St Mirren were dealt a massive and perhaps critical blow in their battle to avoid relegation as they were crushed 5-0 by rampant Motherwell at Fir Park.
In a huge match for both clubs at the bottom of the table, the visitors were blown away in the first half with two goals from man-of-the-moment Lee Erwin and a third on the stroke of half-time from Scott McDonald.
A brace from substitute John Sutton after the break rounded off an emphatic win for the Steelmen, with the result moving them 10 points clear of St Mirren at the foot of the Premiership after their third win in four games.
The home side were straight onto the front foot, and they took the lead after just six minutes through weekend hero Erwin.
Lionel Ainsworth picked up a partially-cleared high ball and drove to the byline before cutting the ball back to Erwin who, with his back to goal, took a touch before spinning and firing low past Mark Ridgers.
The visitors immediately had a great chance to equalise but Kieran Sadlier, having got in behind Anthony Straker on the right, dragged a weak effort past George Long’s right-hand post from a good position.
Motherwell then had a couple of chances to extend their lead from corners, the first of which saw Marvin Johnson meet Ainsworth’s delivery on the volley at the back post, forcing Ridgers to turn the ball behind.
The resultant delivery saw Ainsworth find Stephen McManus unmarked in the centre of the area, but the defender could only send his free diving header wide when he really should have scored.
The home side did not have to wait long to double their lead though, and again it was that man Erwin with a similar goal to his first after 24 minutes.
A corner from Johnson was flicked clear to Ainsworth at the back post and his attempted shot landed at the feet of Erwin. The big striker, again with his back to goal, rolled marker Viktor Genev easily before producing a clever finish into the bottom right-hand corner for his third goal in three days – having only notched once all season prior to Saturday’s match against Kilmarnock.
St Mirren almost hit back in what was becoming an increasingly rare foray forward as the game approached half-time, Jason Naismith getting on the end of a free-kick but seeing his half-volley blocked behind by Stephen Pearson at the near post.
Motherwell were denied the chance of a third goal when an incensed McDonald was pulled back for offside when clean through, but the Australian did get his goal on 45 minutes when he fired home from Johnson’s cut-back following an Ainsworth cross.
Gary Teale made a double substitution at the break to try and turn the tide of the match, Stevie Thompson and Gregg Wylde replacing the ineffective James Dayton and Sadlier, but it made little discernible difference as Motherwell continued to dominate.
There was a slight dampener put on the occasion for Motherwell as the influential Pearson hobbled off, and manager Ian Baraclough will be hoping that one of his key men recovers for the run-in to the end of the campaign.
Ainsworth almost got on the scoresheet himself after having a hand in all three Motherwell goals to that point, unleashing a drive from the edge of the box that nicked a defender on its way just past the post.
Long saved a towering Marc McAusland header to keep Well in charge, and any lingering doubt about the outcome of the match was put to bed after 75 minutes, with Erwin’s replacement Sutton getting in on the act moments after entering the fray.
An in-swinging free-kick from Johnson was inch-perfect for the big striker to stoop low and plant a header into the top corner from a couple of yards.
Sutton then wrapped up the scoring five minutes later, slotting home from almost point-blank range soon after St Mirren midfielder Stephen Mallan had hit the post at the other end.
ends