St Mirren and Motherwell had to settle for a Scottish Premiership point each in a disappointing stalemate in Paisley.
Devante Cole hit a post for Motherwell but it was a game of few chances as both sides cancelled each other out.
The visitors, though, increased the gap between them and bottom of the table Hamilton Academical to five points, albeit having played a game more.
It is sixth-placed St Mirren’s fourth consecutive draw.
It was a first half to forget in Paisley. Joe Shaughnessy’s weak header at Motherwell goalkeeper Liam Kelly seconds before half-time was the only effort on target.
Before that, Shaughnessy headed a free-kick wide and, at the other end, Barry Maguire had a shot deflected past a post, but they were the only highlights of a game devoid of quality.
But there was improvement after the break, and within the first minute there had been more action than in the previous 45.
St Mirren’s Ilkay Durmus volleyed a cross towards the bottom right-hand corner and Kelly brilliantly palmed it wide.
Then Allan Campbell drove into the box and won a corner by forcing St Mirren goalkeeper Jak Alnwick into a save, and minutes later the same player ended a neat passing move by firing over.
Motherwell were having the better of it. Cole had a near post shot saved before Robbie Crawford and Jordan Roberts sent efforts over.
And as close as either side got to piercing the deadlock was when Cole flicked his heels at a corner kick and directed it towards goal, but agonisingly saw it bounce back off the inside of a post.
As the rain pelted down late on, the visitors continued to be the more likely to find a winner, but St Mirren almost had the final say when substitute Kyle McAllister cut inside and Jake Carroll had to get his head in the way to divert wide.
Man of the match – Allan Campbell
![Motherwell's Allan Campbell and St Mirren's Cammy MacPherson](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/onesport/cps/624/cpsprodpb/B8FE/production/_117285374_motstm.jpg)
What did we learn?
It was two sides who didn’t want to give much away and who cancelled each other out for large spells.
Motherwell grew stronger as the game went on but couldn’t make their pressure, or the large number of set-piece opportunities, count.
What’s next?
St Mirren are at home to Ross County on Saturday (15:00 GMT), while at the same time Motherwell are at Hibernian.
How to play
Rate players out of 10 throughout or after the game. The rater will close 30 minutes after the final whistle.
Rating range key = Give it up = Pure perfection
St Mirren
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Squad number1Player nameAlnwick
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Squad number22Player nameFraser
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Squad number5Player nameMcCarthy
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Squad number4Player nameShaughnessy
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Squad number2Player nameTait
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Squad number7Player nameDoyle-Hayes
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Squad number25Player nameErhahon
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Squad number11Player nameDurmus
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Squad number14Player nameMacPherson
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Squad number17Player nameMcGrath
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Squad number9Player nameObika
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Squad number10Player nameMcAllister
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Squad number21Player nameConnolly
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Squad number23Player nameErwin
Motherwell
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Squad number13Player nameKelly
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Squad number33Player nameO’Donnell
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Squad number40Player nameMagloire
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Squad number4Player nameLamie
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Squad number3Player nameCarroll
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Squad number15Player nameMaguire
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Squad number8Player nameCrawford
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Squad number6Player nameCampbell
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Squad number39Player nameRoberts
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Squad number44Player nameCole
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Squad number32Player nameWatt
No players have been substituted yet
Line-ups
St Mirren
Formation 3-4-2-1
- 1Alnwick
- 22Fraser
- 5McCarthy
- 4ShaughnessyBooked at 61mins
- 2TaitSubstituted forMcAllisterat 73′minutes
- 7Doyle-Hayes
- 25Erhahon
- 11DurmusBooked at 21mins
- 14MacPhersonSubstituted forErwinat 69′minutes
- 17McGrath
- 9ObikaSubstituted forConnollyat 82′minutes
Substitutes
- 8Flynn
- 10McAllister
- 15Finlayson
- 21Connolly
- 23Erwin
- 26Lyness
- 27Urminsky
- 30Henderson
- 33Jamieson
Motherwell
Formation 4-3-3
- 13Kelly
- 33O’Donnell
- 40Magloire
- 4Lamie
- 3Carroll
- 15MaguireBooked at 42mins
- 8Crawford
- 6Campbell
- 39Roberts
- 44Cole
- 32Watt
Substitutes
- 5McGinley
- 9Long
- 11Hastie
- 14Lawless
- 19Polworth
- 23Morrison
- 24Devine
- 26Cornelius
- 27Johnston
Live Text
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Match ends, St. Mirren 0, Motherwell 0.
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Second Half ends, St. Mirren 0, Motherwell 0.
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Corner, St. Mirren. Conceded by Jake Carroll.
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Attempt blocked. Kyle McAllister (St. Mirren) left footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Jamie McGrath.
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Ethan Erhahon (St. Mirren) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Allan Campbell (Motherwell).
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Corner, St. Mirren. Conceded by Stephen O’Donnell.
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Corner, Motherwell. Conceded by Joe Shaughnessy.
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Substitution, St. Mirren. Dylan Connolly replaces Jonathan Obika.
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Foul by Lee Erwin (St. Mirren).
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Jake Carroll (Motherwell) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Devante Cole (Motherwell) hits the left post with a right footed shot from very close range following a corner.
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Corner, Motherwell. Conceded by Marcus Fraser.
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Attempt blocked. Jordan Roberts (Motherwell) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Devante Cole.
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Attempt missed. Jordan Roberts (Motherwell) left footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Devante Cole with a headed pass.
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Substitution, St. Mirren. Kyle McAllister replaces Richard Tait.
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Attempt missed. Robbie Crawford (Motherwell) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses the top right corner following a corner.
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Corner, Motherwell. Conceded by Jak Alnwick.
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Attempt saved. Devante Cole (Motherwell) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Tony Watt with a through ball.
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Substitution, St. Mirren. Lee Erwin replaces Cameron MacPherson.