THE correspondence may have been addressed to just one member of Steve Lomas' side, however, the message wasn't lost on the rest of the St Johnstone squad.

In Saturday's match programme, the condolence card from young supporter Cameron Rattray not only sough to offer comfort to Nigel Hasselbaink, but it also proved to be a premonition of the wayward attacking play that would be shared by his Perth team-mates in the 3-1 defeat by Motherwell. In reference to a glaring miss against Kilmarnock last month, the message read: "It is okay missing an open goal. All shots can't be perfect. But well done for scoring anyway."

With their last defeat in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League coming back on August 25, Saturday brought a performance devoid of the cutting edge or attacking nous that had propelled the Perth side up the standings and into the history books during an unbeaten run of results which equalled a club record. Instead the 2600 home fans – presumably including master Rattray, who was the most creative person of a Perth persuasion at the weekend – were flummoxed by an effervescent Motherwell who took the lead after just 38 seconds through Jamie Murphy. By the time David Robertson scored for the hosts with just two minutes from the end, Motherwell were out of sight after Murphy and Nicky Law extended the lead.

Despite the minimal impact the substitute's goal had on proceedings, however, it bizarrely still didn't stop him collecting the man-of-the-match award, an indictment of the standard the rest of his side performed at.

"I was a wee bit embarrassed," he said about his award. "I thought Steven MacLean did brilliantly. If you're being honest he should have been man-of-the-match, it's just because I scored.

"I'm happy that I scored the goal but we can't be letting Motherwell come here and boss the game like they did. When you score a goal that early you get an automatic buzz and Motherwell then want the ball and are confident, you can't ask for a better start."

For Stuart McCall, the Motherwell manager, this was a victory that has been in the making since September 15, the last time his side collected three points. Despite sitting top of the Premier League for the first few weeks of the campaign, the Fir Park club have struggled to rekindle the form that proved enough to secure Champions League football last season.

Arguably their best display of the season came back on August 18 when two Murphy goals sealed a 2-1 win away to Kilmarnock. He inspired his side on that afternoon, and he delivered once again on Saturday. His first goal was a composed finish from 10 yards, while his second of the afternoon was a rampaging solo run and finish that oozed confidence, composure and conviction.

It is no coincidence that two of Motherwell's best performances this season have come in matches where the 23-year-old scored his four goals this term.

"Murph's second goal was very good, he created it himself," said strike partner Henrik Ojamaa, who, despite having yet to score this season, provided a exquisite backheel to play in Law for Motherwell's third.

"Luckily there's no real pressure from the players or the manager for me to be scoring, the goals will come eventually. The boss has been pleased with my play and what I have brought to the table.

"I'm always looking to improve overall as a player, and finishing is clearly part of my game, but I'm equally as happy to put someone else through. I've seen Nicky finish like he did in training four or five times in the last week so I knew he was going to do it.

"I'm going to sleep well tonight and I'm looking forward to the next game against Dundee United on Wednesday."

As for St Johnstone, who take on Celtic this Sunday- answers on a postcard.

1' 0-1 Henrik Ojamaa's shot is blocked by Steven Anderson only for Jamie Murphy to slot home from 10 yards.

38' 0-2 Stevie Hammell passes to Murphy who rifles under Alan Mannus after a meandering run.

73' 0-3 Ojamaa turns provider again as he backheels to Nicky Law who dinks beyond Mannus from close range.

88' 1-3 Nigel Hasselbaink darts to the byeline to set up David Robertson to lash high into the net.

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