MOTHERWELL stopped the bleeding after a spell of sticky form but deserved more than a point from a soaking night in Paisley.

Having conceded seven times in their two previous outings, Graham Alexander’s side successfully shut the back door but couldn’t find a goal to go with it, despite looking the more accomplished side throughout the second half.

“That was 100% better than Saturday’s performance,” said Alexander. “Our players’ commitment was absolutely magnificent and I thought we probably deserved to take all three points.”

This was St Mirren’s seventh game of the month and it showed. They extended their advantage over Dundee United to two points but have now drawn their last four matches and look like a team who will be grateful to have no more midweek commitments for a while.

“We’re obviously disappointed not to have won the game but I don’t think we did enough to do that,” admitted manager Jim Goodwin.

“But it's another point on the board and we're still in pole position for the top six in my opinion.”

Such is the length of the Motherwell injury list that the treatment room at Fir Park must now resemble a scene from MASH.

Even without regulars like Declan Gallagher and Bevis Mugabi, however, there was a robustness about the Steelmen that St Mirren struggled to break down.

The home side had restored Jake Doyle-Hayes and Jamie McGrath to their starting line-up ahead of schedule but even those two midfield schemers – traditionally so inventive - were unable to penetrate a backline that refused to yield to pressure.

With Motherwell similarly getting little joy out of the St Mirren defence, it made for an attritional contest with little to commend it. So often did referee Kevin Clancy peep his whistle to interrupt play it was as if he were getting paid by the note.

A forgettable first half produced barely a handful of chances. Jordan Roberts, on loan from Hearts, shot wide on his first Motherwell start, with a Barry Maguire drive also ending off target via a deflection.

The poverty of St Mirren’s build-up meant they created next to nothing from open play, although from one McGrath free kick Joe Shaughnessy should have done better than skid a header wide of the goal. The half-time rendition of That’s Entertainment could only have been ironic.

The second half offered instant promise when Ilkay Durmus crossed for Jon Obika to pivot and shoot on target within the opening 40 seconds. Kelly was alert enough to produce a smart stop and intrigue had arrived belatedly.

The visitors started to assert their dominance, spurred on by acts of St Mirren carelessness. Devante Cole showed sufficient strength to battle past Conor McCarthy but saw Jak Alnwick equal to his attempted shot into the far corner.

The striker came even closer with the best chance of the game. Roberts’ corner was helped on by Cole who could scarcely believe his misfortune to see the ball strike the post and land safely in Alnwick’s arms.