St Mirren and Motherwell contested a goalless draw in Paisley, a result which does neither side any favours.

The home side had the best of the opening 45 minutes and Gary Teale's deflected effort was well saved by Darren Randolph.

However, Motherwell forced the pace in the second half and Craig Samson produced a superb stop to block Michael Higdon's header.

Winger Chris Humphrey hit the bar late on but St Mirren held out for a point.

A flowing first-minute move looked to have ended with Paul McGowan's shot being blocked by Motherwell defender Tim Clancy. But the loose ball fell to Dougie Imrie and his powerful drive was batted away by visiting goalkeeper Randolph at his near post.

Teale was impressing for St Mirren on the right wing and he almost fired his side ahead on the half-hour mark. He cut inside from that flank and unleashed a deflected shot that Randolph had to pull off a stunning stop to keep out.

Motherwell were under real pressure and McGowan found a yard of space at the edge of the box and cracked a 20-yard shot inches past the upright.

The visitors had offered little in attack but had a penalty claim turned down in 37 minutes when Marc McAusland appeared to foul Nicky Law. Referee Craig Charleston, officating in his first Scottish Premier League match, waved away the appeals.

Motherwell produced the move of the match seven minutes into the second period when Henrik Ojamaa twisted and turned to get away from two opponents and crossed for Higdon.

The striker met the ball with his head to bring out a contender for save of the season from Samson as he made an instinctive block with his right hand.

As the game entered its later stages, Motherwell squandered an excellent opportunity to take the lead when defender Shaun Hutchinson failed to make strong contact with a Tom Hateley set-piece and his header missed the target.

Estonian striker Ojamaa then saw his curling effort touched away by Samson and, finally, Humphrey hit the crossbar with an attempted cross as Stuart McCall's side searched in vain for a winner.

Lineup, Bookings (6) & Substitutions (2)

St Mirren

  • 01 Samson
  • 03 Barron
  • 05 Mair
  • 14 McAusland
  • 22 Tesselaar
  • 06 Goodwin Booked
  • 21 Teale
  • 23 Carey (Hasselbaink - 87' )
  • 27 Imrie Booked
  • 09 Thompson
  • 10 McGowan

Substitutes

  • 12 Smith
  • 02 van Zanten
  • 37 Naismith
  • 08 Thomson
  • 15 Mooy
  • 11 Hasselbaink
  • 39 Reilly

Motherwell

  • 01 Randolph
  • 03 Hammell
  • 15 Hutchinson
  • 22 Clancy Booked
  • 04 Law
  • 06 Hateley Booked
  • 08 Jennings Booked
  • 14 Lasley
  • 09 Higdon Booked
  • 11 Murphy (Humphrey - 82' )
  • 24 Ojamaa

Substitutes

  • 31 Bradley
  • 05 Craigan
  • 07 Humphrey
  • 17 Daley
  • 26 Carswell
  • 16 McHugh
  • 18 Forbes
Ref: Charleston
Att: 4,204

Match Stats

Shots

9 5

On target

2 2

Corners

7 7

Fouls

12 15

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +2:13 Full time

Full Time The referee ends the match.

90:00 +0:50

Marc McAusland takes a shot. Save made by Darren Randolph.

90:00 +0:12

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Nigel Hasselbaink by Tim Clancy. Gary Teale restarts play with the free kick.

90:00 +0:12 Booking

Booking Tim Clancy is shown a yellow card for unsporting behaviour.

89:24

Gary Teale has an effort at goal from just outside the box which goes wide of the right-hand upright.

86:44

Outswinging corner taken right-footed by Tom Hateley from the right by-line, clearance by David Barron. Michael Higdon takes a shot. Blocked by Marc McAusland. Outswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Tom Hateley, Marc McAusland manages to make a clearance.

85:56

Indirect free kick taken by Darren Randolph.

85:56 Substitution

Substitution Graham Carey goes off and Nigel Hasselbaink comes on.

85:56

Unfair challenge on Tom Hateley by Steven Thompson results in a free kick.

83:33

Inswinging corner taken from the left by-line by Tom Hateley, Header from close range by Shaun Hutchinson misses to the right of the goal.

82:01

Unfair challenge on Paul McGowan by Steve Jennings results in a free kick. Strike comes in from Graham Carey from the free kick.

81:07

Free kick taken by Craig Samson.

81:07 Substitution

Substitution Chris Humphrey comes on in place of Jamie Murphy.

81:07 Booking

Booking Michael Higdon is cautioned by the ref for unsporting behaviour.

80:56

Graham Carey fouled by Michael Higdon, the ref awards a free kick.

74:21

Inswinging corner taken by Graham Carey, clearance made by Keith Lasley.

67:59

Graham Carey gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Keith Lasley. Darren Randolph takes the direct free kick.

67:16

Graham Carey takes the direct free kick.

67:16 Booking

Booking Tom Hateley receives a caution.

66:46

Tom Hateley challenges Graham Carey unfairly and gives away a free kick.

64:42 Booking

Booking Steve Jennings booked for dissent.

61:17

Michael Higdon is caught offside. Indirect free kick taken by Craig Samson.

56:56

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Keith Lasley by Jim Goodwin. Direct strike on goal from the free kick comes in from Tom Hateley.

56:17

Foul by Jim Goodwin on Keith Lasley, free kick awarded. Stevie Hammell restarts play with the free kick.

55:48

Jamie Murphy fouled by Jeroen Tesselaar, the ref awards a free kick. Keith Lasley takes the free kick.

54:09

Graham Carey has an effort at goal from outside the area missing to the wide right of the goal.

52:02

Corner taken by Tom Hateley, clearance by Marc McAusland. Corner taken right-footed by Tom Hateley from the left by-line, Foul by Shaun Hutchinson on Craig Samson, free kick awarded. Craig Samson takes the free kick.

50:59

Free kick awarded for a foul by Keith Lasley on Steven Thompson. Graham Carey takes the direct free kick.

50:10

Michael Higdon takes a shot. Save made by Craig Samson.

48:41

Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Stevie Hammell from the right by-line, Steve Jennings produces a header from inside the six-yard box that clears the bar.

46:10

Unfair challenge on Lee Mair by Michael Higdon results in a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Craig Samson.

45:01

The referee gets the second half started.

45:00 +1:06 Half time

Half Time The players leave the pitch at half time.

45:00 +0:13

Free kick awarded for a foul by Tim Clancy on David Barron. Free kick crossed by Graham Carey, save made by Darren Randolph.

42:05

Shaun Hutchinson challenges Steven Thompson unfairly and gives away a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Jim Goodwin.

41:14

Darren Randolph takes the free kick.

41:14 Booking

Booking Douglas Imrie goes into the book.

40:59

Douglas Imrie challenges Shaun Hutchinson unfairly and gives away a free kick.

38:23

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Douglas Imrie by Stevie Hammell. Direct free kick taken by Marc McAusland.

32:24

Shot from just outside the box by Paul McGowan misses to the right of the goal.

27:33

Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Graham Carey, Lee Mair produces a header from close range which goes wide of the left-hand upright.

29:39

Unfair challenge on Stevie Hammell by Steven Thompson results in a free kick. Darren Randolph takes the free kick.

27:33

Corner taken by Graham Carey, Lee Mair has a headed effort at goal from close range which goes wide left of the target.

26:55

Steven Thompson is ruled offside. Free kick taken by Darren Randolph.

23:30

Inswinging corner taken by Graham Carey.

23:04

Corner taken left-footed by Graham Carey from the left by-line, Steve Jennings makes a clearance.

21:45

Graham Carey produces a left-footed shot from just outside the box that goes wide right of the goal.

20:25

Steve Jennings gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Paul McGowan. Craig Samson takes the direct free kick.

19:42

Tom Hateley takes the outswinging corner, Marc McAusland makes a clearance.

17:00

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Tom Hateley by Douglas Imrie. Darren Randolph takes the direct free kick.

15:33

Michael Higdon challenges Jim Goodwin unfairly and gives away a free kick. Craig Samson restarts play with the free kick. Steven Thompson is ruled offside. Darren Randolph restarts play with the free kick.

15:02

Steven Thompson concedes a free kick for a foul on Shaun Hutchinson. Darren Randolph restarts play with the free kick.

11:51

Direct free kick taken by Steve Jennings.

11:51 Booking

Booking Jim Goodwin goes into the book.

11:41

Jim Goodwin gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Steve Jennings.

10:49

Steven Thompson challenges Tim Clancy unfairly and gives away a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Darren Randolph.

8:52

Free kick awarded for a foul by Douglas Imrie on Nicky Law. Tom Hateley delivers the ball from the free kick right-footed from left channel, free kick awarded for a foul by Henrik Ojamaa on Craig Samson. Craig Samson takes the direct free kick.

7:36

Corner taken left-footed by Graham Carey, Shaun Hutchinson manages to make a clearance. Corner taken right-footed by Gary Teale from the left by-line, comfortable save by Darren Randolph.

6:56

Tom Hateley concedes a free kick for a foul on Douglas Imrie. Graham Carey crosses the ball in from the free kick, clearance made by Steve Jennings.

3:37

Stevie Hammell concedes a free kick for a foul on Jim Goodwin. Free kick taken by David Barron.

2:57

Paul McGowan produces a right-footed shot from just outside the box that goes wide right of the target.

2:11

Corner taken by Graham Carey from the left by-line, Keith Lasley makes a clearance.

0:20

Douglas Imrie takes a shot. Save by Darren Randolph.

0:00

The referee starts the match.

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