A last-minute goal from Josh Campbell rescued a point for Saints this evening against Motherwell.
Motherwell started brightly however, Saints took the lead on 19 minutes when Taylor Steven brilliantly held off the challenge from Levitt to slot the ball home from six yards.
The visitors responded well and drew level before half time with Ibrahim Said producing a fine finish to bring Motherwell back into the contest.
Motherwell completed the turn around in the second half as Tawanda Maswanhise latched onto a long ball, raced through on goal and slotted past Toby Steward to put the Steelmen ahead.
However, Saints showed good character to bounce back and in the final minute of added on time, Campbell rose highest in the box to plant a fine header from a Logan Chalmers cross into the net to rescue a point for Saints.
Saints are back in action on Saturday as they take on Kilmarnock at BBSP Rugby Park, kick off 3pm.
MATCH REPORT
Saints welcomed Motherwell to McDiarmid Park this evening for a William Hill Premiership match. Saints were looking to bounce back from Saturday’s 4-0 defeat to Rangers at Ibrox as Simo Valakari made three changes to his starting eleven. Matty Todd, Jason Holt and Ruari Paton came in to replace Joel Cotterill and Josh Campbell, who both dropped to the bench, whilst Liam Smith missed out completely. Kai Fotheringham was also suspended after being sent off at Ibrox at the weekend. Motherwell lost 2-0 to Hearts on Sunday and manager Alfred Johansson decided to go with the same team which started at Fir Park for this evening’s match.
Dylan Levitt got the match underway for the visitors and the Steelmen made a positive start to the first half. On 3 minutes a ball from the left by Emmanuel Longelo picked out Ibrahim Said in the box but his low effort was gathered at the second attempt by Toby Steward. Then on 9 minutes Jordan McGhee curled a strike wide of Steward’s left-hand post.
The Fir Park side were dominating the ball in the opening stages and on 17 minutes Longelo sent an inviting low ball into the box, but Steward got down well to divert the ball away from the feet of Seb Palmer-Houlden.
Then 2 minutes later with their first attack of the half Saints were ahead. Josh Fowler’s ball found its way through to Taylor Steven who took a touch and did well to hold off the challenge from Levitt before slotting the ball beyond Alexander Paulsen.
PHOTO: Taylor Steven makes it 1-0
PHOTO: Taylor Steven celebrates his goal
On 24 minutes Saints were awarded a free kick out wide on the left after Jamie Gullan was fouled by Tom Sparrow. Reece McAlear took the free kick as his floated ball into the box was met by Daniel Finlayson, but the defender couldn’t direct his header on target.
On the half an hour mark Levitt saw his strike from the edge of the box blocked by Finlayson. Then a minute later Steward couldn’t hold a low strike from Said, as the ball hit the post. The Saints number one though was up quick to gather the ball at the second attempt before Palmer-Houlden could react with a follow-up effort.
Play then switched to the other end as on 32 minutes a cross from the left by Gullan was a fraction too high for Fowler who couldn’t connect with the delivery. Paulsen then used his body to block the ball before the Steelmen defence cleared the danger.
Motherwell did find a way past the Saints defence with 11 minutes of the first half remaining to level the match. Longelo played the ball to the feet of Said who then weaved his way through the middle, past a couple of Saints players, before finding the back of the net from 10 yards.
PHOTO: Jamie Gullan gets away from Tawanda Maswanhise
The visitors came close to taking the lead 2 minutes into the second half as Longelo picked out Joe Hodge on the edge of the box. The midfielder then picked out Tawanda Maswanhise in the centre of the box however, the header from the Zimbabwean was saved by Steward as he turned the ball behind for another corner.
Maswanhise was not to be denied on 54 minutes as the forward put the Steelmen into the lead. A long ball from Jake Girdwood-Reich down the right was gathered by the Zimbabwe international and he then got away from Enes Alić and was in on goal before slotting the ball beyond Steward.
PHOTO: Josh Fowler and Tom Sparrow
Saints tried to get a quick response as on 58 minutes Matty Todd sent an inviting ball across the face of the Well goal which Fowler was inches away from connecting with. Then on 65 minutes Alić saw his powerful effort from the edge of the box deflected behind for a corner by Maswanhise.
Saints then made a triple change as Joel Cotterill, Danny Schmidt and Josh Campbell came on to replace Jason Holt, Ruari Paton and Jamie Gullan.
Motherwell continued to look dangerous going forward and on 68 minutes Maswanhise played in Palmer-Houlden however, his left-footed shot was saved by Steward.
On 72 minutes Fowler got up well to meet a McAlear cross into the box from the right however, he couldn’t direct his header on target. Then shortly after Campbell was claiming for a penalty after he went down under the challenge from Motherwell substitute Lukas Fadinger, but John Beaton dismissed the appeals.
PHOTO: Josh Campbell goes down in the box and Motherwell are awarded a free kick
Saints then made another change as Taylor Steven made way for Logan Chalmers.
With 6 minutes remaining Steward got an important hand to divert a Hodge shot away as the Steelmen looked to wrap up the three points.
Saints controlled possession in the closing stages of the second half as they pressed forward for an equaliser. 3 minutes of stoppage time was added on at the end of the second half and in the final minute Saints were back on level terms. Chalmers sent over a delightful cross from the right and Campbell got up high in the crowded box and planted a fine header beyond Paulsen to rescue a point for Saints.
PHOTO: Josh Campbell scores a last-minute equaliser
Saints: Steward, Alić, Diabate, Steven (Chalmers 80’), Holt (Cotterill 67’), Fowler, Gullan (Campbell 66’), Finlayson, Todd, McAlear, Paton (Schmidt 66’)
Unused Substitutes: Sinclair (GK), Boyes, Mikulić, Foulds, Tait
Booked: Alić
Scorers: Steven (19’), Campbell (90’+3)
Motherwell: Paulsen, Girdwood-Reich (O’Donnell 88’), Moormann, McGhee (Fadinger 45’), Sparrow, Maswanhise (Knight-Lebel 80’), Said (Charles-Cook 62’), Longelo, Palmer-Houlden, Levitt (Kanga 45’), Hodge
Unused Substitutes: Connelly (GK), Bjørgolfsson, Booth, Vogt
Booked: Said, Sparrow
Scorers: Said (34’), Maswanhise (54’)
Referee: John Beaton
VAR: David Dickinson
Attendance: 4,027
Match Report by Daryl Scott
Picture: Josh Campbell celebrates his goal with Logan Chalmers
