STU LOVES A BIER AT LAST ORDERS
Mika makes it all Well that ends well
Stuart Kettlewell hailed the guts of goalgrabber Mika Biereth after another late show bagged a point for Motherwell.
For the third Saturday running, a stoppage-time goal rescued a draw for the Steelmen. And it was the Arsenal loanee who typified the fighting spirit in a squad struggling for results.
Biereth’s brilliant header was a late sickener for Saints who were prevented from moving above their hosts in the table.
It was a huge goal for underfire Ketts even though failure to win extended the streak to an unlucky 13 without victory.
Biereth showed everyone how much he and his players are behind the boss by battling through the pain barrier.
Kettlewel l said: “Mika could’ve been off the pitch at half time. He was struggling with a twisted ankle.
“I think a lot of players possibly come off the pitch at that stage. I just think for a young guy here on loan from Arsenal, it tells you how much he’s in for the cause.
“Theo Bair’s delivery was fantastic but the finish was exceptional. Fair play to the group.
“We’re still here, we’re still f ighting, we’re still together. Nobody can question the commitment.
“I think they’ve got each other’s back. I think they’ve got my back, I think I’ve got theirs.
“I felt the players deserved something out of the game. When emotions are the way they are, when you’re on the run we’re on, it makes our group feel a heck of a lot better.”
Ch r i s Ka ne a nd
Dial lang Jaiyesimi showed signs of forming a pleasing Perth partnership.
Jaiyesimi caused early problems for St ephen O’Donnell on the edge of the Motherwell box.
After the Charlton loan winger pinched possession, Tony Ga l l a che r t hen Graham Carey were denied by Liam Kelly.
That was typical of Well hesitancy at the back, while Jon Obika’s woefully weak strike straight at Dimitar Mitov confirmed confidence issues at both ends of the pitch.
But you couldn’t fault the desire from the home side in search of the result to turn their season around.
Mitov adjusted to Matt Smith’s deflection of a Georgie Gent drive to gather.
Blair Spittal’s left-foot strike from 18 yards after good work from Callum Slattery kept the Bulgarian keeper busy.
Saints offered little else until first-half stoppage time.
Jaiyesimi wriggled free down the left on the break and
fired over looking for
Kane’s arrival. But the delivery was fierce and, while Kane connected as he hurled himself at the ball, he couldn’t find the target.
Good link play between the Saints front pair did eventually tee up the opener – their first away league goal this season.
Kane was tripped by Bevis Mugabi as he collected from DJ’s knockdown and Smith sized up a delightful delivery from the set piece.
The classy midfielder got it spot on to spook Kel ly, drawing him out of goal to a lost cause. The Scotland cap failed to reach it. As Liam Gordon and Mugabi were left to meet the ball, the Ugandan defender was guilty of the final touch into his own net.
Ket t lewel l revea led skipper Kelly was gutted by his role in conceding the goal.
He said: “Liam’s the first guy to come into the dressing room, as our captain with a wealth of experience and who has been excellent for this club.
“There’s nobody more disappointed than him. He made the wrong call, he knows it, in a situation we had under control. But he’s such an honest guy that he wants to come into areas to help his team-mates.”
With no composure in the back line, Saints stole in again two minutes later.
Kane ran on to Jaiyesimi’s through ball and this time Kelly found a response.
Carey cracked the crossbar with a dipping free-kick on 72 minutes and Saints seemed to be coasting.
But Well saved a point when Bair f ired over a cross and Biereth rose to bullet a header.