Motherwell 1 St Johnstone 1: No Greek tragedy this time as late goal saves McCall's men

Sports Writer

Sunday 12 August 2012

THE importance of the first home league run out of any season can never be overestimated.

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Robert Mitchell

For a Motherwell side who had failed to score in all three of their opening forays the extra significance attached to this visit of St Johnstone was glaring.

It came just over 48 hours after the Lanarkshire club's return from a draining Champions League third-round qualification defeat by Panathinaikos that yielded a five-goal aggregate deficit and immediate exit from Europe's elite tournament.

The bottom line of these two defeats at the hands of the multimillion-pound Athens outfit may not reflect just how well the Fir Park side had played.Yet a negative momentum developed further by a setback at the hands of a St Johnstone side would have been damaging indeed.Thus, this come-from-behind 1-1 draw, gained as it was despite a numerical disadvantage for most of the second half, was rightly greeted with relief by Motherwell manager Stuart McCall for more than one reason.He said: "I don't want to make excuses for the boys but we were drained by the Panathinaikos game. "We went with the same 11 as in Athens and clearly we were tired mentally and physically and it showed. I don't think I have celebrated an equaliser quite like I did here but I am proud of the lads and the way they stuck at it especially with a man down. We showed real character."After a bright start by the visitors, Motherwell's neat passing game began to click smoothly through its gears and with 10 minutes gone Henrik Ojamaa forced Alan Mannus into a fine full-length save with a stinging 20-yard drive.The second half started as the first had finished but St Johnstone were handed a gilt-edged chance to rubber stamp their increasing threat when Hammell was caught on the wrong side of Chris Millar in the home area on 56 minutes. When the St Johnstone midfielder went down from his challenge referee Ian Brines pointed to the spot and the Motherwell defender received his marching orders.However, St Johnstone captain Dave MacKay had his penalty brilliantly saved by Randolph as Motherwell breathed again. Yet their reprieve was temporary and on 58 minutes Murray Davidson headed home Liam Craig's near-post delivery to give the visitors a lead their superior menace just about deserved. With their numerical disadvantage being exacerbated by the heat, Motherwell toiled and Nigel Hasselbaink was unlucky not to increase the visitors' lead as the Perth side looked to be coasting to victory. But with 12 minutes left home replacement Bob McHugh levelled with a neat close-range finish from a Nicky Law cut-back and when St Johnstone's Ross Vine was dismissed moments later for a second booking the home side grabbed control. Only a brilliant fingertip save by Mannus denied Michael Higdon's powerful eight-yard header as the game drew to its close.Yet on this showing and with the arrival of signing Craig Beattie likely to make the McDiarmid Park men even more dangerous, St Johnstone can look forward to an SPL campaign in which they look likely to beat last season's sixth place finish.Manager Steve Lomas was a figure of frustration at full-time.He said: "Ultimately when you are one up against 10 men you must convert your chances and kill them off. Yet we could actually have lost this game."However, it is my job to look at the positives. The penalty miss was a frustration but we kept on going and it is just disappointing not to see the game out and get the three points."

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Motherwell 1 St Johnstone 1: No Greek tragedy this time as late goal saves McCall's men

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