Motherwell clocked up their first home League win of the season in style, hitting an equally injury-ravaged St Johnstone side with two goals in each half to tuck away three deserved points.

Darren Dods put through his own goal in the first half before Lee McCulloch gave the home side a 2-0 lead at the break.

Ged Brannan hit home the third in the second period before Stuart Elliott wrapped up the points.

Both managers were restricted to selection because of the high injury list in both camps but the home side responded better to the reduced resources available.

Motherwell hit top gear almost immediately with a first minute drive from Derek Townsley off a Stuart Elliott cross that went inches past.

Then an Elliott header off Townsley's cross forced a good one-handed save from Main.

Just as Motherwell were claiming the upper-hand they sneaked ahead with an own goal.

Elliott almost out-paced Mohammed Sylla but the defender managed to get a touch to the ball but Dods was caught off balance and the ball came in and could do little to avoid turning it into his own net after 20 minutes.

A crazy mix-up in the Perth goal area gave Motherwell the chance to add a second in 26 minutes.

As John Spencer floated a corner into the box keeper Main and defenders Allan Kernaghan and Dods went for the high ball without satisfactorily clearing it.

The ball dropped to McCulloch who, with his back to goal, tried an overhead kick to steer the ball into the net.

The St Johnstone threat in the first-half was limited to a shot from Sylla, a mis-kick effort from John Paul McBride and a Gary Bollan free-kick that sailed straight into the keeper's arms.

Saints brought on Keigan Parker and new signing Sean Evers and briefly hinted that they might make more of a contest of it.

But those hopes disappeared as Motherwell grabbed their third goal.

Brannan fired in a free kick in the 57th minute that gave McCulloch a clear strike at goal but Main tipped round the post.

But Brannan was more fortunate a minute later when he rose almost unchallenged to head a Spencer corner powerfully into the net.

Elliott capped a first class afternoon's effort with a slick goal in the 71st minute.

Goodman held the ball long enough to give Elliott sight of the open space and his speed left the Saints defenders trailing as he moved towards the edge of the box and coolly slid the ball past Main into the net.

Motherwell's joy at recording their only second League win was dimmed slightly by a silly reaction from Benito Kemble.

The Dutch defender was booked in the 74th minute but, four minutes later, was booked for a second time for a foul earning him the red card.