Despite the chances Motherwell created - 11 shots over 90 minutes - it looked for most of the game that their seven-game winless run was going to extend to eight.

Manager Alfred Johansson noted the importance pre-match of being more clinical, but once again they were found wanting.

The positive for supporters, the football was much more reminiscent of that seen in the early stages his tenure, particularly Maswanhise's chance where they worked the ball from back to front with slick passing before the striker shot wide.

Maswanhise had earlier passed up an opportunity six yards out as he smashed high over. Ibrahim Said missed one that he really should have buried, too, when he found himself one on one with Jacob Chapman by shot straight at the goalkeeper.

Then, when it looked like all the chips were down, a moment of good fortune.

Regan Charles-Cook and Fieldson were tussling in the St Mirren box when the ball took a nick off the latter's hand. Referee Robertson didn't give the spot-kick on the pitch but after a look at the monitor he pointed to the spot.

And while Fadinger's penalty was maybe fortunate, sometimes that's what you need to end a winless run and be the catalyst for better days.

Just when it looked like Craig McLeish's men were starting to turn a corner, they were undone by a late sucker-punch.

Beforehand, the manager praised his side for being tough to play against, even if they've not been performing particularly well, and that was something they did again in Motherwell, partly helped by how wasteful the hosts were.

In defence, St Mirren were solid. They made 21 tackles, won nine, and made nine interceptions.

Up the other end, though, they were wasteful, too, but didn't create as much.

They managed just one shot in the first half, four in the second, only one of those was on target. They're expected goals (xG) hardly even registered at 0.2 and they failed to create a single big chance.

While St Mirren will need to continue to be hard to beat, they will also need to work on making more happen at the other end.

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