In truth, we were lucky to end up with a draw. After taking a half-time lead that was possibly undeserved, we were up against it in the second half. Fortunately, it took Motherwell until 17 minutes from time to get themselves level and they couldn't find a winner, despite Saints having Michael Higdon sent off. Had they scored 10 minutes earlier, they probably would have ended up with all three points.
It's disappointing to blow a lead at home but I'd have taken a point before the game. Motherwell are a great side and are doing very well this season, so there is no shame in getting a draw. It also means that the Old Firm and Caley Thistle are the only teams to leave Paisley with three points this season.
Once again Mirren Mad was half right with its predicted team changes as Paul McGowan returned, with Sean Lynch dropping out. Steven Thomson had to be content with a spot on the bench again, with Steven Robb and Paul Gallacher also back fit. There was no sign of Craig Dargo, or indeed any striker, amaong the subs meaning Aaron Mooy was the most attacking option. Motherwell also had an attacking option on the bench in the form if ex Saint John Sutton. It was left to Nick Blackman to lead the line up front, with former Saints signing target Alan Gow supporting from midfield.
And, typically, he almost gave Motherwell an early lead, his free-kick being tipped over by Craig Samson. Some nifty footwork from the same man won another free-kick moments later and Tom Hateley went even closer as he hit the post with the help of a deflection off the wall.
We then had a chance to view another example of Scottish football's double standards. Last week, most Celtic fans stood for the duration of the game and received no trouble from the police. So, when a small group of Motherwell fans did likewise, what happened? Yup, the police waded in. Shameful, although the visiting fans seemed unaware the booing from the Saints support was at the police, not the fans. It certainly brightened things up at that end of the park as Saints were doing little on the pitch before Michael Higdon got himself booked for an off the ball incident with keeper Darren Randolph - which I missed!
There wasn't a lot happening, Blackman firing just over from 35 yards before David van Zanten had the first real shot for Saints, volleying narrowly wide from just outside the box. Cregg was next to enter the book, rather harshly considering Gareth Wardlaw had been fouled seconds before Paddy's challenge and didn't even get a free-kick. However, perhaps we shouldn't complain too much considering Higdon was lucky not to get a second booking for a late challenge moments later.
It's fair to say this wasn't a classic game but we had something to cheer just before the break. A typical Saints corner - ie rubbish - found its way to Cregg, who played it back to corner taker McGowan. Clearly he was just finding his range the first time as this time the ball homed in on the head of Wardlaw and for once he did everything right, leaping to brilliantly divert it into the net to put us in front. Probably not deserved, but nobody cared and Gareth was clearly delighted to double his tally for the season. Now, if he could just score against someone other than Motherwell we'd be sorted!
The striker's confidence was lifted by the goal and he fed a great pass through to Higdon, who got the better of one defender before being brought down by Mark Reynolds, who was booked for his troubles. Just before the break Higdon had a chance to double the lead, but his shot on the turn went harmlessly wide. He had another go in stoppage time after good play by Jure Travner, but again his shot was off target.
The second half began with Steven Jennings being booked for a late challenge on Higdon. The Englishman managed to chest a ball into the path of Wardlaw but he was unable to take advantage, shooting wide from a tight angle. The pace of Chris Humprehy caused us problems for the first time just before the hour mark when we gave the ball away and Darren McGregor missed with his attempt to swipe the winger. As a result, he sped forward on the right before crossing for Blackman, but Marc McAusland managed to himself in the way of the striker's effort.
A blatant foul on Blackman by Cregg gave Motherwell a free-kick that Gow helpfully shot straight at Samson and when Saints countered, Wardlaw's efforts to set up a great chance for Higdon were thwarted by Stephen Craigan. Then, to a chorus of boos, Sutton arrived when he replaced the ineffectual Murphy. The game began livening up a bit after that, a foul on Higdon giving him a free-kick that he fired towards goal. A deflection appeared to be sending it into the net but Randolph, who was diving the wrong way, managed to stop it with his legs.
It was then Wardlaw's turn to get booked after he reacted angrily to being pulled up for a challenge on Hateley. He had a point as it looked a decent tackle, but his response was only going to end badly. From the free-kick, Motherwell quickly attacked and Jennings inexplicably shot wide after a great run and cross from Humphrey. Reynolds almost got himself on the scoresheet at the other end, nearly putting a Travner cross past Randolph before it bounced behind. Saints were beginning to struggle to hold on and Motherwell boss Craig Brown replaced Steven Saunders with Ross Forbes in a bid to force the equaliser that was beginning to look inevitable.
And sure enough, Blackman conjured up the equaliser out of nothing with just over 15 minutes left. The ball came to him at the edge of the box and he took it on his chest, spun and then smacked it past Samson to bring Motherwell level. There's no question it was deserved and now it was a case of clinging on for a point, rather than all three.
It was real backs to the wall stuff in an attempt to prevent a second going in. Gow played a neat 1-2 with Sutton before shooting wide. Sutton then got booked for a foul on McAusland before fellow Englishman Higdon was booked for clipping Craigan. Sadly, while a poor official, referee Alan Muir is not Graham Poll and was fully aware that two yellows equal a red in footballing terms. Higdon had been running around looking for a second booking ever since he got his first one and there could be few complaints about the dismissal. Thomson came on for van Zanten in a bid to steady the ship as we switched to a 4-4-1.
With the fourth official getting his board ready to signal three minutes of stoppage time, Forbes ran forward and smashed a shot just off target. Thankfully injury time passed without too many scares and we even had a chance to win it when we won a free-kick - only for McGowan to try to run the clock down when we were already over the allotted three minutes. This wasn't under management instructions as Lennon was visibly annoyed with his players.
So, a handy point and we're now three points above bottom placed Hamilton, who we play next week. The players continue to progress and there were no real failures. The likes of Jure Travner and Kenny McLean weren't as good today, but Vanzy put in arguably his best performance of the season.
The only frustrating thing is Lennon seems even worse at using his subs than his predecessor. Today was screaming out for some fresh legs and removing Higdon would have prevented him from being sent off. That we only used one sub, and with three minutes left, is rather puzzling. It's something that needs to be worked on. Apart from that, not the worst day of the office. Now lets put some daylight between ourselves and Hamilton.