Stuart Elliott gave Motherwell a 1-0 half-time lead against St Johnstone.

Stephen Nicholas was drafted into the Motherwell side to form a new strike force with Derek Adams as the hosts decided to give youth a fling in the Scottish Premier League against St Johnstone.

Saints also made one change from the side which beat Hibernian on Sunday, with Mark McCulloch replacing the injured John Paul McBride.

Motherwell looked the more alert at the kick-off as efforts from Adams then Nicholas slid wide of goal. A free-kick from Said Chiba was headed back into the goal area by James Oloki - but Jim Weir cleared the danger.

Saints' first chance came after 10 minutes, but a snap shot from Paul Hartley from just inside the box was well off its mark.

As Motherwell gained the upper hand two half-chances fell to Nicholas - the first supplied by Kevin Twaddle and the second by Stuart - but the young striker failed to cash in.

A darting run into the box by Adams forced keeper Alan Main to palm the ball away. Adams was quickest to react but his cut back from the by-line flashed across the face of the goal with no takers.

Chiba forced a good save from Main with a right-foot drive from the edge of the box.

Then a minute later the Moroccan international set up the opening goal.

His well-flighted corner from the left was met by Elliott and his powerful header flew into the net giving Main little chance.

Twaddle tried to add to his side's lead in 29 minutes but his long range effort flew beyond Alan Main's post.

Saints, in one of their few raids on the home goal, had a half-chance on 39 minutes after an inviting cross from Tommy Lovenkrands that Paul Hartley just managed to get a touch to. When the home defence failed to clear the threat, Sylle fired the rebound wildly over the bar.

Five minutes before the break, a high cross floated over by Corrigan was headed over by Elliott.