St Johnstone’s survival hopes suffered a grievous blow after defeat at Motherwell left them six factors adrift with 4 Scottish Premiership video games to play.
Simo Valakari’s strugglers, who suffered a chastening Scottish Cup semi-final defeat in opposition to Celtic final Sunday, led at Fir Park by way of Makenzie Kirk’s early effort.
However Motherwell scored twice inside a minute to determine a lead that they might not relinquish. First Callum Slattery slid in an equaliser earlier than Johnny Koutroumbis’ effort was deflected into his personal purpose by Sven Sprangler.
The reinvigorated hosts added a 3rd shortly after half time, Tom Sparrow volleying house.
And, though the deficit was diminished when substitute Elliot Watt’s 25-yard-effort discovered a approach past Ellery Balcombe, Motherwell held on to assert all three factors and transfer above Hearts into seventh place.
St Johnstone had began confidently regardless of their league place and took an early lead when Josh McPake took benefit of slack defending and in the reduction of for Kirk to slam excessive into the online.
Motherwell modified their system to a 4-2-3-1 and slowly began to take management. That stated, it took till the half hour to check Andy Fisher, who appeared good in pushing Harry Paton’s effort away.
Shortly after that, Michael Wimmer’s facet had been stage with virtually a carbon copy of St Johnstone’s opener. Tony Watt discovered himself free and his in the reduction of discovered Slattery, who handed it low into the online.
Watt was concerned virtually instantly after the restart, crossing for Koutroumbis to hammer house through a deflection.
There was a renewed vigour about Motherwell within the second half, they usually went 3-1 forward when Sparrow volleyed in after tenacious play from Dom Thompson.
St Johnstone rallied and Watt pulled a purpose again with 25 minutes to play. That led to a nervy finale however the guests had been unable to create any clear lower probabilities and Motherwell held on.
