Jason Kerr got the last-gasp winner for St Johnstone Kerr injects late life into dour affair at Fir Park
AS A spectacle, this was just about as alluring as watching someone slurping his soup.
The fare on offer was more turnthe-air-blue than cordon bleu, but those of a St Johnstone persuasion were not complaining as Jason Kerr’s injury-time header ended their run of four successive defeats and soothed some of the wounds inflicted by the 6-0 thumping by Celtic in their last league outing.
For Motherwell, meanwhile, their wretched record in their own backyard this season continued. They are still seeking a league win at Fir Park while the Saints have now won on five of their last six visits to this neck of the woods.
The hosts had their chances but the lack of a clinical edge and confidence conspired to create another headshaking afternoon.
“As the game gets nearer 90 minutes you can see fear creeping in and people need to stand up and be counted,” said the Motherwell manager, Stephen Robinson.
“It was a frustrating one. For 60 minutes we played well and created chances.
“But after this you can either do two things; feel sorry for yourself or dig in, grit your teeth and show your character. We had a good home record last season but players are underperforming who were overperforming last year.”
Despite the lack of home comforts this season, Motherwell didn’t roll out the welcome mat for their guests and tried to force the issue in the early skirmishes.
Curtis Main had a header from distance, Allan Campbell had a speculative curler tipped over by Zander Clark before the St Johnstone custodian watched an effort from the bonce of Andy Rose dunt the post.
In between these Motherwell salvos, Tony Watt barged his way into the box and unleashed a powerful strike on the angle that had Trevor Carson taking evasive action at his near post.
From this initial flurry of activity, the game withered into a largely turgid affair and a couple of injuryinduced substitutions for both sides highlighted the physical rough and tumble of the match.
Chris Cadden tried to illuminate proceedings as half-time loomed with a nice touch which opened up a fine opportunity but his composure was lacking as he clattered his shot over the bar.
Cadden’s colleague Main followed suit not long after the resumption: having taken the ball down neatly and set himself up for a pop, his shot flew over the bar amid groans and grumbles from those peering on.
The huffing and puffing continued as the match meandered on but St Johnstone upped the ante late on as Drey Wright forced Carson into a sprawling save before Murray Davidson’s deflected effort spun just wide.
Things were getting jittery in the home ranks and St Johnstone delivered the decisive blow in stoppage time as Kerr rose to nod in from the corner and spark jubilant scenes and a rapid evacuation of the harrumphing Motherwell fans.
“I didn’t need to challenge the players because I knew we would get a reaction and that they would step up,” said St Johnstone manager Tommy Wright as he reflected on that Celtic calamity. “After the run we’d been on, even if we’d drawn today it would have been a massive point for us. But to take all three is tremendous.”