St Johnstone remain bottom of the Premiership table after this latest defeat to Motherwell at McDiarmid.
The Steelmen scored the only goal of the game in the first-half through Devante Cole with Saints passing up the opportunity to equalise in the second 45 as Scott Tanser saw his penalty saved.
The result leaves the Perth side still searching for their first league win of the season after seven games.
Saints boss Tommy Wright made two changes from the team that was beaten by Rangers last Sunday with Drey Wright and Jason Holt coming in for David Wotherspoon and Matty Kennedy.
Wright was making his first start since suffering his serious knee injury back in November, last year.
St Johnstone had the first clear-cut opportunity in the 13th minute when Anthony Ralston swung a cross in from the right towards Murray Davidson in the Motherwell box but the midfielder could only direct his header into keeper Mark Gillespie’s arms.
However, the home side had a huge let-off shortly after when the Steelmen’s James Scott burst into the Saints box and sent an inch-perfect ball across goal towards team-mate Cole but the striker somehow contrived to fire over Zander Clark’s bar from point-blank range.
St Johnstone were presented with another chance in the 25th minute after Davidson was upended just outside the Motherwell penalty area with Tanser hitting the central free-kick low past the wall but Gillespie was alert to the danger and dived to gather.
It looked like the teams would head down the tunnel level but the deadlock was broken in the 42nd minute.
Liam Polworth sent a corner in from the Motherwell left with Declan Gallagher heading back across goal towards Cole who made up for his earlier miss, rifling the ball past Clark.
Seven minutes after the restart, Wright’s men were looking for a penalty following a Gallagher challenge on Stevie May but referee Gavin Dundcan was not convinced.
However, Saints penalty wish was granted in the 55th minute after a blatant push on Davidson.
Tanser stepped up to take the spot-kick but Gillespie dived to his right to deny the full-back and maintain his side’s lead.
Tanser stepped up to take the spot-kick but Gillespie dived to his right to deny the full-back and maintain his side’s lead.
It was a bitter pill for St Johnstone to swallow and while they continued to battle manfully, there was a lack of clear-cut opportunities as the clocked ticked down.
However, that changed in the 88th minute as sub Kennedy dug out a cross from the right with Davidson racing in to power a header just wide, then shortly after, Gillespie made a smart save to deny May.
Deep in stoppage time, Motherwell’s Liam Donnelly was shown a straight red after stamping on Saints Chris Kane.
