Buddies held by Well

MOTHERWELL were denied by the post as they delivered a muchimproved performance in a goalless Premiership clash with St Mirren in Paisley last night.

Devante Cole saw his flick hit the inside of the post as Motherwell pushed for a winner in the final half hour.

Graham Alexander’s side moved five points off the bottom two with a far more competitive performance after conceding seven goals in their previous two matches.

Jon Obika threatened for St Mirren after an uneventful first half but Motherwell edged the pressure.

The draw puts St Mirren two points ahead of Dundee United in the race for a top-six spot with three games to the split.

Motherwell had Stephen O’Donnell back from suspension and Allan Campbell shook off an illness, while Steven Lawless returned to the bench as their absentee list fell to 12 following Saturday’s 3-0 defeat by St Johnstone. Jordan Roberts was handed a start in their threepronged forward line.

St Mirren sprung a surprise by bringing Jamie McGrath and Jake DoyleHayes back from injury.

Motherwell only had one shot at goal in a onesided game against the Perth Saints and they quickly produced the intensity and commitment manager Alexander demanded in response.

Motherwell’s pressing gave them several chances to shoot from distance with Barry Maguire coming closest in the first half.

Alexander was booked for a comment after one of several decisions by referee Kevin Clancy that mystified both benches.

The hosts took less than 60 seconds of the second half to eclipse any first-half action as Ilkay Durmus got down the outside and delivered a low cross which Obika swept towards the bottom corner but Kelly got down well to stop.

Motherwell continued to push forward with some off-target longrange strikes before they came closest to scoring with 15 minutes left.

Cole got the slightest of flicks on to Roberts’ deflected, inswinging corner and the ball bounced off the inside of the post and into Alnwick’s arms.