Motherwell vs St. Johnstone: Scottish Premiership – BBC Sport

St Johnstone were heading straight for the play-off with Raith Rovers up until the 90th minute on Wednesday, and come Sunday evening they were celebrating a 16th straight season in the top flight.

A side that has toiled for goals and produced a largely insipid end to the season with one win in their last nine before the final game, burst to life at Fir Park.

All their big players stepped up. From Mitov in goals saving Bair’s penalty, to captain Liam Gordon producing the block of the season on the line, and Carey and Clark getting things going with a terrific first goal.

Sidibeh has proved a massive signing having come up with goals in the crucial final two games.

Credit to Levein, who was brought in with Saints bottom of the table in the autumn and tasked with keeping them up.

It wasn’t pretty, but he did it. Even the switch to a back five in the second half stemmed Motherwell’s fight back. They’ll hope for better next season amid a change of ownership and three difficult seasons battling the drop.

But for now they can enjoy their achievement, and their holidays.

Motherwell had nothing to play for here except eighth place, and they end the season ninth.

It’s been a mixed campaign filled with lots of goals, with Stuart Kettlewell’s side proving themselves capable of scoring plenty, but conceding too many too.

Their home form has been a source of frustration, but their away form a positive. In essence it’s been an inconsistent campaign from the Steelmen.

The loss of Blair Spittal – who got 13 goals and 11 assists – and others such as Georgie Gent means Kettlewell will have work to do on a tight budget to build a competitive squad for next campaign.

But in the depths of winter when they went 15 without a win, they would have settled for comfortably staying in the league.