Motherwell lost to Premiership basement side St Johnstone at McDiarmid Park, seven days after being knocked out of the Scottish Cup by the same opponents, at the same venue.

Andy Halliday's early penalty looked like earning Motherwell all three points, until two late corners cost them dearly as Taylor Steven and Bozo Mikulic netted.

That left Motherwell with no wins in their last four, and one in the last nine games.

Motherwell fans urged changes in the side after last week's 1-0 Scottish Cup defeat here in Perth, six were made (more on that later) and it seemed to work, with the visitors immediately more attacking.

That resulted in an early penalty which was clinically dispatched by Halliday, and they had other chances to add to that.

St Johnstone had plenty of possession, but didn't do a lot with it. All too often, a pass went astray, or there was nobody in the middle for a cross, so they failed to seriously test Brentford loan keeper Ellery Balcombe on his debut.

St Johnstone threw on Adama Sidibeh for Kucheriavyi at half-time and that breathed new life into the hosts. He should have drawn them level shortly after his introduction, too, but was blocked by some good defending.

Taylor and Mikulic made the most of dithering defending, though, to keep the three points in Perth.

St Johnstone boss Simo Valakari made one change from the Scottish Cup win over Motherwell here seven days ago, with Max Kucheriavyi in for Jack Sanders.

Motherwell boss Stuart Kettlewell made six changes. Goalkeeper Ellery Balcombe made his debut, while Stephen O'Donnell, Liam Gordon, Tom Sparrow, Harry Paton and Tony Watt came in for Archie Mair (GK), Kofi Balmer, Dan Casey, Ewan Wilson, Kai Andrews and Jack Vale, who was suspended.

New signings Luke Armstrong and defender Dom Thompson were on the bench.

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Motherwell took the lead from the spot in four minutes after a rate VAR decision went in their favour, when Saints captain Sven Sprangler handled inside the area.

After referee Kevin Clancy went to the monitor and pointed to the spot, Halliday clinically dispatched into the bottom right corner, sending keeper Andy Fisher the wrong way.

Marvin Kaleta found Tawanda Maswanhise on the right side of the box in 13 minutes, but he dragged his shot wide of the far post.

St Johnstone nearly drew level in 15 minutes, when Barry Douglas picked out Victor Griffith, but his shot was parried by Balcombe and cleared for a corner.

Bozo Mikulic gave St Johnstone fans a scare in 29 minutes with a header back to Fisher that had the keeper scrambling back before clutching it at the right post.

Sparrow gave Watt a sight of goal in 34 minutes, but the striker's shot was taken at the second attempt by Fisher.

Carey took a free kick wide on the right in 42 minutes, but sent it fizzing inches past the left post.

St Johnstone should have levelled in 48 minutes when a good move set up sub Adama Sidibeh, but he somehow fired past the right post with the goal gaping, though it was also good defending by Motherwell.

At the other end, Maswanhise should have done better than shoot straight at Fisher in 51 minutes.

Nicky Clark was sent through on goal in 77 minutes, but fired just past the left post.

MaKenzie Kirk forced a good save from Balcombe in 81 minutes.

At the other end, sub Luke Armstrong broke clear on the left, but dragged his shot wide of the right post.

But St Johnstone levelled in 86 minutes when he slammed into the net after they failed to clear Carey's corner.

And two minutes later Mikulic netted from a similar route.

ST JOHNSTONE: Fisher, Wright, Kucheriavyi (Sidibeh, 46), Mikulic, Douglas, Curtis, Sprangler, Griffith, Holt, Carey, Kirk (Franczak, 90+6)

Subs (not used): Sinclair (GK), Raymond, Clark, Essel, Steven Smith, Kimpioka

Booked: Kucheriavyi (22), Wright (47)

MOTHERWELL: Balcombe, Kaleta (Koutroumbis, 78), Gordon, Blaney, O'Donnell, Halliday (Zdravkovski, 67), Sparrow (Thompson, 60), Paton (Andrews, 78), Nicholson (Armstrong), Maswanhise, Watt

Subs (not used): Connelly (GK), Balmer, Casey, Wilson

Booked: Thomson (61), Paton (70), Armstrong (90+6)

Referee: Kevin Clancy

Attendance: 4014