St. Mirren Vs Motherwell: Motherwell Run Riot in Paisley with 5-0 Rout
Motherwell produced a statement win in Paisley as St. Mirren Vs Motherwell ended 0-5 at the SMiSA Stadium in a downpour, a result that extends Motherwell's impressive Premiership form and reshapes immediate league dynamics.
St. Mirren Vs Motherwell: how the game unfolded
Attendance at the SMiSA Stadium was 6, 758 for a match that turned decisively in Motherwell's favour inside the first half. Elijah Just opened the scoring in the 14th minute, then Tawanda Maswanhise converted a penalty in the 30th minute after he was felled by a reckless challenge from St Mirren goalkeeper Shamal George. Ibrahim Said added a third before the half was out, leaving Motherwell comfortably in control before the red card that followed for St Mirren.
Key incidents and individual contributions
Richard King was sent off for St Mirren for an off-the-ball incident in the 52nd minute, reducing the hosts to ten men and removing any realistic hopes of a comeback. Emmanuel Longelo added a fourth and Eythor Bjorgolfsson fired a spectacular first goal for the club to complete the 5-0 scoreline. Early moments also threatened at both ends: Jake Young forced a diving save from Callum Ward inside three minutes, and Maswanhise guided Longelo's teasing cross just wide. Conor McMenamin later drew another save from Ward as St Mirren tried to respond.
Motherwell response to recent cup exit and tactical note
Motherwell bounced back from their Scottish Cup exit at Aberdeen with what is described as their biggest victory of the campaign. The manager had said before kick-off that "we still have that little bit of feeling of revenge" after a 4-1 defeat by St Mirren in the League Cup semi-final earlier this season, and the result in Paisley delivered a comprehensive answer. The visitors posted dominant numbers — 71% possession and 92% passing accuracy — and the visiting supporters were audible in their optimism, chanting that they were going to win the league.
Form, records and context from the match
St Mirren had kept a clean sheet in four of their latest five games prior to this match, but that run was ended emphatically. Motherwell have now kept 12 clean sheets and conceded just three goals in their last 15 league games. They have suffered only three league defeats this season; only second-top Rangers have lost fewer. The visitors are unbeaten in their latest four visits to the SMiSA Stadium, all without conceding, and have suffered just one defeat in their last 12 league visits.
League implications and standings impact
The result moved Motherwell 10 points off leaders Hearts with a game in hand while also leaving them four points behind third-top Celtic, who play tomorrow along with second-top Rangers. St Mirren sit just two points above the danger zone after this result. The margin and manner of the win both underline Motherwell's momentum and the narrowing window left in the season.
Broader Saturday Premiership picture
Elsewhere across the Scottish top flight, Hearts went five points clear at the top by beating Falkirk. In other results, Aberdeen lost again as Dundee added to their woes in a 3-2 win: Olusanya opened for Dundee before Murray levelled from the penalty spot after Morrison was sent off for a last-man foul on Yogane; Cotterill forced in Dundee's second, Nisbet equalised with a free-kick, and Hamilton restored the winner. Dundee United were held 1-1 by Kilmarnock — Fatah had a first-half penalty saved but later curled in a fine strike, Watkins netted a late leveller and Thomson was sent off.
Notable in Paisley was a high-profile spectator: Sir Alex Ferguson was in attendance, back in Paisley 48 years after being sacked by Saints. In a downpour that matched the scale of the scoreline, Motherwell quite literally rained on St Mirren's parade and left with a five-goal victory that will reverberate through the remainder of the campaign.
