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Motherwell lost a last-minute winner as St Johnstone took all three points in a 1-0 win at Fir Park.

Jason Kerr’s header in injury time consigned the Steelmen to defeat, as the game looked to be heading to a stalemate.

Peter Hartley, Andy Rose and Charles Dunne spoke after the 1-0 defeat to St Johnstone.

The Steelmen lost out in the final minute at the hands of the Saints, with Jason Kerr netting a late, late header.

Stephen Robinson has called on his side to “stand up and be counted”, after going down late to St Johnstone.

Motherwell created plenty chances but failed to convert, before being hit in the final minute to lose all three points.

It was another frustrating and disappointing afternoon for Motherwell as they looked be settling for another point after a hard fought draw with St Johnstone.

The return of Charles Dunne steadied the Fir Park defence, and the equally solid Saints rearguard meant the game felt like a no scoring draw.

But that changed in injury time when Jason Kerr headed home to give Saints three points and leave the Fir Park players and fans gutted.

The Steelmen had plenty of possession but created only a few chances, largely through David Turnbull, who was very composed and impressive on his first start of the season. Overall, though, both ‘keepers were well protected and had a very quiet afternoon.

Still chasing their first home league win of the season, Stephen Robinson made three changes. Dunne back from injury formed a solid back three, with Aaron Taylor-Sinclair playing at left wing back. Without the suspended Carl McHugh, Turnbull was rewarded for his influential performance in the Colts’ win over Sligo Rovers last week.

It took Taylor-Sinclair only five minutes to make his first contribution, a curling left foot cross which found Curtis Main between two defenders but he could only steer his header wide of goal.

Trevor Carson made the first save after 13 minutes, when Tony Watt got beyond Tom Aldred but his angled shot was comfortably blocked by the ‘Well ‘keeper at his near post.

A minute later Zander Clark stretched at his back post to touch a terrific curling effort from Main beyond his post, as Motherwell began to exert some pressure on the visitor’s goal.

The Saints’ ‘keeper was more fortunate in the 16th minute. Charged with the delivery of dead balls, Turnbull curled a long free kick to beyond the six yard box where Andy Rose powered a header which thumped off the crossbar.

A hefty challenge limited Taylor-Sinclair’s involvement to 22 minutes when he was replaced by Richard Tait.

For all their possession especially around the Saints’ penalty area, the ‘Well players were reluctant to shoot from distance until Turnbull teed up Alan Campbell, but his well struck shot from 22 yards flew just over the crossbar.

With both teams unable to create clear cut chances neither ‘keeper was really tested in the first half.

Then in injury time, Chris Cadden brilliantly cut in from the right but with a great chance to test Clark he sliced his shot wide of goal.

The Steelmen aimed to improve on that from the start of the second half and from Tait’s lay-off Campbell had another crack at goal, but his effort was blocked by a packed penalty area.

Three minutes into the half, ‘Well produced their best chance of the match.

Turnbull showed great determination to win the ball in the middle of the park and his lofted pass was perfect for Main.

But after taking a great first touch the former Portsmouth striker blasted his shot over the bar with Clark’s goal at his mercy.

Undaunted by that miss, Main tried his luck from the other side of the box but his low left foot effort took a deflection to carry the ball just beyond the post.

After an hour trying to get in behind the well organised Saints’ rearguard, Elliott Frear was then given 30 minutes to create some space on the left. This was shortly followed by ‘Well’s last substitution and attempt to produce a winner, when Danny Johnson came on for the tireless Main.

Keen to make an impact, Johnson turned on Tait’s pass but from 20 yards he pulled his left foot effort wide of goal.

There was scarcely any activity around the home goal until 10 minutes from time, when Chris Kane’s swerving shot was sneaking inside the pos,t until Carson at full stretch threw himself low to his left and palm the ball behind.

Saints sensed a winner might be on the cards and pushed forward forcing a series of corners.

From the last one in injury time, Liam Craig picked out Kerr in a packed six yard box and his header flashed past Carson for the winner.

‘Well produced one last attempt to take a point but from Tait’s cross, Aldred’s header was taken by Clark under his crossbar as Saints held on for three points.

Motherwell host St Johnstone at Fir Park on Saturday, as they look to return to winning ways after time off for the international break.

Here’s everything you need to know ahead of the match.

Past encounters

The two sides faced on four occasions in the 2017/18 campaign, but this is their first encounter in 2018/19.

St Johnstone won two of the game last season, running out 4-1 winners at McDiarmid Park and also picking up a 5-1 victory at Fir Park in the weeks leading up to the Scottish Cup final.

Motherwell picked up a 2-0 win at home in February, while also picking up a 0-0 draw in Perth.

Ticket information

Motherwell fans can get their tickets before turning up at the Fir Park through our ticketing website.

Adult tickets start at just £20, concessions £16 and kids aged under 15 get into all stands for £3.

St Johnstone supporters will be situated in the Phil O’Donnell main stand and can pay at the gate.

If you’re based outside of the UK/Ireland, the game is available via our streaming subscribers at tv.motherwellfc.co.uk.

Pre-match

Our Cooper Bar is open from 11am in the Davie Cooper stand, offering food and drinks to supporters of both teams.

Team news

Liam Donnelly is an injury doubt with a groin strain sustained on international duty. Alex Rodriguez Gorrín is injured, while Carl McHugh is serving a one-match suspension following his red card against Livingston. Craig Tanner and Charles Dunne remain on the sidelines.

Liam Donnelly believes Motherwell maintaining their current performance levels will lead to better results in the coming weeks.

The Northern Irishman is on a high after captaining his country’s Under 21 team to second in their European Qualifying group and is gunning for St Johnstone this weekend.

Motherwell return to league action on Saturday as St Johnstone travel to Fir Park.

The Steelmen picked up a battling draw in their last Ladbrokes Premiership match before the international break, and are looking to build on that performance by claiming a win over the Saints.

You can buy your tickets online right now from our ticket website. You can then pick up your ticket at the ground or, even better, print yours at home and bring it along to the stadium.

Alternatively, you can pay at the gate. Our cheapest ticket for this Saturday’s game is just £20 for adults. Children aged 15 and under can get in to the stadium for just £3 in every stand.

St Johnstone fans will be seated in our Phil O’Donnell main stand.

Our prices are as follows:

Phil O’Donnell stand

Our main stand at Fir Park, raised above pitch level to give the best sideline views of the park in the stadium.

John Hunter stand

Directly across from our main stand, the John Hunter stand has a lively, boisterous atmosphere and is also the home of the ‘Well Bois, our singing section at the stadium.

Davie Cooper stand

Our family stand, situated behind one of the goals at Fir Park. This stand provides a friendly and more calm atmosphere to watch the game from, with activities for youngsters to enjoy as well as the match.

Motherwell return to domestic action on Saturday as St Johnstone arrive at Fir Park. 

The encounter will see two sides go head to head in a bid to return to winning ways in the Ladbrokes Premiership.

Here’s some key things you need to know about Tommy Wright’s side.

Top six stint

Last season’s eighth placed finish was the first time the Perthshire side finished outside the top six since 2011.

And it goes to show the impressive run the club have been on since Tommy Wright took charge five years ago.

After eight games so far this term, St Johnstone sit in eighth spot, three points ahead of Motherwell in tenth.

Losing run

Saturday’s opponents know the importance of three points, having gone four league games without a win.

A heavy 6-0 defeat at the hands of Celtic two weeks ago rounded off a hugely difficult spell, however, having gone up against Brendan Rodgers’ side twice, as well as Aberdeen, Rangers and table toppers Hearts.

Consistent personnel

You just have to glance at St Johnstone’s squad to see how consistent it has been for a number of years.

When Wright took charge back in 2013, he had a number of players at his disposal that he can still call on today.

Steven Anderson, David Wotherspoon, Murray Davidson, Brian Easton, Chris Kane and Zander Clark are the standout names.

Motherwell’s matchday magazine is back on sale on Saturday ahead of the Ladbrokes Premiership match with St Johnstone.

BBC Sport Scotland’s Scott Mullen caught up with striker Curtis Main for the feature interview in this week’s 68-page edition.

The former Middlesbrough and Portsmouth man talks about the challenges he faced as a young footballer and his hopes and aims in claret and amber.

Motherwell’s number nine is also in the centre page Match Attax souvenir poster collection.

But that’s not where the features stop.

We also catch up with former Saints striker and ‘Well under 20s boss Jonatan Johansson. The Finn has recently took over at Championship side Morton and reflects on his stint at Fir Park, as well as his aspirations as the new ‘Ton gaffer.

The last of the big interviews is with St Johnstone ‘keeper Zander Clark, who gives a detailed insight from a Saints point of view. There is also an in-depth section dedicated to our visitors, including a statistical breakdown and the three to watch in blue.

The Hampden Roar Podcast also catch up with former Scotland and ‘Well boss Craig Brown, who looks back on his time in the national team hotseat.

TheTwoPointOne return with their regular column, this edition assessing the tactical diversity of the Premiership clubs, while we also hear from local boxer Scott Allan.

The Evening Times’ Graeme McGarry also returns with his Last Word feature, reminiscing about some of the classic kits from yesteryear.

The programme is available for £3 and will be on sale from the club shop, as well as the usual sellers located in and around the ground, before the match.

You can also order back editions or take a season-long subscription to the magazine by visiting the website of our publishers Curtis Sports.

It’s the return of the Ladbrokes Premiership this weekend as Motherwell host St Johnstone at Fir Park.

Here’s the game previewed in numbers.

Three

Motherwell have started their last three games emphatically, taking the lead against Hearts, Kilmarnock and Livingston.

Manager Stephen Robinson has emphasised the need, understandably, to try and retain those leads. A run of defeats was arrested in the last home outing against Livi, earning a draw against the high-flying side.

Four

The number of goals netted by the Steelmen in their last three games.

The return of Ryan Bowman has helped, with the striker netting two. His renewed partnership with Curtis Main has also seen him grab the others.

Five

The number of games St Johnstone have gone without a victory.

A draw with Aberdeen on September 15 has been followed by two defeats to Celtic, as well as losses to Hearts and Rangers. They’ve scored two and conceded 14.

142

Motherwell and St Johnstone have faced each other 142 times competitively, with Saturday’s hosts having the upper hand in terms of wins.

The Steelmen have prevailed 63 times, with the Saints winning 42. There have been 37 draws.

Across that time, Motherwell have scored 254 goals, conceding 191.