Goalkeeper Clark needs to learn from mistake- Tommy Wright

St Johnstone manager Tommy Wright told goalkeeper Zander Clark to learn from his mistake after his own goal gifted Motherwell the lead in a 1-1 draw at McDiarmid Park.

Published 17th Dec 2016

St Johnstone manager Tommy Wright told goalkeeper Zander Clark to learn from his mistake after his own goal gifted Motherwell the lead in a 1-1 draw at McDiarmid Park.

Clark spilled Richard Tait's low cross into his own net in the 12th minute and Saints struggled to break a packed Motherwell defence down for most of the remainder of the half.

Craig Samson pulled off a great save from Steven MacLean just before the interval but his luck was out when he saved Chris Kane's close-range effort only to see it bounce off the Saints striker and into the net in the 62nd minute.

Home substitute Blair Alston had the best of few chances to earn three Ladbrokes Premiership points but Samson pulled off another excellent stop to leave Wright frustrated.

On the opening goal, the former Newcastle goalkeeper said: I don't know how it has gone in. I don't think luck is anything to do with it, though.

It's a mistake and he will have to learn from it, which he will do. I have two good goalkeepers and he will be disappointed, but he has to learn.

That's the position he plays in and mistakes do happen. He will get over it. It is all part of the learning curve because he is still a very young goalkeeper.''

Wright added: When you go 1-0 down, it is difficult in this league to get back into the game. The performance was as good as we give here at home. We should win the game.

We kept knocking at the door. We put some great balls in, there was some good goalkeeping and some poor finishing.''

Motherwell might have had a penalty when Joe Shaughnessy's elevated arm appeared to touch the ball following another Tait cross just before Saints equalised.

Manager Mark McGhee said: I've seen it on tape three or four times and it's inconclusive.

Shaughnessy's hands are above his head. It looks as if it might have hit his arm but there is no solid contact.It has not really changed the direction of the ball but I think there is a danger when he sticks his hands up that he could get a penalty against him. But it was a difficult call.''

McGhee was satisfied with a point after Stephen McManus, Chris Cadden and Scott McDonald overcame knocks. McGhee started with three centre-backs and Louis Moult up front on his own but Saints levelled just after a tactical switch saw them move to a back four.

I enjoyed the first half, not the second half,'' McGhee said.The second half was excruciating but the first half was all right, I thought we approached it the right way.

I thought we ran out of energy in the second half. We have had three or four who haven't trained all week and who played, and I think that showed in the second half.

They piled on to us and we found it difficult to get up the park. So I am satisfied with the draw.''