St Johnstone had to fight their way back following a goalkeeping blunder to take a point at home to Motherwell.
They conceded a terrible own goal on just 12 minutes when goalie Zander Clark deflected a cross into Saints’ net.
However, the hosts grabbed a deserved equaliser on 61 minutes when Chris Kane scored his fourth goal of the season.
There was a surprise before kick-off when it emerged Saints would be without veteran central defender Steven Anderson because of illness.
Also missing due to a back problem was Liam Craig, while Danny Swanson stayed sidelined through injury.
Into the side came Tam Scobbie to replace Anderson, while Craig’s place was taken by Chris Millar.
Motherwell were just hoping that this game lasted longer than the seven minutes it took to abandon their game against Aberdeen at Pittodrie on Tuesday night.
On five minutes, the hosts came close when Brian Easton’s low shot off Michael Coulson’s corner was deflected just the wrong side of the post.
Just seconds later, Saints’ Murray Davidson looped a header over as the Perth men made the brighter start.
On 12 minutes, though, the visitors took the lead against the run of play.
It was a shocking goal for St Johnstone to lose and one to forget for goalkeeper Clark in particular.
Louis Moult played a beautiful pass out to the right to Tait and the full-back took a touch before driving over a cross.
Clark came off his line to try to grab the cross but the ball seemed to hit the back of his hand and was redirected into the net.
It might seem harsh but it looked more like a Clark own goal rather than one that could be given to Tait.
Davidson had a shot blocked on 18 minutes as Saints tried to battle back then Scobbie’s header was booted clear.
There was good work from Richard Foster out on the right two minutes before half-time before he swung over a ball that was too easily cleared.
Saints almost grabbed an equaliser in first-half injury time when Millar’s cross was headed goalwards by Steven MacLean but pushed away brilliantly by Well keeper Craig Samson.
Ten minutes after the break, a cross from Joe Shaughnessy reached the centre of the Steelmen’s box and Davidson pounced and wasn’t far away.
On 61 minutes, the home side pulled level with a scrappy but nonetheless welcome goal.
The ball was played forward into the box after good interplay from MacLean and sub Blair Alston, who had come on for a hobbling Coulson.
Kane collected then hit his initial effort against keeper Samson. The ball then spun up off Samson’s body and back on to the Saints striker, from where it looped into the net.
The home side had a golden chance on 83 minutes to edge ahead when Kane put Alston clean through on the Motherwell goal.
He looked certain to score put he looked on in frustration as Samson got a hand to his low shot and the terrific opportunity was gone.
Scott McDonald fired over for the visitors then a dangerous break by Moult was halted by the offside flag.
Both teams went for it but it ended up a point apiece.
Attendance: 2,836.
St Johnstone: Clark, Scobbie, Millar (Paton 70), Davidson, MacLean, Wotherspoon, Shaughnessy, Coulson (Alston 44), Foster, Easton, Kane (Cummins 83). Subs not used: Mannus, Watson, Gordon, Hunter.
Motherwell: Samson, Tait, Heneghan, McManus, Moult, Cadden, Lasley (Ainsworth 74), Clay, Ferguson (Lucas 59), McMillan (Bowman 82), McDonald. Subs not used: Brill, Thomas, Turnbull, Maguire.
Referee: Willie Collum.
