. Johnstone 2.
Second Half ends, Motherwell 0, St. Johnstone 2.
Try missed. Nicky Clark (St. Johnstone) proper footed shot from outdoors the field misses to the left. Assisted by Adam Montgomery.
Nook, St. Johnstone. Conceded by Jack Aitchison.
Foul by Ricki Lamie (Motherwell).
Graham Carey (St. Johnstone) wins a free kick on the proper wing.
Foul by Max Johnston (Motherwell).
Connor McLennan (St. Johnstone) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Nook, St. Johnstone. Conceded by Stuart McKinstry.
Offside, Motherwell. Jonathan Obika tries a by way of ball, however Oliver Crankshaw is caught offside.
Offside, Motherwell. Oliver Crankshaw tries a by way of ball, however Max Johnston is caught offside.
James Furlong (Motherwell) wins a free kick within the defensive half.
Foul by Graham Carey (St. Johnstone).
Substitution, St. Johnstone. Graham Carey replaces Melker Hallberg.
Try missed. James Furlong (Motherwell) left footed shot from outdoors the field is just too excessive.
Offside, St. Johnstone. Cameron MacPherson tries a by way of ball, however Nicky Clark is caught offside.
Foul by Stuart McKinstry (Motherwell).
Cameron MacPherson (St. Johnstone) wins a free kick within the defensive half.
Substitution, St. Johnstone. Connor McLennan replaces Stevie Might.
Try saved. Cameron MacPherson (St. Johnstone) proper footed shot from outdoors the field is saved within the high proper nook. Assisted by Daniel Phillips.
Participant of the match
MitchellAlex Mitchell
Motherwell
Squad number27Player nameGoss
Squad number15Player nameAitchison
Squad number2Player nameO’Donnell
Squad number12Player nameCrankshaw
Squad number1Player nameKelly
Squad number14Player nameDanzaki
Squad number9Player namevan Veen
Squad number22Player nameJohnston
Squad number20Player nameBlaney
Squad number16Player nameMcGinn
Squad number4Player nameLamie
Squad number17Player nameMcKinstry
Squad number8Player nameSlattery
Squad number24Player nameFurlong
Squad number18Player nameCornelius
Squad number99Player nameObika
St Johnstone
Squad number5Player nameMitchell
Squad number34Player namePhillips
Squad number14Player nameWright
Squad number4Player nameConsidine
Squad number7Player nameMay
Squad number1Player nameMatthews
Squad number19Player nameMontgomery
Squad number37Player nameClark
Squad number18Player nameMacPherson
Squad number22Player nameHallberg
Squad number6Player nameGordon
Squad number26Player nameMcLennan
Squad number23Player nameCarey