St Johnstone manager Tommy Wright knows one or two things about goalkeeping.
In an illustrious career between the sticks, Wright made 76 appearances for Newcastle United, played 34 times for Manchester City and represented Northern Ireland 31 times.
So when he gives Saints’ goalie Zander Clark advice, you can bet the 24-year-old will listen.
Clark knew himself that he blundered badly to give Motherwell the lead after 12 minutes at McDiarmid Park, only for Chris Kane to score his fourth goal of the season just after the hour to make it 1-1.
Well’s Louis Moult has played a beautiful pass out to the right to Richard Tait and the full-back took a touch before driving over a cross.
Clark came off his line to try to make the save but the ball seemed to hit the back of his hand and was redirected into the net.
His demeanour when he bravely came into the media room to chat about the own goal told its own story.
However, the words from Wright will be taken on board and will hang around Clark’s head for a while, you would imagine.
The Saints boss said: “It’s a mistake and he will have to learn from it, which he will do.
“I have two good goalkeepers (experienced Northern Ireland international Alan Mannus being the other) 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.
“I don’t know how it has gone in. I don’t think luck is anything to do with it, though.”
To Clark’s credit, he didn’t crumble and hardly had any decent saves to make thereafter.
It meant Saints were playing catch-up, though.
Wright added: “When you go 1-0 down, it is difficult in this league to get back into the game.
“We should have won and kept knocking at the door.”
As for the supplier of the cross, Tait, he didn’t have too much sympathy for Clark.
He did, however, make a half-hearted attempt at trying to claim the goal.
Asked if he felt sorry for his fellow pro, Tait replied: “Not really, no.
“If it were our goalkeeper I would be gutted for him but I want us to win so I am happy with any way a goal comes about.
“I was a little bit embarrassed, if I’m honest with you.
“I shanked the cross and it came off the keeper and went in the goal.
“I’m not going to argue about it.
“I will take it but I didn’t celebrate because it was a poor cross that ended up in the goal.
“I’m not going to run off like I’ve stuck it in the top corner.
“I think it was on target and the referee said he would give it to me but either way it was a goal for Motherwell and I’m happy.”
Well felt they could have had a penalty when Joe Shaughnessy’s elevated arm appeared to touch the ball following another Tait cross just before Saints equalised.
Their 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.”
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 although he should be fit for the trip to Kilmarnock on Friday.
Into the side came Tam Scobbie to replace Anderson, while Craig’s place was taken by Chris Millar.
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.
Davidson then had a shot blocked on 18 minutes before Scobbie’s header was booted clear as Saints tried to battle back.
They 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 the injured Coulson.
Kane collected the ball then hit his initial effort against Samson. The ball then spun up off the keeper’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.
Both teams went for it in the closing stages but it ended up a point apiece.
