Stuart McCall praise for Motherwell effort in Saints draw

Manager Stuart McCall was delighted to see Motherwell battle exhaustion and the loss of a man to come from behind to earn a draw with St Johnstone.

The second half at Fir Park saw the home side tire after a midweek defeat to Panathinaikos.

And McCall's team had Stevie Hammell sent off before conceding a goal.

He said: "To go down to 10 men and a goal behind, it would have been easy to wilt. That's one of the most pleasing results I've had in my time here."

Stevie Hammell was shown a straight red card for a penalty box challenge on Chris Millar but Darren Randolph made a great stop to keep out Dave MacKay's spot-kick.

St Johnstone were ahead soon after, however, when Murray Davidson crashed in a 58th-minute header.

Saints looked destined to claim three points against a visibly-tired home side following their Champions League defeat in Athens on Wednesday.

But, with youngsters Steven Hetherington and Zane Francis-Angol on and Omar Daley, who had a tight hamstring, and ill skipper Keith Lalsey off the park, McCall was delighted to see Bob McHugh level the game on 78 minutes.

Motherwell even came close to winning the game after St Johnstone striker Rowan Vine had been sent off for a second booking.

Alan Mannus saved well from Michael Higdon before Shaun Hutchinson's shot was cleared off the line.

"I thought if we weren't ahead at half time we would struggle because of the physical nature of what we went through the other night," McCall told BBC Radio Scotland.

"We didn't play well in the second half and that was down to fatigue. We weren't great but we dug in and that was a massive result for us."

McHugh was introduced as a second-half substitute, just as the 21--year-old striker was against Panathinaikos.

"Bob did ever so well," added McCall.

"I asked him to do what he did against Aberdeen [last season] when he came on and got us a goal and he did it.

"That will do his confidence a lot of good. But he's not a lad that lacks for confidence he's just not had the game time with little niggling injuries."

McCall repeated his desire to add to what is a small squad at Fir Park, noting that rivals St Johnstone had just completed a deal for former Celtic striker Craig Beattie.

"If we can get a helping hand then that would be terrific," he said.

"I won't be asking the club for money that we haven't got. If we have to go with what we've got then so be it.

"If that's the case, we'll get the young lads in and we'll do the best we possibly can."