Saints star admits sinful defending

MICHAEL DUBERRY admitted his culpability for Motherwell's two goals against St Johnstone in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League – but insists the defeat will not derail their season.

Jamie Murphy opened the scoring for the visitors to McDiarmid Park in the 12th minute before Steven Milne breached the visitors' mean defence to equalise midway through the first half.

But Saints goalkeeper Graeme Smith spilled substitute Lukas Jutkiewicz's shot in the 85th minute and John Sutton tapped the ball home from three yards to secure all three points.

Duberry was not noticeably at fault for the goals but the former Chelsea and Leeds defender said: "The defeat was very disappointing. We let in two sloppy goals and I look at myself for some schoolboy defending for both of them. I could have done better."

The victory realistically – although not yet mathematically – puts Motherwell in the top six and now Sutton admits their target is pipping Hibs or Dundee United to fourth spot. He said: "First we want to make sure we're in the top six. But if we do that we then have to play Hibs and Dundee United and although they are clearly good teams, there's no reason why we can't catch them."