St Johnstone 0-0 Motherwell

Motherwell's stalemate with St Johnstone means they remain level on points in seventh and eighth going into the Scottish Premiership split.

Murray Davidson fired narrowly wide for Saints in the first half.

The hosts pressed again early in the second period with David Wotherspoon denied by goalkeeper Trevor Carson.

Curtis Main was off target and team-mate Liam Grimshaw's effort was blocked for Well, who face Aberdeen in next weekend's Scottish Cup semi-final.

The two sides move on to 38 points - eight clear of Hamilton Academical, who host Celtic on Sunday, and 10 clear of the relegation zone.

The expectation was this would be decidedly end-of-season fare and the first half certainly lived up to that.

With both sides matching up with 3-5-2 formations, they effectively cancelled each other out for large tracts of a dull opening 45 minutes.

With Motherwell just a week away from their Hampden date, this was a chance for fringe players to stake a claim. Academy graduate Barry Maguire made his first start on the right-hand side of defence.

The only chance of note came on the stroke of half-time when St Johnstone manoeuvred themselves to the edge of the Motherwell box. Davidson fired off a shot but it flew wide of the post.

At the start of the second half there was an immediate improvement in terms of excitement as Carson had to save well from Wotherspoon, who had been set up by Scott Tanser.

Down at the other end Main tried to curl in a shot from the edge of the box, but it flew just wide.

In the last minute Motherwell almost made the breakthrough but the effort from Grimshaw was cleared off the line.

There was a bit more bite in the second half but both sides lacked an edge throughout and the scoreline summed it up.

St Johnstone manager Tommy Wright: "Difficult conditions and the pitch didn't lend itself to flowing football but I think both teams tried to play on the front foot.

"I thought we got into really good positions. We worked all week to try and cut crosses back because when you get deep against them they set their three centre-backs in and they are very difficult to get across. I think we probably edged it but probably didn't do enough in terms of our final ball.

"Quite simply people are playing for contracts. And even if they are under contract if the attitude is not right it plants a seed for me for next season. If standards drop people will not be in the team.

"What we will do is introduce some of our younger players and give them the experience, but I want to finish the season strongly."

Motherwell manager Stephen Robinson: "The right result for both teams. A scrappy affair, the pitch dictated it was never going to be good quality.

"They had a little spell at the start of the second half when the game sort of opened up and we had a spell in the last 10-15 minutes. We come out of the game quite happy with a point.

"They have all given me food for thought. Gael Bigirimana and Liam Grimshaw have both come in and done themselves no harm whatsoever. They have shown they can step up.

"I'll have a look and see where we are injury-wise. We have six players out at the moment. Tough decisions to make but hopefully the right ones."