Last updated on .From the section Scottish Premiership

Ten-man Motherwell surged back into third in the Scottish Premiership thanks to a dogged win over struggling St Johnstone.

Devante Cole's tap in was the difference in Perth, which came moments after he ballooned over from two yards.

Scott Tanser's tame second-half penalty was saved by Well keeper Mark Gillespie in a rare call to action, while Liam Donnelly was sent off late on.

The defeat leaves Tommy Wright's winless side bottom with three points.

St Johnstone did have chances in attack with Tanser going close twice, Stevie May also somehow missed with the goal gaping and Murray Davidson headed wide.

For Stephen Robinson's side, it was far from free-flowing football but this was effective for the Lanarkshire club, who did well to bounce back after blowing a home lead against Ross County last weekend.

No Steelmen slip ups this time

There were more than a few moments at McDiarmid Park that would have triggered pangs of deja vu for Motherwell supporters.

Last weekend, their side was 20 minutes away from moving into second in the table - albeit briefly - only for their profligacy to cost them as County roared back to victory, almost from nowhere.

For long spells just beyond the Broxden Roundabout, St Johnstone were nowhere to be seen in Motherwell's rearview mirror. Cole, who inexplicably missed the sitter of the season earlier in the afternoon, had put the visitors into a deserved lead when he tapped in a Declan Gallagher headed ball, and there was little resistance from Wright's team.

Yet, a bubbling of confidence after the break, culminating in a spot kick when Richard Tait was judged to have fouled Davidson, who fell over on the back of jumping for a header, threatened another Well lead.

However, Tanser's limp shot, which was tipped on to his own head and away by Gillespie, summed up a performance from a St Johnstone team who continue to huff and puff, but simply not deliver.

May's miss has already been cited - he may have thought he had been nudged by Gallagher - but against a side that had only won at McDiarmid Park once in their past 11 visits, the visitors were simply not tested enough. There were chances, particularly through Davidson and May late on, with the latter being denied by a great save from Gillespie, but there was no breakthrough.

By the time Donnelly saw red in injury time for a stamp on a breaking St Johnstone player, there were only seconds left for Saints.

Robinson, on the other hand, will be heartened by his team's endeavours. Without Charles Dunne and the suspended Jake Carroll, their defence largely held firm, while the toil of his battling midfield ensured the points would be heading back down the A9.

Man of the match - Declan Gallagher

BBC Scotland's Tyrone Smith at McDiarmid Park

To be honest this was not a game of standout individual performances.

However, Motherwell's Declan Gallagher was one of the few players who genuinely caught the eye.

He was strong and assured in the heart of the Well defence, but he was also a real menace when he ventured up the field, causing all sorts of problems for the hosts in their box.

'A gritty win' - Reaction

St Johnstone manager Tommy Wright: "It's a game we should have got something out of, without a doubt. We were on top for long spells but it's the same old story - people not doing their jobs from set-plays.

"It's not a good start. We know that and we need to get better. I don't think confidence is the problem. It's just that in certain situations players are not standing up and being counted."

Motherwell manager Stephen Robinson: "When you don't play well and you win football matches, it's the sign of a good squad. It was a gritty performance.

"We had chances to kill the game off but a brilliant penalty save from Mark Gillespie kept us in front and we hung on."