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“We did enough to win, and that’s with only one day of training with us.

“We kept trying to win. That’s a good mentality to have.”

Motherwell boss Graham Alexander reacts to Motherwell’s 1-1 draw at St Mirren.

Motherwell started life under Graham Alexander with a point away to St Mirren.

Devante Cole’s first-half goal was cancelled out by Jamie McGrath’s penalty in the second to ensure a 1-1 draw.

Motherwell started lively in attack, with players being positive with the ball at feet and running at the home defence.

Jamie McGrath and Marcus Fraser fired wide in forays forward for the hosts but it would be the visitors who would have the best of the early chances.

Watt should have had Motherwell ahead on 22 minutes. A perfectly floated ball from deep by Polworth was into the path of the onrushing forward. From 10 yards, he had time to adjust for the header but failed to generate enough power to steer it past Alnwick.

Watt then turned creator soon after. A clipped ball in-field from the right was picked up by Cole 25 yards out. He drove into the space, before dragging his shot from the edge of the box just past the left-hand post.

The breakthrough would eventually come in the 27th minute.

The impressive Polworth sent in a corner from the left which was half-cleared into the Paisley sky.

As the ball came out of orbit, Watt positioned himself to head back across goal and Cole was on the spot to sweep through the crowd of bodies and into the net.

Motherwell continued positively, with the Saints restricted to long balls in behind and set plays which were causing trouble, but got the Steelmen in ahead at the interval.

A balanced start to the second half saw Saints have half chances, with Ethan Erhahon going closest before the hour mark with a shot dragged wide of the left post.

Motherwell were being pinned deeper and were made to suffer when St Mirren got a penalty, with Erwin going down in the box.

McGrath rolled the ball into the bottom left corner to equalise, sending Kelly the wrong way.

But the Steelmen could have stole it at the death. Mark O’Hara’s free-kick from 30 yards was bound for the top left corner, only for ‘keeper Alnwick to get across brilliantly and steer it wide.

Motherwell: Kelly, O’Donnell, Mugabi, Gallagher, Carroll, O’Hara, Campbell, Polworth, Hastie (White), Cole (Maguire), Watt.

Subs not used: Morrison, Devine, Cornelius, Crawford, Seedorf, Grimshaw, McGinley.

“Hopefully the changes we make over the next few weeks will find that missing ingredient. There’s a lot of talent there.”

Graham Alexander looks ahead to his first game in charge of Motherwell, away to St Mirren on Saturday.

Our Premiership match with Dundee United on Wednesday 3 February will now kick-off at 6pm.

The game at Fir Park was originally due to start at 7.45pm.

Graham Alexander is the new manager of Motherwell Football Club.

Graham becomes the 25th man to lead the club, succeeding Stephen Robinson.

A former Scotland international and captain of both Preston North End and Burnley, the 49-year-old arrives with 363 games of managerial experience at Fleetwood Town, Scunthorpe United and Salford City.

He will be joined by his long-term assistant Chris Lucketti, himself a former captain of Huddersfield Town who made over 600 career appearances, who will work alongside current assistant Keith Lasley.

“I am delighted to have been handed this role at a great club,” said the new Motherwell manager.

“People will get to understand the hard work I put in, along with my staff and players. I have always brought that to every club, as a player and a manager.

“It’s something different. It is something I am really excited about. I have been a manager now for seven to eight years, and had success with the three clubs I’ve been at. But this is out of my comfort zone. I’m someone who is up for a challenge, and I will get that here.

“I spoke to Stephen Robinson, as we played together at Preston. He said nothing but good things. That together with what I heard from the board meant it was a challenge I wanted to take on.

“The obvious first objective is to win on Saturday. This is a team which is underperforming but there is talent there. We are in a month where we can also make additions, but there is no way I see this current group should be where they are.

“I believe in producing young talent and I’ve always given chances. The board have made clear what they see as success for Motherwell, and I want to exceed those expectations.

“I’ve seen if you work hard enough, you can achieve whatever you want. But the work has to go in. And that not only comes from me, it comes from the whole group. My role is a manager is to get that working straight away.”

Graham started his playing career with Scunthorpe United, moving onto Luton Town, Preston North End and Burnley, before ending with a final season with Preston.

The 863 league appearances he made across a 24-year career ranks him fourth in the all-time list of games played by footballers in England.

Although born in England, his long-held international commitment was to Scotland through his father. His call would come in 2002 in a friendly against Nigeria at the age of 30, kicking off a Scotland career which would bring 40 caps.

Having had a brief spell as caretaker at Preston North End in 2011/12, his first permanent managerial appointment would come at Fleetwood Town in December 2012. A near-three year spell saw him lead the club up from League Two through the play-offs.

A return to his first club Scunthorpe United would follow in March 2016, spending two years at Glanford Park and leading them to the League One play-off final, where they would lose to Millwall.

The call from ambitious National League side Salford City came in May 2018, winning promotion to the Football League through the play-offs. The curtailment of the 2019/20 campaign due to the Covid-19 outbreak would end back-to-back promotion hopes, and also halt an appearance in the final of the EFL Trophy.

“We are delighted to have chosen Graham to be our next manager,” Motherwell chairman Jim McMahon said of the appointment.

“The calibre of candidates for the role was high, as were the qualities shown by those we interviewed.

“Graham has demonstated to us he is the man to take us forward. He fits the profile of what we expect a Motherwell manager to be.

“He is dynamic. He is hungry. He will lead from the front and shares in our belief of developing talent. He also has a track record of success, leading clubs to promotions and cup finals.”

Tony Watt is the Motherwell FC Paycare player of the month for December.

The forward continued his form and all-round combative play up top for the Steelmen, netting in the 1-1 draw at Dundee United.

Watt was also the winner of the October and November awards.

Liam Kelly has joined on loan from Queen’s Park Rangers.

The goalkeeper signs up for the remainder of the 2020/21 campaign, providing further competition for the number one jersey.

Kelly, 24, moved to the English Championship in June 2019, featuring 22 times for the Rs.

Previously, the Scotland call-up was with Livingston, impressing over two spells following his move from Glasgow Rangers.

“I’m grateful for the opportunity Motherwell have offered me,” said the goalkeeper.

“My objective is to play games. I know there’s strong competition here and I will have to earn my place.

“I’m ready and available when called upon. We’ve got a good squad and need to start picking up results.”

Kelly will wear the number 13 jersey vacated by Jordan Archer.

“Liam will strengthen our options in the goalkeeping department, with Jordan Archer having left us,” interim manager Keith Lasley said.

“He has already proven his ability at this level, playing a big part in Livingston’s success and also earning the recognition of an international call-up.”

You can watch St Mirren v Motherwell on Saturday wherever you are in the world.

If you’re in the UK or Republic of Ireland, a live stream of the game will be available to buy on a pay-per-view basis from St Mirren for £12.50.

International-based supporters can watch via their usual subscription at live.motherwellfc.co.uk.

Kick-off at St Mirren Park on Saturday is at 3pm GMT.