Motherwell 1, St Johnstone 2: Well season ends in defeat as Saints rescued

Motherwell's Premiership season came to an end with a defeat at Fir Park that saw St Johnstone avoid the relegation platy-offs on goal difference.

First-half strikes from Nicky Clark and Adama Sidibeh were enough to see all three points head back to Perth on a sunny day in Motherwell.

The hosts, for their part, end the season in ninth place, despite Moses Ebiye's late strike.

Motherwell dominated possession in the first half but didn't do a lot with it, while Saints scored with pretty much their first real attempt on goal through Clark in 17 minutes.

Theo Bair saw his penalty saved by Dimitar Mitov just after the half-hour, before Sidibeh nipped in to double Saints' lead inside first-half stoppage time.

Motherwell tried to get back into the game in the second half and struck the post through Blair Spittal, shortly after three incredible blocks denied Theo Bair, Lennon Miller and Shane Blaney.

Motherwell boss Stuart Kettlewell made three changes to the side that lost 3-0 to Hibs in midweek. Bevis Mugabi, Davor Zdravkovski and Harry Paton came in for Dan Casey, Stephen O'Donnell and Andy Halliday.

His St Johnstone counterpart Craig Levein made just one change to the side that drew 1-1 with rivals Ross County, as Matt Smith came in for Stevie May.

Motherwell started on the front foot, but St Johnstone had the first real chance in seven minutes when Adama Sidibeh was sent through on the right, but good tracking by Mugabi saw him block well.

At the other end, Blair Spittal sent Theo Bair through but his way to goal was well blocked as well.

Motherwell nearly conceded a surreal goal in nine minutes when Davor Zdravkovski blasted an attempted clearance off Nicky Clark's head, with only a terrific save from Liam Kelly preventing it from flying into the top left corner.

Sam Nicholson picked up a good ball from Spittal on the right in 10 minutes, but arrowed his shot high and wide of the top left corner from just inside the box.

Harry Paton set up Georgie Gent for an effort on goal in 13 minutes, but his shot was comfortably held by Dimitar Mitov.

But St Johnstone took the lead in 17 minutes when Graham Carey's cross from the left was swept in at the back post by Clark.

David Keltjens then tried a fierce effort from outside the box in 23 minutes that Liam Kelly did well to punch clear.

Motherwell were given a chance to get back into the game in 31 minutes when Ryan McGowan was penalised for handball, but Theo Bair's spot-kick was saved by Mitov at the left corner, with Gent blasting the rebound over.

Lennon Miller sent Bair through on goal in 39 minutes, but he fired wide.

Saints made their hosts pay for that in first half stoppage time when Mugabi and Kelly were indecisive, allowing Sidibeh to nick in and head the ball into the bottom left corner.

Matt Smith sent Sidibeh through on goal in 53 minutes, but the danger was cleared.

Motherwell should have pulled a goal back in 57 minutes when Bair, Miller and Shane Blaney all had efforts blocked from close range.

A terrific move in 62 minutes ended with Spittal's driven shot deflected past the right post for a corner, with Mitov saving well from Miller's header.

Bair set up Spittal on the right side of the box 60 seconds later, but his shot smacked off the left post and back out.

Gent nearly caught Mitov out with an audacious lob from the left touchline in 67 minutes, but the Saints keeper clawed it over the bar.

Drey Wright sent a shot over the bar in 82 minutes as Saints tried to turn the screw.

Bair crossed for sub Ebiye Moses, but the ball was just too far ahead of his diving header two minutes into stoppage time.

Sub Ebiye pulled a goal back in the last minute.

MOTHERWELL: Kelly, Mugabi (Butcher, 64), McGinn, Blaney, Gent, Zdravkovski (L. Ross, 77), Miller (Ebiye, 64), Paton (Vale, 46), Spittal, Nicholson (Ferrie, 77), Bair.

Subs (not used): Oxborough (GK), O'Donnell, Casey, Devine.

ST JOHNSTONE: Mitov, Wright, McGowan, Gordon, Keltjens, Phillips, MacPherson, Carey, Clark (Considine, 64), M. Smith (May, 90+2), Sidibeh (Kimpioka, 74).

Subs (not used): Richards (GK), Jaiyesimi, Kucheriavyi, Olufunwa, Franczak, C. Smith.

Booked: Keltjens (52)

Referee: Colin Steven.

Attendance: 5571.

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