Motherwell 1-0 St Mirren: Erwin takes lead from Shankly to earn points

First is first, second is nowhere.

This much-used quote is from the legendary Bill Shankly.

Generally speaking, football managers are well advised to, if not parrot, at least follow the wisdom of the Liverpool great.

In this case though, Stuart McCall begs to differ.

The Motherwell boss began the new season by declaring the club’s achievement in finishing SPL runners up in 2013-14 up there with anything he had done in the game.

Given he had won the treble in his playing days with Rangers and is in the Ibrox Hall of Fame, that is quite a statement.

He took part in two European Championships for Scotland and, in 1990, even managed to score for the country in the World Cup.

Beating Aberdeen to clinch the runners up spot, he explained, encapsulated why people were in football.

Their dramatic success, he went on, brought joy to thousands and was something you can look back on with pride after you have given up the game for good.

Yet a downside of high achievement is that it has the effect of raising expectation.

That fans who might previously have been happy with top six, set their sights higher.

In declaring second place again the target, McCall was realistic enough to see he left himself no room for error.

That Celtic’s hugely superior financial resources will see them clinch the title is taken almost for granted by anyone who follows the Scottish game.

That Aberdeen and Dundee United can outspend the Fir Park men is an even less palatable fact of life for a Motherwell manager to have to deal with.

This match illustrated perfectly both the scale of the task McCall has set himself and, more importantly, why they can succeed in their aim.

Up against a bright, lively Saints side, the home team were second best for almost an hour of this match. Under the charge of new boss Tommy Craig, St Mirran played some slick stuff in the North Lanarkshire sunshine, and kept Dan Twardzik honest with some decent efforts.

Summer departures Darren McGregor and Paul McGowan were not notable by their absence. Instead, new faces Callum Ball, formerly of Derby County, and James Marwood, ex-Newcastle Utd, took the eye.

But Motherwell, who themselves lost Shaun Hutchinson, James McFadden and Henri Anier in the close season, dug in.

They pushed forward whenever possible, and produced a moment of decisive skill to break the game open.

Lee Erwin, promoted from the youth ranks following the departures, was the man responsible.

The 20-year-old was fortunate a rebound fell to his feet but he showed great composure to beat Marian Kello.

The goal was followed by a moment of controversy. Jim Goodwin, booked early on for a foul on the goalscorer, was the man who saw red.

Given his tally of three sendings off and a staggering 43 bookings in the last three seasons that wasn’t the biggest surprise. But it was teammate John McGinn who had committed the foul on Keith Lasley.

However, referee Callum Murray who had been advised by far-side linesman Frank Connor that the player had elbowed Chris Sutton in the build up was having none of Goodwin’s vociferious complaints, and showed him a second yellow card.

In terms of the contest it was a red herring, with Saints not really diminished by his absence.

Sub Caldwell went close and they had a strong appeal for a penalty turned down. Motherwell were not to be denied, and their determination was impressive marking them out as a significant contender to again finish best of the rest.