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Motherwell made it a record-equalling night as they claimed a win and a 19th clean sheet of the season in a 1-0 win at Partick Thistle.

Ryan Bowman’s headed goal in the second half also made him the Steelmen’s top scorer in the 2017/18 season.

The first half passed relatively without incident, but Trevor Carson was called into action on a number of occasions.

With just eight minutes gone, the Northern Ireland international had to be alert to keep out Ryan Edwards’ header from Kris Doolan’s cross.

Just after the half hour mark, Carson was called upon again. Woods’ effort from outside the area was beaten away by the goalkeeper, with Charles Dunne then on hand to clear before Doolan could pounce.

The half time introduction of Gael Bigirimana and a change in shape sparked the visitors into life.

David Turnbull, making his first start, tied Edwards in knots down the right side of the area to create a chance for Chris Cadden, but his shot was blocked at source.

The youngster then turned creator. Motherwell won a free kick on the right side of the area, which Turnbull stepped up to take.

His perfectly floated delivery sailed towards a number of players in black, but it was Bowman who won the header to open the scoring.

The Steelmen immediately went on the hunt for a second. Curtis Main was next to try his luck, with his delicate chip from just outside the area just dipping over the bar.

With Cédric Kipré off the pitch receiving treatment, Thistle looked to capitalise. Christie Elliott was next to try his luck, with his long-distance effort swerving in the air and Carson coping well to beat it away.

Both sides continued to push forward. Thistle continued to find the odd pocket of space for shots from distance, however, which continued to cause concern.

The hosts then had a glorious chance with 10 to go. Kipré’s slip allowed Miles Storey to drive at goal down the left unmarked. With room to shoot, he aimed with a ferocious effort towards the far post but it fizzed wide.

With five minutes added on, Thistle pushed desperately to get at least a point to help them in their fight against the drop.

Two minutes in, they had their chance. Spittal found himself room with a header 12 yards from goal but he could only place it straight at a grateful Carson.

Allan Campbell is calling for a strong response as Motherwell prepare for the short trip to Glasgow on Tuesday night. 

Partick Thistle are the opposition for the Steelmen’s penultimate game of the 2017/18 campaign.

But following Saturday’s defeat to St Johnstone, the young central midfielder admitted it is time for the players to pick themselves up.

“The boys have got together again and we just need to get ready for the game tomorrow,” the 19-year-old said. “We need to prove to everyone that the result on Saturday was just a freak performance.

“So we’ll pick ourselves up and hope to put smiles on the fans faces again.”

He added: “It was one of those games when it wasn’t like us and it wasn’t good enough. We need to do what we’ve been doing all season and stick to that.

“So we’ll show that togetherness that we have all season and put in a good performance to try and make sure of that seventh place.”

Keith Lasley says the players are well aware of how far they let standards slip at the weekend.

Motherwell return to action just three days later when they travel to face Partick Thistle on Tuesday, presenting the opportunity to immediately bounce back.

“That’s what football gives you, an opportunity to get back out there,” said the assistant manager. “Luckily for us we have another game on Tuesday.

“The good thing about our group is, they were as disappointed as anybody in themselves.

“It’s not often we can say that about them this season. They’ve had 18 clean sheets, they are one or two from setting a record. But they were defensively poor all over the pitch.

“The players are good at taking responsibility. They will. They are hurting but they are desperate to get back out there against Partick Thistle.”

Stephen Robinson bemoaned an uncharacteristically poor defensive showing as ‘Well lost at home to St Johnstone.

The Steelmen have built a solid reputation for a team that is well-organised and difficult to break down.

However, the claret and amber men were disjointed and were picked apart by a Saints side who scored five at Fir Park for the first time.

“That’s the first time I’ve seen us defend like that this season,” Robinson said.

“Every mistake we made throughout the game we were punished. We’ve kept 18 clean sheets this season, but we didn’t look or perform like a team that has 18 clean sheets.

“The only positive I can take from it is that it’s not something that happens all that often. Sure, we’ve turned in poor performances, I think back to the Hamilton game a few months ago, but it’s not often I can be as critical.

“We can work on that though. We lost five goals from five crosses and we need to be, and will be, far, far better than that.”

Motherwell’s attempts to secure seventh place took a dent as St Johnstone put the Steelmen to the sword at Fir Park.

Goal difference keeps Stephen Robinson’s at the summit of the bottom six, but the Saints five goal haul has tightened the gap in the push for seventh.

With a game just around the corner on Tuesday night, Stephen Robinson gave Barry McGuire, Elliot Frear and Nadir Çiftçi a starting place, resting Ricard Tait and Cédric Kipré, with Ryan Bowman dropping to the bench.

In a crazy nine-minute period before half-time, a Steven MacLean double and another from Steven Anderson put Saints in the driving seat.

That scenario looked so unlikely as the Fir Park side controlled the first 30 minutes, with seemingly just a question of time before they opened the scoring.

Curtis Main in particular appeared hungry to add to his haul of eight goals.

The first threat came when Main’s low driven cross from the left was fumbled by Zander Clark on his goal line.

His best chance came after 15 minutes when Liam Grimshaw threaded a great pass into the box but having debated which foot to use Main finally hammered the ball off Joe Shaughnessy from 14 yards.

Cadden was the provider, finding Main from the corner of the box, but the former Portsmouth striker was unable to get the ball out from under his feet and his effort squirmed harmlessly towards Clark.

The pressure mounted on the visitor’s goal and around the half hour mark ‘Well forced three consecutive corners. Despite Cadden curling each of them into the goal mouth, Clark and his defence stood firm.

Within a minute, and in their first real attack, Saints showed them the way to goal.

The Perth men were allowed far too much time to retain possession around the home box before Richard Foster picked out the unmarked MacLean, who buried his header into the corner of the net and beyond Trevor Carson.

Four minutes later, Saints doubled their lead. The home defence failed to deal with George Williams free kick into the box and after Carson clawed away Murray Davidson’s effort, Anderson took advantage of a static defence to ram the loose ball high over the ‘keeper.

Before the 40th minute, Saints were 3-0 up. Matty Willock got in behind and his pass across the face of the goal found the unchallenged MacLean sliding in to force the ball home.

Not surprisingly, the ‘Well boss made two changes at half-time, bringing on Bigirimana and Bowman and withdrawing Grimshaw and McHugh.

That bold move might have been rewarded with a fightback, especially when ‘Well were unlucky not to pull a goal back within five minutes of the restart.

Bigirimana’s measured free kick from 30 yards had Clark scrambling to palm the ball round the post. Frear’s corner found Çiftçi four yards from goal and his stabbed shot was destined for the net until it smacked off the face of the unsuspecting ‘keeper and back into play.

However, any thoughts of a fightback were killed off when MacLean toe poked Davidson’s trundling shot beyond Carson to claim a hat-trick and ensure all three points were heading back to Perth.

Thirteen minutes from time, ‘Well managed to reduce the leeway. Main set up Bowman and when his shot rebounded from the crossbar, Bigirimana nipped in to nod the ball home.

Two minutes later, though, Saints substitute David McMillan headed home a terrific Foster cross back across Carson and into the far corner of the net to complete a miserable afternoon for the Fir Park men.

Allan Campbell has been called up for Scotland Under 21’s summer participation in the Toulon Tournament.

The midfielder, who has established himself as a regular member of Scot Gemmill’s side, will come up against France. South Korea and Togo at the competition.

Scotland face Togo on Sunday, 27 May, before taking on the hosts three days later and then South Korea on Saturday, 2 June.

The tournament in the south of France is for players  born on or after 1997.

The Steelmen secure Premiership status, coming from a goal down to beat Dundee 2-1. 

Liam Grimshaw, James Scott and goalscorer Cédric Kipré react to a hard-fought home win against Dundee.

Stephen Robinson reflects on his sides victory over Dundee, which secures Premiership status for the Steelmen.

[tab:Match report]

Phil McGhee at Fir Park

Motherwell tightened their grip on seventh spot after edging out Dundee in a tightly contested affair.

After falling behind to a Genseric Kusunga goal, Ryan Bowman netted an equaliser before Cedric Kipre, with his first goal for the club, grabbed the winner shortly after half-time.

‘Well kicked off in the knowledge that they were mathematically clear of the automatic relegation spot. Stephen Robinson’s men, though, were determined to distance themselves from the dogfight to avoid the play-off spot. With Dundee still among that pack a tough ninety minutes was anticipated from a side which hadn’t lost at Fir park since 2015.

The ‘Well line-up had that familiar look and shape about it. Curtis Main, with a splint to protect his left wrist, was able to lead the line alongside Bowman who passed up the first chance of the game. Only Andy Rose was missing from last week’s starting line-up.

After only six minutes Chris Cadden’s cross picked out Bowman in the six yard box. Having directed his header onto the post, the big striker then stooped to meet the rebound only to aim the ball straight at the startled ‘keeper.

Dundee’s response was immediate with Mark O’Hara’s low shot forcing Trevor Carson into an early save.

The Fir Park ‘keeper then produced another couple of saves, standing firm to repel Simon Murray’s thumping drive, before turning Steven Caulker’s header over the bar.

The ‘Well defence struggled to match the physical presence of the former Liverpool man and paid the price after 24 minutes. He climbed highest to direct Paul McGowan’s corner towards a packed goalmouth where Kusunga applied the touch to carry the ball over the line.

That prompted an immediate response from the Steelmen with a bit more urgency about their play. Charles Dunne failed to get enough purchase on Cadden’s first corner. But from the second the full back powered his header towards goal with Bowman steering it high into the net to level the scores.

A few minutes later Alan Campbell won the ball in the middle of the visitor’s half providing Curtis Main with the chance to hit a ferocious 25 yard drive which Elliot Parish was happy to parry wide.

For the remainder of the half the the action switched from end to end with neither team dominating, although ‘Well were dealt a blow five minutes from the break when Bowman limped off and replaced with 17-year old James Scott.

The start of the second half was delayed for five minutes while Dundee scorer Kusunga received treatment on the pitch before being stretchered off. When the game finally got underway it was the home side that looked more fired up – taking the lead within five minutes.

In a well-worked free kick Cadden exchanged passes with Main before curling a tempting ball to the back post where Kipre gladly accepted, powering his header between Parish and his left hand post.

However, with the Dens Park side desperate to take something from the game Carson was still the busier ‘keeper producing two decent stops to deny Kevin Holt and O’Mara.

For the the final ten minutes Carson’s goal was under siege from a succession of corners and crosses. The 913-strong travelling support behind the ’keeper’s goal thought they had snatched a point only to see O’Hara fire over the bar from close range, ending the visitors hopes.