Motherwell 2 - 0 St Johnstone

Teenage defender Ben Hall claimed his first career goal to set Motherwell on their way to a 2-0 win over St Johnstone.

The 18-year-old centre-back headed home Steven Hammell's inswinging corner from close range in the 38th minute on only his third appearance.

Stephen Pearson netted at the second attempt six minutes later as the home side secured a third consecutive Premiership victory.

St Johnstone, who lost midfielders Michael O'Halloran and Murray Davidson before the opener, failed to score for a third successive game but Motherwell goalkeeper Connor Ripley can take much of the credit for that.

The match passed a 5.30pm pitch inspection following an afternoon downpour but there was no sign of Storm Frank by kick-off on a dry, calm night at Fir Park.

Home strikers Louis Moult and Scott McDonald missed half-chances either side of a standing ovation for Phil O'Donnell, eight years and a day after the former Motherwell captain's death.

The ill O'Halloran went off for Craig Thomson in the 22nd minute and the game was flat for a spell before Ripley produced an excellent one-handed stop after Steven MacLean had turned and shot following a half-cleared corner.

Davidson then went off for Tam Scobbie after failing to shake off an injury caused when he got his foot trapped in the Motherwell dugout after trying to keep the ball in play.

Hall nodded Hammell's corner over the line two minutes later and the crucial point in the game came as Motherwell survived a counter-attack before scoring with their own.

Thomson's pace cut Motherwell open and his inside pass found Chris Kane completely unmarked but the striker's first touch allowed Ripley just enough scope to come out and claw the ball away.

McDonald soon broke away down the other end and passed inside Darnell Fisher for Pearson. The midfielder cut inside the full-back and ultimately hooked the ball home after his initial shot had been blocked by the on-loan Celtic player.

Ripley made another brilliant stop 12 minutes into the second half when he pushed over Liam Craig's header as it appeared to be dipping under the bar, and Kane soon missed a free header from Craig's corner.

Motherwell had brought on Lionel Ainsworth for Moult in between and pushed Marvin Johnson up front in a bid to hit Saints on the break but it was not until the final 15 minutes when they started to threaten again.

McDonald had a shot beaten away after good skill before sending a diving header just wide from a cross by Johnson, who was soon not far away with an ambitious effort.

Former Motherwell striker John Sutton came on to a warm reception from the home fans and he never had a chance to add to his Fir Park account.