There was only one team in the game in the first half and it wasn't the one that currently finds itself third in the SPL. We absolutely battered Motherwell, cut them open on a number of occasions and created plenty of chances. Yes the passing games was there but it was much more direct and incisive than it was last week. The only thing was we couldn't take those chances we created.
The tide turned in the second half as Motherwell came flying out of the traps, with Craig Samson making a couple of terrific saves. We offered little until the last few minutes while the game was repeatedly interrupted by a referee quickly losing what semblance of the plot he was clinging to at the start of the afternoon.
A point - and another SPL game without a goal - isn't much good to us but playing so well against the team that currently finds itself third in the SPL is encouraging - now we just need to do it against Ross County on Tuesday and at Dundee United next week.
Changes were needed after last week's shocker against the Staggies changes we duly got - although whether David van Zanten merited being dropped is up for debate. Aaron Mooy did and he joined Vanzy on the bench. In came Graham Carey, who was one of the few highlights last week, and Dougie Imrie. At least we only had only one holding midfielder this time but as Steven Thompson was leading the line up front with Paul McGowan and Imrie offering support, we only had one out and out striker. Motherwell, however, had three proper forwards in the shape of ex Buddie Michael Higdon, Jamie Murphy and the in-form Henrik Ojamaa. The set piece threat of Tom Hateley was in midfield with the on-goal threat of Stephen Craigan on the bench.
Saints have seemed reluctant to shoot at times this season but Imrie looked as if he wants to make up for that all on his own as his attempt from about 40 yards inside the first half minute proved. Unsurprisingly Darren Randolph gathered it, although he had to turn Imrie's angled effort behind for a corner a couple of minutes later. It shouldn't have been Imrie shooting though as Thompson was presented with a great chance after we cut through Motherwell, only to opt to pass to McGowan whose effort was blocked and spun into Imrie's path.
It was a positive start - not difficult compared to last week - but from the 12th minute Goodwin was having to watch himself when he went for a challenge. After feeling he'd been fouled he decided to grab the ball and ref Craig Charleston did indeed give a free-kick. Unfortunately for our skipper it was for his handball, rather than a foul on him, and he was promptly booked. No complaints here - I hate it when players decide to award themselves free-kicks and they deserve whatever punishment they get. After a brief spell to recover from that we started creating chances again, Imrie and Teale working well to allow the latter to send in a cross that Thompson couldn't get enough on before Carey fizzed one just past the post. A corner brought another chance, a header destined for the net being cleared at the last second.
The "Teale will tear you apart again" song is another bug bear of mine because it implies he's already torn someone apart - but it least it now has a bit more accuracy when Steven Hammell's playing. Teale got the defender in a bit of a mess before moving inside and shooting on his left foot. It took a huge deflection off of Hammell, forcing Randolph to back pedal a bit and get just enough on it to tip it over for a corner, which Lee Mair headed wide. More good played saw McGowan pass it wide to Carey who ran at his marker before playing it back to McGowan. A quick turn later and he had a sight at goal, his attempt from 20 yards flying wide - but not by much.
We gave away two penalties last week and it seems to be a habit we're getting into, Goodwin almost taking the tally for the past seven days to three after Nicky Law went down under his challenge. It would have been a soft award, although it wouldn't have been a huge surprise to see it given. Imrie got himself a booking just before half time when he caught Shaun Hutchison late - a decision the officials only made after reacting to the loud shouts from the away fans as Mr Charleston had already turned away from the tackle before changing his mind and blowing for a foul. The booking was merited but the way the decision was reached was not. There was one final chance for a first half goal when we were given a rather soft free-kick, Teale heading Carey's delivery towards goal but Randolph mad a comfortable save.
So, Saints dominate a half, have plenty of chances and possession while the opposition do nothing. You know what happens next... Sure enough Motherwell began to press as Hutchison headed a corner over and Ojamaa caused havoc on the Saints right before sending a perfect cross that Higdon met with a powerful header, only for Samson to claw it away with an excellent save. We were struggling to contain the Steelmen now as another corner created problems, Keith Lasley's shot being headed behind by Thompson, before Goodwin was told he was one foul away from the showers after a couple of mistimed tackles. There was an escape from the second one as it gave Hateley a free-kick in a great position but he put it wide. Instead it was Motherwell's midfield "hardman" who was next booked, Steven Jennings chosen for a caution for dissent after a few meaty challenges flew in from both sides before Hateley also got booked for a late foul on Carey.
Randolph was probably wondering why he'd bothered coming back out for the second half as he'd had sod all to do, although he did get to take a goal kick when Imrie sent in a decent low cross for Thompson that bounced off him and behind after a Motherwell defender intervened. In truth Motherwell didn't create a great deal themselves after that before Higdon was booked for a bad tackle on Carey, the speed of Chris Humphrey coming on for the tiring Murphy at the same time. Considering Murphy had done sod all it was a sensible change. Motherwell had the first chance of either side for about 15 minutes after that with Hutchinson meeting Hateley's corner but the ball flew wide. There were shouts for handball when Law smacked the ball off Barron's hand but it would have been a ridiculous decision. Nigel Hasselbaink replaced Carey with a few minutes left - what he was meant to do in four minutes was anyone's guess.
We were now camped in our own half and Ojamaa was unlucky not to win it for Motherwell with a couple of minutes left, his brilliant shot seeming destined for the bottom corner before Samson - at full stretch - just turned it behind. The corner didn't pose much initial danger before Higdon hit it over, although there was apparently a deflection, before Hasselbaink made his impact. A superb run, including a wonderful total spin that took two Motherwell players out of the game, saw him set up McGowan. He was perhaps surprised at his team-mates genius and lashed at the ball, barely making cotnact, with Thompson unable to force the wayward shot home. There was a huge scare at the other end with seconds remaining as Humphrey tried to cross, failed, and saw the ball smack against the bar. Losing in such circumstances would have been unbelievably cruel.
Probably a fair result in the end but we must start turning these draws into wins. We're closing in on two months without a league game, an increasingly worrying state of affairs, and it must change quickly. But let's not be too negative as there were plenty of positives today an no real failures in a black and white shirt.
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