Motherwell sustained their top-six hopes after coming from behind to draw level with St. Mirren, but their route to the top half became even more complicated, as the Steelmen sit six-points adrift of Dundee, with two games left to play.
The Steelmen were left fighting for a route back into the game after a disappointing opening spell, with Olutoysi Olusanya punishing a static home defence to give Saints an early opener on the 18th minute.
The hosts worked tirelessly to draw level but it took until the 74th minute for Theo Bair to force home the equaliser and claim his 12th league goal of the season.
Stuart Kettlewell was forced to make one change from the side which lost to Aberdeen over a fortnight ago, with Lennon Miller unable to fully recover from the hamstring injury that forced the midfielder to the sidelines whilst representing Scotland Under 19s. Davor Zdravkovski was rewarded with a place in midfield, as attacking full backs Geordie Gent and Adam Devine also started.
The expectations had been firmly placed on the squad prior to kick-off, with anything other than a victory potentially ending the ‘Well’s hopes of continuing their push for the top-six.
Motherwell started firmly on the front foot, pinning the Saints defence into their own third of the pitch, with the first threat on the visiting goal coming after three minutes when Theo Bair fired across goal from an offside position.
An early let off for the visitors who survived another narrow escape moments later when Gent cut across the box on the left and drilled an inviting delivery across the face of goal, with Saints stopper Zach Hemmings pushing the defenders delivery onto the post. Striker Bair looked destined to prod home the rebound, but the Canadian’s attempt ricocheted through numerous black and white jerseys before falling wide of the target.
After 14 minutes, though, ‘Well were fortunate not to concede the opening goal.
A VAR check cleared Bair of handball but the forwards clumsy challenge at the edge of the box presented Saints with a free kick in a dangerous position.
Ryan Strain’s curled effort rebounded from the face of the crossbar and when former Motherwell striker Mikael Mandron overcame the home defence to meet the rebound, his header from eight yards met the same fate.
Motherwell’s fortunes only lasted another three minutes until the Buddies made the breakthrough.
Greg Kiltie’s corner floated across the six-yard box and with no takers in claret and amber, Olusanya gladly accepted a free header to bullet the ball past Liam Kelly.
An unsettling moment in the game that frustrated the home side, with a spell of nervous and inconsistent play, highlighted with numerous misplaced passes and unassured decision making.
By comparison the Paisley side looked comfortable in possession and more than likely to extend their lead.
Ten minutes from half-time, the most productive Motherwell move came once again on the left, as Gent powered his way into the box before cutting the ball back to Bair. When his initial effort was blocked, Halliday’s strike on goal was deflected over the bar.
In an improved end to the first half for the Steelmen who conjured up one more chance. Gent whipped in a free kick from the left and the Buddies clearance fell kindly to Zdravkovski who was perfectly placed at the edge of the box, but the midfielder cold only to drill his shot a couple of yards wide of goal .
Aware of the fact that Saints blew a two goal lead at Rugby Park a fortnight ago, ‘Well fans hoped for a similar outcome in the second half.
A blocked shot from O’Donnell and Bair’s header wide in the first few minutes heightened expectations of a fightback.
In the latter stages of the game, ‘Well netted the equaliser.
Jack Vale floated his cross beyond the six-yard box and O’Donnell’s measured header back across the face of the goal found Bair who bundled the ball over the line to set up a thrilling final 15 minutes.
However, similar to the last time the teams met in Paisley, they had to settle for a point each.
