Motherwell 0-3 St Johnstone: Steelmen succumb to Saints

St Johnstone went 1-0 up on 18 minutes when Guy Melamed superbly tucked the ball into the top left corner with his left foot after Sean Rooney had intercepted a loose ball ahead of Jake Carroll.

The away team continued to look the more likely side and David Wotherspoon's 28th minute cross from the left only just evaded the stretching Melamed in the centre.

The visitors kept probing and David Wotherspoon's 28th minute cross from the left only just evaded the stretching Melamed in the centre.

Motherwell's first effort on goal on 32 minutes saw midfielder Liam Polworth advance and send in a long range shot which keeper Zander Clark had to block.

St Johnstone then wasted a chance when Ali McCann found space in the 18-yard area but his delivery across goal evaded everyone.

After ’Well’s Chris Long had been booked for dissent Wotherspoon's corner from the right on 43 minutes was headed just over by Saints skipper Jason Kerr.

It was 2-0 St Johnstone just before half-time when Kerr shot home a rebound from the edge of the box after Saints had hit the bar twice in the build-up, via a long range Liam Craig shot after a close range Rooney header.

Melamed put St Johnstone 3-0 up early in the second half when he struck home from the penalty spot after Polworth had fouled Kane.

The Perth men then had another effort when Rooney crossed from the right to the back post where Booth volleyed wide.

St Johnstone came close to goal number four on 72 minutes when Craig's left footer from outside the box hit the top of the bar on its way over.

A tame Stevie May effort was saved by home keeper Liam Kelly on 87 minutes.

Motherwell: Kelly, Carroll (McGinley 61), Lamie, Crawford, Long (Hastie 61), Maguire (Roberts 61), Polworth, Johnston, Watt, Magloire, Cole.

St Johnstone: Clark, McCart, Kerr, Gordon, Kane (May 75), Wotherspoon (Bryson 62), Melamed (Middleton 75), McCann (Gilmour 90), Rooney, Booth, Craig.

Referee: John Beaton