Allan Campbell strike earns Motherwell first win over St Johnstone

The Fir Parkers’ first Premiership win of the campaign wasn’t enough to lift them off the foot of the table - they trail Livingston and Kilmarnock on goal difference - but it was the perfect boost ahead of Thursday night’s Europa League clash with Coleraine.

The fourth minute goal which ultimately settled the outcome was a cracker. Campbell made a loose ball his in midfield, spun away from Ali McCann and David Wotherspoon and drove towards the box before unleashing a right foot strike from just short of 25 yards which flew low past Saints keeper Elliot Parish.

It was a superb strike from a player on a high after netting the winner for Scotland under-21s against Lithuania.

The bulk of the chances after that fell to the visitors.

On 20 minutes Ricki Lamie was short with pass back to Trevror Carson and Michael O’Halloran nipped in but could only fire into side netting from a tight angle.

Lamie then was only able to head a Craig Conway free-kick out as far as Wiotherspoon but his chip was comfortably collected Carson.

Well remained a goal to the good at the break but St Johnstone probably should have levelled in the second half.

A Conway corner was met by Jason Kerr eight yards out but he couldn’t direct his header on target and ball flew over Carson’s crossbar.

Lamie then made hash of trying to cut out a Danny McNamara pass, allowing ball to run through to Setvie May who had only Carson to beat but, thankfully for Well, the striker pulled his shot wide of the far post.

Well boss Stephen Robinson told Motherwell TV afterwards: “We played some very good football without an end product. We said we wanted to win with a determination, defenders defending for their lives, midfielders landing on second balls and strikers running themselves into the ground.

“The football will come if you do the basics right and we showed we can win in a different manner, that we’re a hard side to break down.

“We did it differently, we let St Johnstone have the ball in areas that they weren’t going to hurt us.

“We could have been better with out final decisions when we broke but ultimately I’m delighted for the players and the staff because they’ve worked so hard from the start of the season and not had their just rewards.”