Motherwell’s hopes of extending their fabulous unbeaten run to 11 games were ended as a rather fortunate St Mirren took all three points back to Paisley.
In a battle for second place, Stephen Robinson’s men survived a first half which the Fir Park dominated in terms of chances, before snatching the lead through Scott Tanser nine minutes after the interval.
Despite the Steelmen producing the bulk of the chances, they couldn’t find the killer touch in front of goal that would have earned them a point their efforts richly deserved.
Following some injury concerns to key players Stuart Kettlewell made only one change from the side which won at Tynecastle a fortnight ago, Shane Blaney replacing the suspended Paul McGinn.
With both sides boasting an unbeaten league record a tight contest was envisaged.
The Fir Park set the tone for the first half closing down Saints and pressing them deep into their own half.
And with Theo Bair warming to his role as target man, the Canadian’s touches released Blair Spittal and Callum Slattery on either channel.
Repeatedly the pair got in behind the Paisley side’s back three and a better final ball would have punished the visitors.
After 15 minutes Slattery’s deep cross was headed back by Spittal for the waiting Harry Paton but his firm strike on goal was blocked by Marcus Fraser with loud appeals for handball.
That move was repeated a couple of minutes later when Bair released Slattery on the right and his high cross found Spittal but from a tight angle he could only direct the ball straight at the Zach Hemmings.
A quick exchange at the edge of the box ended with Paton being blocked by Fraser. Spittal’s free kick was powerful but again straight at the waiting ‘keeper.
The ‘Well midfielder had another chance to test Hemmings following a fine pass from Lennon Miller but the Saints’ ‘keeper was well positioned too comfortably hold Spittal’s curing shot.
At this stage Liam Kelly was largely deployed as an additional defender sending searching passes deep into the visitors’ half.
The ‘Well ‘keeper was untroubled when Saints only chance of the half arrived after 30 minutes when his former team mate Mark O’Hara curled the ball high over the bar from 25 yards.
‘Well’s best chance came a minute later. A surging run from Stephen O’Donnell allowed Miller to thread a ball into Bair’s path. After advancing towards goal the striker dragged the ball beyond the advancing ‘keeper and a few inches beyond his far post.
There was still time before the interval for Bair to find Slattery who cut inside before presenting Spittal with a shooting opportunity only for his drive to be blocked.
Within a minute of the restart it was Spittal who was first to test Hemmings from 20 yards but again the Saints’ ‘keeper held firm.
A patient build up after 52 finished with Paton slashing the ball wide of target but ‘Well’s pressure a seemed likely to earn them the opening goal.
When the goal arrived, though, it was at the other end as Saints took the lead largely against the run of play.
Ryann Strain’s deep cross found Tanser lurking at the back of the six-yard area and his first time volley sent the ball racing past Kelly and into the far corner of the net.
That gave the Paisley Buddies in the Tommy McLean stand the chance to get on their feet for the first time.
They were almost silenced in the 63rd minute when Slattery’s curling free kick was sneaking inside Hemming’s left hand post until the ‘keeper at full stretch pushed the ball the behind.
As the Steelmen pushed for the equaliser Saints had chances to double their lead.
But it was the home side and Bair who passed up two chances to level. Firstly, the striker’s turn and shot from 15 yards was deflected behind. From the resultant corner Dan Casey nodded the ball down but Bair, from three yards out, could only nudge the ball to Hemmings.
That was his last opportunity as he was replaced by Oli Shaw after 78 minutes.
And within a minute the former Ross County man had an ideal chance to make it a dream home debut. But after Paton’s pass found him unmarked on the left of the penalty area, Shaw tamely side footed the ball to the waiting Hemmings.
Georgie Gent came on for his debut and his first contribution was whipping in a cross from the left which Shaw met but could only guide his header high towards goal allowing the ‘keeper to make yet another routine save.
In the final minute of regulation time, the on loan Blackburn Rover’s youngster was within inches of making it a dream debut.
His inswinging corner was only cleared as far as Paton. And when he lofted the ball back into the box it gave Gent an opening, only to watch his stunning left foot drive rebound from the underside of the crossbar and keep the Saints’ goal intact and leave the Paisley side with three points they scarcely deserved.
