St Johnstone manager Tommy Wright claimed his players had lost out to the poorer side in a 2-0 defeat at Motherwell.
First-half goals from Ben Hall and Stephen Pearson gave Well a third consecutive win in the league.
However, Wright believes Saints played the better football and fell victim to a smash-and-grab from the home side.
“I was pleased with our performance but not the result,” Wright said. “Sometimes the better team loses and that’s the case tonight.
“We had the better chances, although they had some opportunities towards the end when we were really going for it.
“I can’t remember Alan Mannus having anything really difficult to do but we gave away goals at bad times.
“The first was a soft corner, which we didn’t really deal with and, at the second, Chris (Kane) should have scored but he doesn’t know whether to hit it first time or take it round the keeper, does neither and they go up the park and score.”
Wright also revealed that Murray Davidson had injured himself running into a dug-out during the first half “They’re very close to the touchline and I don’t think that it’s serious but he’ll have a scan in the morning” and that Michael O’Halloran had to come off due to illness.