Match report as Motherwell won their first home Premiership game for six months with a 2-1 win over St Mirren; Kevin van Veen and Max Johnston gave the hosts a commanding first-half lead; St Mirren responded through Ryan Strain's strike
Thursday 16 February 2023 00:10, UK
Caretaker manager Stuart Kettlewell led Motherwell to their first home win in the Scottish Premiership for six months as they held on for a 2-1 triumph over St Mirren.
Kevin van Veen and Max Johnston netted in the first 19 minutes as Motherwell showed a positive reaction following their Scottish Cup exit and the departure of Steven Hammell.
Ryan Strain pulled one back five minutes later but Motherwell showed a resilience that has too often been lacking in recent times as they recorded their first league victory in 12 games.
Motherwell have definitely played better and failed to win this season, but the result was all that mattered following four consecutive defeats and they moved three points above bottom club Dundee United into ninth place.
Kettlewell made four changes from Saturday's 3-1 defeat by Raith Rovers but the biggest difference was a switch in formation to 3-5-2, mirroring St Mirren's set-up.
Tony Watt made his first start for St Mirren as one of five former Motherwell players in the visiting line-up.
They had more appearances for Motherwell between them, 352, than the entire home team, while manager Stephen Robinson also added to the Fir Park experience.
Kettlewell's caretaker reign got off to the perfect start in the eighth minute after Blair Spittal's quick ball sent Van Veen in behind.
The Dutchman looked like he had been forced wide by Richard Taylor but he managed to hold off the defender and steer a shot beyond Trevor Carson with the outside of his boot.
The second goal came after Sean Goss flighted a ball into a similar area. Johnston got in behind Scott Tanser and, from an even tighter angle, lobbed the ball over Carson and just inside the far post.
St Mirren hit back after Curtis Main won an aerial challenge to send Watt down the left. The on-loan Dundee United man's cutback was miskicked by Keanu Baccus but Strain finished at the far post.
The visitors lost Tanser to injury before Strain came close from 22 yards. Carson saved Dan Casey's header at the other end as the first half continued at a frantic pace.
The second half was a scrappy affair with Motherwell largely unable to keep meaningful possession but holding the visitors at bay. Strain and Mark O'Hara both tested Liam Kelly but from outside the box and the Motherwell goalkeeper held both efforts.
Substitute Jack Aitchison worked an excellent late chance to give the hosts some breathing space but he shot over from 16 yards. However, there were no late scares as the home side battled to victory.
Motherwell caretaker manager Stuart Kettlewell praised his players for doing the fundamentals right as they earned a first league victory in 12 matches.
Kettlewell said: "You talk about how to get the supporters onside. You perform, put your body on the line, you run the extra yards and cover your mates. It's all the fundamentals, all the simple bits of football.
"I've been working with young players recently and you try to get that across.
"You might think you are the cleverest guy in the room when it comes to tactics and so on, but those are the fundamentals. Then you can add layers and be cuter and clever once you have earned the right to play.
"We play in Scotland, you need to remember that as well. We'd love to pass the ball to death and create loads of chances, and you will get there, but you need the platform."
Kettlewell was set to discover whether he would be in charge for Sunday's visit of Hearts.
He added: "We've had brief conversations between myself and one or two officials of the club. I'm a planner so I want to understand what's happening and I'm sure I'll get some clarity in the coming hours."
Meanwhile, St Mirren manager Stephen Robinson felt his side paid for a slow start.
"I'm obviously disappointed, disappointed with the first 20-minute performance," he said. "They did to us what we usually do to other teams.
"They landed on more second balls and put balls into good areas.
"We gave ourselves a lifeline with the goal, but ultimately I don't think we deserved anything from the game. Sometimes you get nights like that."
Robinson lost Scott Tanser to injury in the first half and said: "It's his hamstring so it doesn't look like a good one, and that puts a lot of strain on a small squad, but you get these disappointments during seasons and you have to deal with it."
Motherwell's next Scottish Premiership match is at home to Hearts on 19 February, live on Sky Sports. Kick-off 12pm.
St Mirren host Ross County on 18 February. Kick-off 3pm.
