By Clive Lindsay

Forbes scored an excellent equaliser for Motherwell in Perth

Motherwell twice came back from behind to deny Scottish Premier League newcomers St Johnstone an opening-day win on their return to the top-flight.

Murray Davidson gave Saints the lead after 33 minutes when his shot from 16 yards hit the net via a deflection.

Shaun Hutchinson levelled after the break with a looping header.

But Graham Gartland poked home five minutes later to restore the lead only for Ross Forbes to level with a superb curling drive from 22 yards.

And the fightback vindicated Motherwell manager Jim Gannon's decision to haul off veteran captain Stephen Craigan and experienced striker John Sutton.

St Johnstone had included five summer signings in their starting line-up as they ended a seven-year absence from the SPL.

Motherwell manager Jim Gannon had named the same team that started the Europa League home-leg defeat by Steaua Bucharest, with latest signing Tom Hateley winning a place on the bench.

But he was forced into a change shortly before kick-off following an injury to Paul Slane in the warm-up.

It meant a debut for Tom Hateley, the son of former Rangers striker Mark, who filled in at right-back two days after signing following his departure from Reading.

The visiting defence was immediately under pressure when two of Saints' new signings combined, but Kenny Deuchar could not turn Dave MacKay's low cross into the net from close range and, from the resulting throw-in, Steven Milne shot just wide on the turn from 10 yards.

Motherwell almost took the lead against the run of play when O'Brien, more through luck than design, turned a cross from Hateley just wide of the near post.

But Saints took a 33rd-minute lead when a corner fell to Davidson 20 yards out and his shot hit a Motherwell player and looped over goalkeeper John Ruddy and into the net.

Davidson opened the scoring for Saints at McDiarmid Park

The former Livingston midfielder had a chance for his second before the break after a clever move involving Liam Craig and Mackay but struck his sidefoot effort straight at the goalkeeper from close range.

Gannon brought on youngster Robert McHugh and Chris Humphrey as the visitors appeared to go for broke with a 4-2-4 formation after the break.

McHugh almost scored with his first touch, but neither he nor O'Brien were able to get a touch on Mark Reynolds' cross.

Motherwell did equalise when Hutchinson's header looped into the net from 16 yards after he connected with a free-kick floated into the box after 56 minutes.

The lead only lasted five minutes, Gartland poking the ball home from five yards after a goalmouth scramble that Well failed to clear.

Well looked to have struck back immediately when Jamie Murphy turned a cross into the net at the front post, but he was booked for handling the ball into the net.

However, the visitors scored a legitimate leveller after 66 minutes when Forbes' turned inside Gartland and his curling left-foot effort from wide on the right found the top corner of the net.

Deuchar missed a great opportunity to restore Saints' lead when Davidson beat goalkeeper Ruddy to the ball and turned the ball into the path of the striker, who blasted over from 16 yards.

Reynolds twice went close, Liam Craig blocking his close-range drive at the back post and, from the corner, heading just over.

Collin Samuel went close for Saints with a shot on the turn, but it was Well who went closest to victory, an O'Brien piledriver on the turn from 30 yards striking the junction of post and bar.

St Johnstone manager Derek McInnes:
"We've got to be disappointed after twice getting ourselves in front.

"I thought we had the better of the game in the first half and the best chances in the second, but it just goes to show that there is no margin for error at this level.

"It is the first game and there are bound to be teething problems.

"But we should take a lot of confidence from that. If that is the benchmark, we should be okay."

Motherwell manager Jim Gannon:
"I did not need to make the changes, but as a manager you are paid to make decisions.

"We needed much more energy, we needed much more enthusiasm and needed players who were going to take more responsibility to pass the ball properly and attack with a bit of what we call slick and quick.

"And we saw that in the second half. It was exciting to watch and, after today's game, I am excited about what we can achieve here.

"We had two fantastic chances when it was 2-2, but there were some worrying moments as well and I am just pleased with our performance in the second half."

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