St Johnstone 2-0 Motherwell: Saints in Europe

Motherwell and St Johnstone will both play European football next year after the Saints clinched victory at McDiarmid Park. Picture: SNS

Scorers: St Johnstone - Craig (36), Hasselbaink (47)

Bookings: St Johnstone - Davidson, Craig

Taking full advantage of Inverness Caledonian Thistle’s defeat at Ross County, Steve Lomas’s men snatched third place in the SPL and the final European slot.

Liam Craig set them on their way with a magnificent first-half strike, the midfielder who will join Hibs this summer laying the foundation which ensured the club he is leaving would join his new employers in the Europa League qualifying rounds this July.

A smartly taken second goal by Nigel Hasselbaink in the opening moments of the second half firmly staved off any fears of a recovery by a Motherwell team which, already assured of runners-up spot in the SPL, lacked their accustomed vibrancy.

Saints fully merited their victory, having understandably played with a greater sense of purpose than their visitors, but on a lamentably uneven playing surface, it was difficult for either team to find any rhythm in the form of cohesive, passing football.

Motherwell did in fact threaten first, Nicky Law blazing a right-foot shot a couple of feet off target after some neat lead-up work by James McFadden, but it was the home team who generally shaded proceedings in terms of territory and possession.

Saints thought they had gone in front after just seven minutes, Steven MacLean driving a close-range shot through the legs of Motherwell goalkeeper Lee Hollis after Hasselbaink had flicked on Callum Davidson’s throw-in. However, the celebrations were short-lived as the effort was ruled out for what must have been a tight offside call.

There were complaints from both sets of players in the initial stages about the ball being under-inflated and it was replaced on four occasions before it was deemed acceptable.

Neither the pitch nor the playing equipment, however, could account for Murray Davidson’s wretched effort from 20 yards on the half-hour mark which he miscued horribly wide. It summed up the overall poor quality until that point, but happily there was improvement in the rest of the first half.

Chris Millar should have put Saints ahead in the 33rd minute, driving a shot against Hollis’s right-hand post from little more than eight yards out, the chance carved out by slick work down the left between Rowan Vine and Callum Davidson.

Having built up some sustained momentum for the first time, the Perth side did make the breakthrough three minutes later. Craig, booked moments earlier for a late challenge on Henrik Ojamaa, made a hugely significant contribution as he struck his eighth goal of the season.

The ball broke to the midfielder around 30 yards out after Motherwell defender Simon Ramsden seemed to have fended off a Saints counter-attack with a firm tackle on Hasselbaink. After calmly bringing it under control with his chest, Craig unleashed a stunning left-foot shot which beat Hollis low beyond his outstretched left hand.

Combined with subsequent news of Ross County taking the lead in Dingwall, it seemed like a pivotal moment for St Johnstone, but they were indebted to goalkeeper Alan Mannus for keeping them ahead at the break. The Northern Irishman showed great reactions to keep out Michael Higdon’s header from Law’s stoppage time corner, the reprieve completed when Ojamaa lashed over from the rebound.

Saints made a highly charged start to the second half in a bid to press home their advantage and it paid off when they doubled their lead some 90 seconds after the restart.

They had loud appeals for a penalty turned down when Dave Mackay went down under Fraser Kerr’s challenge, but as play continued, Chris Millar fed the ball back towards the Motherwell 18-yard line. Hasselbaink collected it with his back to goal, held off Shaun Hutchinson and turned smartly to guide a low shot beyond Hollis.

Saints were firmly on the front foot now and almost made it 3-0 four minutes later when skipper Mackay volleyed narrowly off target from Millar’s knockdown. McCall made a double change to try and inject some zest into his side, Bob McHugh and Kallum

Higginbotham entering the fray at the expense of Stuart Carswell and McFadden, the latter receiving a warm ovation from the Motherwell support as what may prove to be his final appearance for the club came to an end.

Although Higginbotham in particular gave the visitors more menace going forward, Saints continued to look more likely to add to their lead than to be pegged back. Murray Davidson was extremely unfortunate to be denied by the frame of the goal in the 73rd minute, the midfielder’s stunning right-foot volley crashing back off the crossbar.

The final whistle sparked a pitch invasion by a home support in a town often criticised for apathy towards their football club and there was no doubting the depth of joy among those who mobbed the Saints players.

St Johnstone: Mannus, Miller (Scobbie 81), Mackay, Anderson, C Davidson, M Davidson, Millar, Craig, Hasselbaink (Tade 78), MacLean, Vine (Abeid 69). Subs not used: Tuffey, Cregg, Edwards, Caddis.

Motherwell: Hollis, Kerr, Hutchinson, Ramsden, Hammell, McFadden (Higginbotham 61), Carswell (McHugh 61), Lasley, Law, Ojamaa (Daley 78), Higdon. Subs not used: Randolph, Francis-Angol, Erwin, Cummins.