St Johnstone 2 Motherwell 1

Tam Scobbie headed home a last-minute winner against Motherwell at McDiarmid Park to end St Johnstone's nine-game run without a victory. The visitors went ahead when Louis Moult nodded James McFadden's corner home in the 33rd minute but David Wotherspoon caught out Connor Ripley at his near post with an excellent strike two minutes before the break. Saints improved after the game entered the final quarter and Scobbie converted Simon Lappin's free-kick just as the 90 minutes were up to seal a 2-1 victory and push Saints back into the Ladbrokes Premiership top six. It was the sixth time in 2016 that Motherwell have lost a last-gasp goal - five of them proving crucial. Motherwell initially named the same team and 3-4-2-1 formation that won 3-0 at Tannadice on Tuesday but Scott McDonald pulled out after the warm-up because of a tight hamstring. Wes Fletcher took his place St Johnstone had the first early chance when Louis Laing lost the ball but Steven MacLean fired over from 22 yards. The pitch was cutting up badly and there was little quality on show but Motherwell began to exert some territorial advantage and threaten from corners. Their tactic was for McFadden to put the ball into a crowded six-yard box and Alan Mannus twice palmed away the former Saints player's deliveries before the next one went straight behind for a goal kick. But the former Scotland international was more successful with his next effort. Moult came back out to meet the inswinging cross on the six-yard line and head into the far corner. The Perth side came alive and Wotherspoon was the threat. He forced Ripley to push his corner over and then set up Craig, who fired over first time from eight yards. Motherwell appeared to be expecting another cross when Wotherspoon collected Craig's pass on the angle of the box on the left-hand side, but the former Hibernian player swerved a shot inside Ripley's near post. Motherwell switched to a 4-4-2 at half-time as Steven Hammell replaced McFadden, who had picked up a knock late in the opening period. They looked the likelier team just after the restart but could not test Mannus. Chris Cadden stabbed over Marvin Johnson's cross, Moult headed over Hammell's free-kick and Fletcher shot weakly at the keeper after intercepting Darnell Fisher's pass. Saints improved and Graham Cummins glanced Scobbie's cross past the far post before Ripley held Murray Davidson's effort at the second attempt. Craig missed a great chance in the 78th minute when he volleyed Wotherspoon's cross just past from 10 yards but Scobbie spared his blushes.