Late penalty condemns Saints to defeat in Motherwell

Henry Fieldson was penalised for handball after a VAR check and Lukas Fadinger netted the game's only goal from 12 yards on 82 minutes to ensure the points remained in Lanarkshire.

Manager Craig McLeish made two changes from the side that drew 1-1 with Hibernian during the week. Fraser Taylor and Paul Nsio coming in for Declan John and Chris Mochrie who dropped to the bench after illness.

The home side started brightly and the Buddies had to weather an early storm from Alfred Johansson's men. The hosts had their first opportunity on 10 minutes when Tawanda Maswanhise lashed over from close range. A corner was headed away by Calvin Ramsay, but only as far as Emmanuel Longelo who lifted back into the box and found Maswanhise unmarked a few yards from goal. The forward took down before firing over on 10 minutes.

Longelo and Maswanhise combined again three mintues later in another big opportunity for the hosts. Jardell Kanga sent Longelo in down the left on a quick counter and the wing-back sent it low across the box for a sliding in Maswanhise who couldn't direct into the net.

Motherwell were on top in early stages with Longelo causing Saints problems down the left-hand side. His dangerous delivery found Tom Sparrow whose effort was well blocked by Marcus Fraser. Fadinger's follow-up was deflected wide.

Jacob Chapman was called upon to keep it level on 24 minutes, coming up with a big save to deny Ibrahim Said. Ramsay's pass was intercepted by Said who raced clear on goal but the forward saw his shot saved by the Saints stopper who had come out and made himself big to block.

Saints eventually settled and starting having more of the ball, but weren't creating enough to work the goalkeeper, save for a Killian Phillips chance from which the Irishman was flagged for offside anyway.

Our best opportunity came in the final moments of the first-half. Brilliant distribution from Chapman found Eseosa Sule on the left. The striker worked his way into box and flashed a dangerous ball across face but neither Phillips or Taylor could meet.

Motherwell started the second-half as they did the first, seeing more of the ball and creating more openings. They should have hit the front on 57 minutes when the trickery of Kanga allowed the winger to pick out Said 12 yards from goal, but the forward fired wide of target.

Craig McLeish responded by making a double substitution, introducing Samuel Ramos and Jake Young in place of Ryan Carr and Sule. Ramos was presented with a free-kick opportunity 25 yards from goal four minutes after his introduction. Phillips was fouled and the Spaniard stepped up to take, but sent it into the wall.

Motherwell would break the deadlock on 82 minutes when they were awarded a penalty for handball after a VAR check. Fieldson was penalised despite it looking like he was pushed by Regan Charles-Cook. Chapman went the right way but couldn't keep Fadinger's spot kick out.

Full-Time: Motherwell 1-0 St Mirren