| 3 | Rangers | 12 | 7 | 2 | 3 | 8 | 23 |
| 4 | Dundee United | 13 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 20 |
| 5 | Motherwell | 12 | 6 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 19 |
| 6 | St Mirren | 14 | 5 | 3 | 6 | -4 | 18 |
| 7 | Dundee | 13 | 4 | 3 | 6 | -3 | 15 |
Stephen Robinson said his side’s battling performance was well rewarded with victory at St Johnstone.
The Steelmen’s first victory in Perth in six years ended the Saints’ eight-game unbeaten run, with Tom Aldred and Danny Johnson on target and Mark Gillespie saving a penalty.
Motherwell produced a solid performance on the road to win 2-1 against St Johnstone at McDiarmid Park.
Goals from Tom Aldred and Danny Johnson marked the Steelmen’s first win on the Saints home turf in six years, and it was a resolute performance from start to finish for Stephen Robinson’s men.
The ‘Well boss made two changes from the narrow 1-0 defeat against Hearts last weekend, recalling Allan Campbell to the middle of the park and Christian Mbulu to the right hand side of a back three as Andy Rose and Alex Rodriguez-Gorrin dropped out of the starting eleven.
And before Tommy Wright’s side could settle in to the game in Perth, ‘Well found themselves a goal up after just two minutes.
David Turnbull’s corner was turned home by the arriving Aldred at the back post before Robinson’s side went on to dominate the opening stages of the match.
And soon enough, it was two. Turnbull was again involved, but his scuffed effort on goal was dealt a slice of luck when it fell kindly for the lurking Johnson.
Despite being faced with the lunging presence of Zander Clark, the striker kept his nerve and produced a deft finish to lift the ball high and beyond the Saints stopper to double the lead and bag his sixth league goal of the season.
Momentum swung in favour of the hosts for the latter stages of the first half, but they couldn’t produce the quality required to get the better of a solid Motherwell back line.
However, a brief lapse from Charles Dunne resulted in a penalty for a handball, and a golden opportunity was presented to the Perthshire side to halve the deficit.
Fresh off the back of his penalty saving heroics against Celtic though, Mark Gillespie stepped up and produced a terrific save to turn the ball round the post.
The second half started similarly to the first, with the Lanarkshire outfit controlling the match but unlike the first 45, they couldn’t convert.
Johnson was unfortunate to see a blatant shirt pull deny him a free header home midway through the second period, and it was equally unfortunate that referee Alan Muir didn’t point to the spot.
A late header from Jason Kerr pulled a consolation back for the hosts, but Robinson’s men showed their steel to hold on for all three points at a ground which proved hard to conquer in recent years.
Stephen Robinson says winning the “battle” against St Johnstone is part of the key to getting back to winning ways in Perth.
The Steelmen take on a Saints side unbeaten in their last eight matches, as they look to equal a club record of games without loss.
Curtis Main expects St Johnstone to prove difficult opponents for Motherwell this weekend, as the Steelmen look to end the Saints’ eight-game unbeaten run.
Tommy Wright’s side are looking to equal their club record for games undefeated in the top flight, while the ‘Well are looking to bounce back from their narrow loss at Hearts.
Motherwell travel to take on St Johnstone in the Ladbrokes Premiership on Saturday.
Here’s everything you need to know ahead of the match.
The two sides have met once in the 2018/19 season. A 0-0 draw at Fir Park seemed certain, before Jason Kerr popped up two minutes into stoppage time to start a run of eight games without defeat.
Peter Hartley and Aaron Taylor-Sinclair are available. Liam Donnelly, Chris Cadden, Trevor Carson and Craig Tanner remain on the sidelines.
St Johnstone welcome back Danny Swanson and Steven Anderson from injury. Drey Wright, Conor Mitchell and Brian Easton remain out.
A pay gate will be in operation at McDiarmid Park on the day. Prices are as follows.
| Adult | £23 |
| Over 65s | £13 |
| 17-18 year olds | £12 |
| 13- 16 year olds | £9 |
Children aged 12 or under get in for free, but must be accompanied by an adult. An adult can take a maximum of two children free of charge.
A family gate will also be in operation at a reduced cost of £16, which covers one adult and a maximum of two children aged 12 or under. Spectators taking this deal should enter through gate five.
Wheelchair and ambulant tickets are priced at £14 for adults, £6 for concessions. Personal assistants go free of charge.
Fans who require ambulant or wheelchair access should contact Andy Sim on 07428 225254 or email tickets@mfcdsa.com.
Vehicular access to our car park for visiting supporters is via the new gate to the north of the stadium. Follow “Football Stadium’ signs on A9 north via Broxden/Inveralmond roundabouts and take the off slip on the southbound A9.
Parking for buses/minibuses/coaches is free of charge. All other vehicles will cost £5.
Pedestrian access is via the old gates on the A85 Crieff Road as before. Pedestrian access is not permitted via the new north gate.
After the game, Motherwell supporters’ vehicles will be directed out of the brand new south west egress gate, providing direct and easy access onto the A9 south bound.
Motherwell head to Perth on Saturday seeking a first win at McDiarmid Park since 2012.
Here’s the game previewed in numbers.
The number of consecutive games St Johnstone have currently gone unbeaten, a run which started with a late, late 1-o win over Motherwell in October.
Wins over St Mirren, Livingston, Hibernian, Hamilton and Aberdeen followed, as well as draws with Hearts and Kilmarnock.
From those eight games they’ve kept a remarkable seven clean sheets, conceding only to Hearts.
It’s been 10 games since Motherwell last recorded a win in Perth, which came courtesy of a 3-1 win in November 2012.
Jamie Murphy grabbed a first half double in that victory, with Nicky Law adding the third before David Robertson’s late consolation.
The Saints have won seven at home since then, with two draws. The last game at McDiarmid Park ended 0-0 towards the end of the 2017/18 campaign.
Thirteen points currently separate the two sides in the Ladbrokes Premiership table, with both having played 16 matches.
St Johnstone sit in fifth spot have won eight, drawn four and lost four so far and have an equal goal difference, having both scored and conceded 20 goals.
Motherwell are currently ninth, winning four, drawing three and losing nine so far.
Motherwell make their maiden trip to Perth this season on Saturday, as they take on St Johnstone in the Ladbrokes Premiership.
Here’s an early look ahead to the game.
The two sides played out a tight match at Fir Park back in October, with a 0-0 draw looking certain until Jason Kerr popped up two minutes into stoppage time to nab all three points.
Since then, it sparked the Saints’ fantastic unbeaten run, picking up a further five wins and two draws to go eight games without a defeat, keeping seven clean sheets along the way.
The two teams met four times in 2017/18, with St Johnstone winning two, Motherwell one and one game ending in a draw.
The Saints won the first and final games of the season, with the Steelmen victorious at home in February.
A pay gate will be in operation at McDiarmid Park on the day. Prices are as follows.
| Adult | £23 |
| Over 65s | £13 |
| 17-18 year olds | £12 |
| 13- 16 year olds | £9 |
Children aged 12 or under get in for free, but must be accompanied by an adult. An adult can take a maximum of two children free of charge.
A family gate will also be in operation at a reduced cost of £16, which covers one adult and a maximum of two children aged 12 or under. Spectators taking this deal should enter through gate five.
Wheelchair and ambulant tickets are priced at £14 for adults, £6 for concessions. Personal assistants go free of charge.
Fans who require ambulant or wheelchair access should contact Andy Sim on 07428 225254 or email tickets@mfcdsa.com.
Watch the Story of the Match from Motherwell’s trip to Tynecastle.
The Jambos were searching for a return to winning ways, but the Steelmen travelled to the capital on the back of an impressive showing against Celtic.
Andy Rose has taken the opportunity to join MLS club Vancouver Whitecaps, and will complete his move on 1 January 2019.
The 28-year-old and his family are all permanent residents in the United States and the offer from Major League Soccer gives Rose a chance to return to employment before the expiration of his green card at the start of the new year.
The club reached an understanding in the summer with Andy that, should an offer from MLS come in January, he would be allowed to leave.
The former Seattle Sounders midfielder has spent a memorable 18 months with the Steelmen, making over 50 appearances in claret and amber and performing at the heart of the side who reached two cup finals in the 2017/18 season.
“I’ve had such an amazing time at Fir Park and I want to thank everyone at the football club for making me feel welcome from day one,” Andy said.
“From the fans, to the staff, to the boys in the dressing room, it’s been an unforgettable experience for me and my family.
“The opportunity to return to America is something which I could not risk turning down and I’m extremely grateful to the club for supporting me, not just now, but throughout my time here in Scotland.”
The football club believes this opportunity is one which Andy and his family have to take, and wish him all the best as he gets set to return to MLS.
Although he will live and ply his trade in Canada with the ‘Caps, player contracts are held centrally by the league, meaning he will be employed in the USA and allow him to meet his green card requirements.
‘Well boss Stephen Robinson added: “We had a gentlemen’s agreement with Andy when he signed his new deal that if an opportunity presented itself back near his home and family, we would allow him to go and do it.
“Andy has been a superb professional during his time at Motherwell and I have no doubts he’ll give everything in the last six games before departing for North America.
“On behalf of everyone at the club, I would like to thank him for his contribution and wish him every success with his future career.”
Motherwell’s busy December continues with a trip to face St Johnstone on Saturday, 15 December.
The two sides meet in Perth for the first time this season, with the Saints having won 1-0 at Fir Park earlier in the campaign.
A pay gate will be in operation at McDiarmid Park on the day.
| Adult | £23 |
| Over 65s | £13 |
| 17-18 year olds | £12 |
| 13- 16 year olds | £9 |
Children aged 12 or under get in for free, but must be accompanied by an adult. An adult can take a maximum of two children free of charge.
A family gate will also be in operation at a reduced cost of £16, which covers one adult and a maximum of two children aged 12 or under. Spectators taking this deal should enter through gate five.
Wheelchair and ambulant tickets are priced at £14 for adults, £6 for concessions. Personal assistants go free of charge.
Fans who require ambulant or wheelchair access should contact Andy Sim on 07428 225254 or email tickets@mfcdsa.com.
