Motherwell extended their unbeaten run to 11 games against St Mirren in their Clydesdale Bank Premier League clash but had Buddies substitute Andy Dorman to thank for the goalless draw.
With a dull game going nowhere Dorman replaced Alan Johnston on the hour then missed two good chances within five minutes.
The Paisley midfielder twice had only Well keeper John Ruddy to beat but missed the target on both occasions, leaving the home side without a win in their last 10 SPL matches.
There was little between the sides in an enterprising and open start to the game which saw both defences required to stand firm. But there was no early threat to either goal, and as the match settled down enterprise gave way to a dour, tactical battle.
The first real effort on goal took 18 minutes to arrive with Ruddy saving comfortably from Graeme Carey's long-range effort.
Fir Park midfielder Giles Coke tried his luck at the other end a minute later and after Saints goalkeeper Paul Gallacher spilled the low drive, Buddies' defender David Barron had to complete the clearance.
Three minutes from the break Carey came close when he latched on to a Hugh Murray pass at the edge of the box and fired just wide of the target before Paisley defender John Potter drew a good save from Ruddy with an injury-time header.
Shortly after his introduction 60 minutes in Dorman had a chance with his first touch but missed the target from 14 yards with only Ruddy to beat.
In the 66th minute Dorman missed another great chance when a Craig Dargo flick sent him clean through on goal but he slashed wide.
Near the end, Dorman set up fellow substitute Stephen O'Donnell, but his header from 12 yards was cleared off the line by Steven Hammell and again, Saints were foiled.
Copyright (C) PA Sport 2012.
