Motherwell and St Johnstone played out a goalless first half in their meaningless end of season encounter.

The home side spurned a couple of good opportunities through Stephen Nicholas and Said Chiba but in the main there was little for the sparse crowd to get excited about.

The consequent lack of atmosphere did not help the players and there was a low-key start to the match.

The visitors were slightly the more positive in their approach and the first chance came in the seventh minute following a through ball from midfielder Paul Kane which found Paul Hartley alone at the edge of the Motherwell box.

However the ex-Hibs player's volley went wide of Motherwell keeper Stephen Woods' right-hand post.

Moments later Woods flapped at a Hartley cross but luckily for the home side the danger was eventually cleared when defender Greg Strong hammered the ball into the stands.

The home side fought their way back into the game and in the 20th minute Kevin Twaddle embarked on a run which took him into the St Johnstone box but the midfielder stumbled at the last moment allowing keeper Main to gather.

Moments later Twaddle raced onto a Chiba pass and sent a dangerous cross in from the right-hand side which panicked keeper Main who eventually gathered at the second attempt.

The Lanarkshire side were in control now and should have taken the lead in the 24th minute when Nicholas found himself with only Main to beat but his hesitant shot from outside the box allowed the keeper to push it away for a corner.

Seconds later the home side missed an even better opportunity after Saints defender Ross Forsyth was short with a pass-back from inside the box.

This time it was Moroccan striker Chiba who had the keeper to beat but he shot past the post from 10 yards.

The home side fought their way back into the game and in the 20th minute Kevin Twaddle embarked on a run which took him into the St Johnstone box, but the midfielder stumbled at the last moment allowing keeper Main to gather.

Moments later Twaddle raced on to a Said Chiba pass and sent a dangerous cross in from the right-hand side which panicked Main who eventually gathered at the second attempt.

The Lanarkshire side were in control now and should have taken the lead in the 24th minute when Stephen Nicholas found himself with only Main to beat, but his hesitant shot from outside the box allowed the keeper to push it away for a corner.

Seconds later the home side missed an even better opportunity after Saints' defender Ross Forsythe was short with a pass-back from inside the box.

This time it was Moroccan striker Chiba who had the keeper to beat, but he shot past the post from 10 yards.

At the other end, striker Keigan Parker came close with a shot from 15 yards but the youngster's effort went narrowly past Woods right hand post.

In the 35th minute, Parker was lucky to escape punishment when the officials missed his elbow to the chest of Motherwell winger Stuart Elliott.

The home side continued to have the upper hand but couldn't get through the visitors defence who defended desperately at times and who also carried a fair share of luck.