Motherwell end losing run but late St Johnstone goal denies them much-needed win
The Steelmen were pegged back late on.
Motherwell ended a six-match losing streak but manager Alfred Johansson was denied a much-needed win by Josh Campbell’s stoppage-time equaliser for St Johnstone.
The Swede had presided over Motherwell’s worst losing run since 2003 and the 2-2 draw would have felt like a body blow given the Steelmen made a strong recovery from Taylor Steven’s opener against the run of play.
A virtuoso goal from Ibrahim Said brought the visitors level and they seized the initiative with Tawanda Maswanhise netting early in the second half.
Motherwell looked set to mark the 10th anniversary of the club going into fan ownership with three points but they were left with just one win in 12 games when Campbell rose unchallenged in a crowded penalty box to head home Logan Chalmers’ cross.
Johansson had stressed his side needed to improve in both boxes rather than change and he named the same team that lost to Hearts on Sunday, although Lukas Fadinger and Regan Charles-Cook were fit enough to return to the bench.
The visitors started brightly with Emmanuel Longelo putting in some dangerous balls from the left but Saints opened the scoring in the 19th minute after their first attack.
Josh Fowler returned the ball into the goalmouth after Alex Paulsen had saved his shot and Steven out-muscled a defender to net from six yards.
The home side had two good chances to go further ahead but Dan Finlayson and Fowler could not get the right connection on their headers.
That allowed Motherwell back into the game in the and there was no surprise about the goalscorer.
Said had already forced two good saves from Toby Steward, the second effort pushed on to the post by the goalkeeper.
And the Nigerian hauled the Steelmen back into the game on his own when he turned, held off a challenge and waltzed past two Saints players before firing high into the net.
Motherwell were looking the more lively side, especially with the half-time introduction of Fadinger and Jardell Kanga, and Maswanhise forced good saves before netting his second goal of the season in the 54th minute.
The Zimbabwe international took down Jake Girdwood-Reich’s flighted ball down the right channel and had a clear run to goal after Saints defenders Finlayson and Enes Alic both went for the ball and didn’t get there. Last season’s Premiership top goalscorer drilled home with his left foot.
The game remained delicately poised. Motherwell had a good chance but Kanga was caught in two minds, and Steward saved from both Seb Palmer-Houlden and Joe Hodge.
At the other end, Fowler was almost on the end of Matty Todd’s teasing low cross and then sent a free header well over the bar.
There was a major talking point when Campbell went down as Fadinger placed his hand on his back from behind as the Saints sub ran towards goal. The Motherwell midfielder stopped and looked at referee John Beaton, who gave a free-kick to the visitors.
But Campbell had the final say and there was no time for Motherwell to respond.