Resilient Ten-man Motherwell secured a slender win over St Mirren to start the potential Stevie Hammell era in encouraging fashion.
Graham Alexander left the Steelmen on Friday after losing to Sligo Rovers in the Europa Conference League but Kevin Van Veen made the difference from the spot. Not even a late red card for Rickie Lamie could help Stephen Robinson ’s men to a late point.
There were home league debuts for the Buddies' Trevor Carson, Declan Gallagher, Mark O’Hara, Jonah Ayunga - who scored four Premier Sports Cup goals - Ryan Strain and Keanu Baccus. Meanwhile, Paul McGinn, Josh Morris and Blair Spittal all made their Motherwell league bows under caretaker boss Hammell.
It was the visitors who started with more attacking impetuous without really testing Carson in the St Mirren goal. On 20 minutes, there was a head collision between McGinn and O’Hara which caused a four minute delay, which saw McGinn depart to be replaced by O’Donnell.
