Motherwell 1 St Johnstone 1

John Sutton prevented Motherwell suffering a sixth consecutive Scottish Premiership defeat as they bounced back from debutant Louis Laing's red card to draw 1-1 with St Johnstone. A new era at Fir Park looked almost certain to get off to a losing start as Motherwell trailed to Murray Davidson's early goal. With new owner Les Hutchison watching from the directors' box 24 hours after assuming control, another Motherwell newcomer got his Fir Park career off to the worst of starts. Centre-back Laing, who signed on loan from Nottingham on Friday, was sent off by Willie Collum after tangling with Saints striker Chris Kane. Motherwell looked devoid of confidence but they rediscovered their belief after half-time and Sutton fired the equaliser in the 75th minute. Stephen McManus and Stephen Pearson were both missing for Motherwell after suffering knee and rib injuries respectively when Ian Baraclough's side lost at Dundee United the previous weekend, joining seven other team-mates on the injury list. Anthony Straker also made his Motherwell debut but there were only eight minutes on the clock when Saints scored the simplest of openers. Kane held off Mark O'Brien and played the ball through to Davidson, who ran untracked in between the Motherwell central defenders and slotted the ball into the corner. Motherwell continued to look vulnerable. Dan Twardzik saw a corner swerve over him but it was just too far for Tam Scobbie; David Wotherspoon misplaced a pass when trying to play Kane past an outnumbered home defence; and Kane soon forced a save from the goalkeeper. Laing, who had a successful loan spell at Notts County this season, then got himself into danger when he misjudged Scobbie's long ball down the left channel and he lost his footing as he turned to race Kane for the ball. The defender fell into Kane and brought him down and Collum flashed his fourth red card of 2015. Wotherspoon curled the free-kick just wide and Motherwell twice got themselves into trouble in possession to allow Davidson a shot but Twardzik pushed the ball past his near post. Fraser Kerr replaced O'Brien in central defence at half-time but survived an early scare when Steven MacLean sent a diving header just wide from Gary Miller's cross. MacLean soon atoned by clearing Kerr's header off the line following Josh Law's corner but Motherwell were encouraged and discovered a fighting spirit that had been missing in the first half. A couple of crosses just evaded Sutton and substitute Dom Thomas drilled in a long-range shot that Alan Mannus held well. Former Motherwell hero James McFadden came on to a warm reception from the home support, who were soon celebrating an equaliser. Thomas wriggled his way through three Saints players and threaded it through for Sutton on the 18-yard line and the striker took a touch before firing a left-footed shot inside Mannus' near post and into the roof of the net. St Johnstone were stung into action but could not capitalise on some late pressure. Substitute Michael O'Halloran had a shot blocked in the goalmouth and McFadden fired wide from 20 yards.