Well open with draw at Perth

Ross Forber
By grabar
August 17 2009

Motherwell opened their 25th consecutive SPL campaign with stitting 2-2 draw with newly promoted St. Johnstone on Saturday

There was a shock for Manager Jim Gannon before the game when he was forced to change his line up when Paul Slane pulled up with a calf injury in the watm up, to be replaced by new signing Tom Hateley.

This seemed to upset Well and it toook a great double save from Ruddy to prevent McCaffrey's shot from going over the line. But the keeper was helpless when Saints opened the scoring in 33 minutes.

A half cleared corner fell for Davidson at the edge of the box, and Craigan had one of those pieces of bad luck that follows him about when the Saints man's shot deflected off him and looped over the keeper.

Gannon showed his ruthless streak when he hooked two of the most experienced men in the team when he replace Craigan and Sutton with Humphrey and McHugh.

This brought an instant lift to the team and Hutchinson sent a stunning header over Main in the Saints goal to send the Well fans into raptures. As often happens this wasn't to last too long as Saints equalised not long after.

Another corner caused panic in the Well six yard box and rather than clearing the ball it was prodded home by Gartland. This is an area that Gannon will need to fix, even though McGhee, Malpas and Butcher have all failed.

Well were on level terms again five minutes later, and it was an excellent strike from Forbes. He picked up a long ball from Hateley wide on the right before unleashing a bending shot that left Main helpless.

Well almost sealed all three points in the dying minutes but Jim O'Brien's shot on the turn crashed clear off the post.

A reasonable start for the Well, bring on Killie.....