THIS was one small step forward for Motherwell, and one giant leap backwards for St Mirren.

In terms of the maths, this was not the result that ended St Mirren's status as a Premiership club and it didn't quite bring about the declaration. Defeat, a 5-0 embarrassment, in this must-win encounter at Fir Park leaves them staring at the Premiership trap door, though. Championship football now surely awaits next season.

With just six wins to their name all season, even doubling their tally from the remaining half a dozen games this term may not be enough to stop St Mirren sliding into Scotland's second tier.

Serial relegation fighters since their return to this level a decade ago, this season has proven one too many for the Paisley club. From the start, they have had the look of a side that would be at the wrong end of the table once again and this time there will be no great escape.

"You have got to play for pride," Gary Teale, the St Mirren manager, said. "If you are talking about realism and look at the number of points we have picked up this season, to think you are going to go and pick up six wins is not realistic. You are playing for pride. But, while it is still mathematically possible that you can go and do something, you have got to believe in it. But you have got to be a realist at the end of the day as well."

Having made the trip to Lanarkshire knowing nothing but a victory would do, St Mirren were all but condemned to defeat before the first half was out at Fir Park. A Lee Erwin double and Scott McDonald strike had done the damage by that point and put the Buddies on the canvas. They would never get up. St Mirren will not be counted out in the coming days but it is only a matter of time.

For Motherwell, there is hope and belief. Having spent much of the campaign out of sorts and out of form, they have found their rhythm in recent weeks and just at the right time as Ian Baraclough has made his mark at Fir Park.

Victory last night was Motherwell's third in succession and arguably the most important of his reign so far. It was achieved in impressive style and in swift fashion, the three first half goals clinching the points and ensuring this was no nerve-shredding relegation six pointer.

Motherwell were well worth their advantage at half-time but they didn't have to work that hard for it, Erwin's two goals, neat spins and crisp finishes into opposite corners, far from the most difficult he will carve out for himself as he was left with the freedom of the St Mirren penalty box and given time to pick his spot.

So too was McDonald when he ended the match as a contest just before the break, finishing off a move that saw the impressive Lionel Ainsworth again involved as his chip found Stephen Pearson at the back post before the midfielder picked out his fellow second time around Steelman.

As St Mirren trudged off, there was little hope of a miracle on Fir Park Street. With a porous defence and shot-shy attack, things were always going to go from bad to worse for Teale. The 36-year-old will be absolved of much of the blame for the predicament that St Mirren find themselves in this season but is at him where the fingers will be pointed in the aftermath of this surrender.

At one end of the park, there was a defence that was cut through time after time, failed to stop crosses from the flanks, failed to clear their lines and were fortunate to only concede five times on the night. At the other, there was a striker, Yoann Arquinn, who has more red cards, two, than goals, none, for the Paisley club and an attack that offered virtually no threat. This was a side devoid of creativity, of ideas and, as the evening unfolded, of hope.

As Motherwell helped themselves to the goals, there was little response from the Saints, with the lack of quality that has plagued them all season once again evident on a night when they had to be at their best.

As the clock above the heads of the 626 away fans ticked over, frustrations grew and disappointment turned to anger.

Chances for St Mirren were few and far between, with a weak Thompson header one of the few they carved out. Every foray forward only exposed them further at the other end, though, and Motherwell took full advantage, John Sutton getting a double as he converted a Marvin Johnson free-kick and tapped home from close range after a McDonald effort was blocked on the line. The final whistle signalled the end for St Mirren in more ways than one.

They could yet be joined by one of the teams that are now out of reach above them in the Premiership standings. Unlike the race to determine who will be relegated automatically, the fight to avoid the play-offs could well go down to the wire.

With five goals and three points to their credit, Motherwell are, unlike the Saints, marching on.

"It was important that we got the win to take us ten points away," Baraclough said. "It makes it very difficult, hopefully, for them to catch us. But, as I have said before, our eyes are above us and trying to drag one or two closer to us.

"For the first time this season, we have won three on the trot, we have extended our unbeaten run and we are scoring goals. I thought we could have had a few more."