St Johnstone vs Motherwell Preview: Saints Eye Home Advantage as Steelmen Seek to End Losing Streak. Read on for all our free predictions and betting tips.
Over 2.5 Goals is supported by both teams’ defensive weaknesses, with Motherwell conceding 18 and St Johnstone 15 goals in 10 matches each. St Johnstone’s home form and Josh Fowler’s scoring record against a leaky Motherwell defence suggest a high-scoring game, despite Motherwell’s recent scoring inefficiency.
St Johnstone’s home strength and Josh Fowler’s scoring record align with Motherwell’s defensive frailties, supporting a 2-1 scoreline. Motherwell’s attacking volume and Alex Lowry’s recent goals provide a plausible away goal despite their losing streak.
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REGISTER FREE & UNLOCK TIP →Already registered? Log in18+ · Historical results only. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Betting involves risk.Compare form, H2H, goals trends and key data for ST Johnstone v Motherwell.
St Johnstone welcome Motherwell to McDiarmid Park on Wednesday, 28 October, with both sides desperate to respond to disappointing Scottish Premiership defeats.
St Johnstone vs Motherwell — bet365 Market Snapshot
Swipe through key markets with illustrative probabilities and sample bet365 odds based on our match analysis.
St Johnstone look stronger on recent form, while Motherwell remain vulnerable after weaker results.
St Johnstone and Motherwell show comparable scoring patterns, keeping goals at both ends firmly possible.
St Johnstone carry the stronger defensive profile, while Motherwell remain vulnerable in the likely scoreline.
St Johnstone hold the stronger overall profile, leaving Motherwell needing a sharper performance.
Three Punchy Stats
- Six straight defeats: Motherwell have lost their last six Premiership matches.
- Home advantage: St Johnstone have collected eight of their 12 league points at McDiarmid Park.
- Fowler's finishing: The Saints striker has scored six league goals, including four at home.
Scoring Trends
Recent attacking records for St Johnstone and Motherwell are shown below.
Defensive Records
Recent defensive records for St Johnstone and Motherwell are shown below.
Simo Valakari's Saints suffered a heavy 4-0 loss against Rangers last weekend, while Alfred Johansson's Motherwell endured a sixth consecutive league defeat, losing 2-0 at home to Hearts.
Despite those setbacks, the hosts have enjoyed a more encouraging start to the campaign, collecting 12 points from 10 matches compared with Motherwell's eight.
With the visitors struggling defensively and St Johnstone particularly competitive on home soil, this encounter presents an opportunity for the Saints to strengthen their position in the table.
St Johnstone's Home Form Offers Encouragement
St Johnstone have adapted reasonably well following their promotion from the Scottish Championship, where they finished 11 points clear of Partick Thistle last season.
Although currently eighth in the Premiership, Valakari's side remain just three points behind fourth-placed Dundee United, highlighting how quickly their position could improve.
Their home performances have provided the foundation for that respectable start.
Eight of their 12 league points have come at McDiarmid Park, where they have suffered just one Premiership defeat this season.
However, defensive vulnerability remains a concern.
St Johnstone have conceded 15 goals across their opening 10 league matches, with Rangers exposing those weaknesses during Saturday's comprehensive victory.
The Saints managed just 39% possession and registered only two shots on target at Ibrox, underlining their difficulties against stronger opposition.
Wednesday's fixture offers a different challenge, particularly against opponents whose confidence has deteriorated considerably.
Josh Fowler represents St Johnstone's greatest attacking threat.
The striker has scored six Premiership goals this season, placing him joint top of the division's scoring charts, with four of those strikes coming at home.
His movement and finishing could prove decisive against a Motherwell defence conceding an average of 1.8 goals per league match.
Motherwell's Losing Run Raises Serious Concerns
Motherwell's campaign has unravelled dramatically following an initially promising start.
After avoiding defeat in their opening four Premiership fixtures, Johansson's side have subsequently lost six consecutive league matches.
That sequence has left the Steelmen tenth, just one point above bottom-placed Hibernian.
Their defensive record makes particularly uncomfortable reading.
Motherwell have conceded 18 goals in 10 league fixtures, while their opponents average 16 attempts and 5.9 shots on target per match.
The visitors have also struggled to convert possession into results.
Despite averaging 56.3% possession and 14.3 attempts per game, they have managed just 11 league goals.
Their latest defeat illustrated that imbalance, with Motherwell enjoying 54% possession against Hearts but failing to score despite registering five shots on target.
Nevertheless, their recent record against St Johnstone offers encouragement.
Motherwell have won the previous two meetings, including a 3-2 Premiership victory at Fir Park.
They have also won four of the last 10 head-to-head encounters, compared with three victories for St Johnstone.
Team News and Tactical Outlook
St Johnstone will be without Kai Fotheringham following his red card against Rangers, while Zach Mitchell's season-ending knee injury has curtailed his loan spell.
Bozo Mikulic returned to action last weekend, providing Valakari with an additional defensive option.
Motherwell remain without Callum Hendry and Paul McGinn, while Oscar Priestman is expected to miss out and Dylan Williams faces a late fitness assessment.
Alex Lowry remains a significant creative influence, having scored three league goals, including two in his previous three appearances.
The midfield battle could shape proceedings, with Motherwell likely to enjoy substantial possession while St Johnstone look to exploit space through quicker attacking transitions.
Match Prediction: St Johnstone 2-1 Motherwell
St Johnstone's stronger home record and Fowler's scoring form give them an advantage against opponents struggling for defensive stability.
Motherwell possess enough attacking quality to threaten, but six consecutive defeats suggest another difficult evening awaits.
How Over 2.5 Goals Works
This market requires the match to produce at least three total goals across 90 minutes plus stoppage time. The selection wins if the match finishes 2-1, 3-0, 2-2, or any other scoreline containing three or more goals, regardless of which team scores them or who wins the match. It loses if the match finishes 0-0, 1-0, 0-1, 1-1, 2-0, or 0-2.
Other Opportunities In This Market
Match Result: Backing a specific team to win requires them to be ahead after normal time, ignoring the total goals scored. It isolates the outcome rather than the scoring volume.
Both Teams To Score (BTTS): BTTS Yes requires both St Johnstone and Motherwell to score at least once. It can win on a 1-1 draw, which would cause an Over 2.5 Goals bet to lose.
📊 Market Explainer
Total Goals Market
Selection: Over 2.5 Goals. This market is settled by the combined number of goals in normal time. The selected line determines how many goals are needed for the bet to win.
Correct Score Market
Selection: St Johnstone vs Motherwell 2-1. Predict the exact score at the end of 90 minutes plus stoppage time. Extra time and penalties do not count unless the bookmaker states otherwise.
🎯 Pick 1: Over 2.5 Goals @ 20/23
The selection for Over 2.5 Goals requires at least three total goals across 90 minutes plus stoppage time, and the primary support for this market comes from the defensive vulnerabilities of both sides. Across their opening 10 Premiership fixtures, Motherwell have conceded 18 times, while St Johnstone have allowed 15 goals. That combined total of 33 goals conceded in 20 total matches provides a clear foundation for a high-scoring encounter.
Motherwell’s underlying defensive numbers are particularly relevant to the required goal count. Alfred Johansson’s side allow opponents an average of 16 attempts and 5.9 shots on target per match. St Johnstone are well placed to capitalise on those allowances at McDiarmid Park, where they have collected eight of their 12 points and suffered only one defeat. Striker Josh Fowler has scored six league goals this season, with four coming on home soil, positioning him directly against a visiting defence that concedes an average of 1.8 goals per game.
A potential risk to this goal total is Motherwell’s recent failure to convert possession into goals, notably drawing a blank against Hearts despite enjoying 54% possession and registering five shots on target. However, the visitors continue to generate volume, averaging 14.3 attempts per game overall. Alex Lowry also adds recent goalscoring application with two goals in his last three appearances. When Motherwell’s attacking volume meets St Johnstone’s own defensive issues—highlighted by conceding four against Rangers—the conditions support at least three total goals. Their previous meeting finished 3-2 to Motherwell, providing further context for an open fixture.
🎯 Tactical Indicators
- Motherwell concede an average of 1.8 goals per match and allow 5.9 shots on target.
- St Johnstone have conceded 15 goals across their opening 10 league matches.
- The previous meeting between these two sides finished 3-2 to Motherwell.
Risk Factor: Motherwell's failure to convert shots on target recently could leave the goal burden solely on St Johnstone, risking the Over 2.5 Goals outcome.
Key Tactical Mismatch
Saints have collected 8 of their 12 league points at McDiarmid Park, losing only once.
The visitors have lost six consecutive league matches following an initially unbeaten start.
⚔️ Pick 2: St Johnstone vs Motherwell 2-1 @ 15/2
Backing a 2-1 correct score requires distinct evidence for the hosts scoring exactly twice and the visitors replying with exactly one goal. St Johnstone’s capacity to score multiple times is supported by their form at McDiarmid Park. Simo Valakari’s side have collected eight of their 12 league points on home soil, suffering just one defeat. They face a Motherwell defence that has surrendered 18 goals in 10 matches, equating to 1.8 goals conceded per game. Crucially, the visitors allow 5.9 shots on target per match, giving St Johnstone’s top scorer Josh Fowler—who has four home goals this season—a clear platform to help the hosts reach two goals.
On the other side of the scoreline, Motherwell possess the attacking metrics to contribute exactly one goal. Despite a severe slump of six consecutive league defeats, Johansson’s side average 56.3% possession and 14.3 attempts per game. They have scored 11 league goals, and Alex Lowry arrives with two goals in his previous three appearances. St Johnstone are not defensively secure, having conceded 15 times in 10 league matches, making a home clean sheet difficult to support.
The principal risk to this exact scoreline is Motherwell’s recent inefficiency, demonstrated when they failed to score from five shots on target against Hearts. However, their sustained shot volume against a St Johnstone defence that recently conceded four to Rangers makes an away goal plausible. An exact-score bet remains fragile to a single missing or additional goal, but St Johnstone’s home strength combined with Motherwell’s attacking volume makes 2-1 a coherent projection.
Risk Factor: If Motherwell fail to convert their 14.3 attempts per game, a 2-0 home win threatens this exact score prediction.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Over 2.5 Goals mean in this match?
The match must have at least three total goals scored in 90 minutes plus stoppage time for this bet to win.
How does the Correct Score market work?
You must predict the exact final score at the end of normal time for the bet to succeed.
Why is St Johnstone's home form significant?
They have earned eight of their 12 league points at home, losing only once this season.
What is Motherwell's current league form?
Motherwell have lost six consecutive Premiership matches, including a recent 2-0 home defeat.
Who is St Johnstone's primary goal threat?
Josh Fowler leads with six league goals this season, four of which were scored at home.
Does Motherwell's high possession guarantee goals?
No, despite averaging 56.3% possession and 14.3 attempts per game, they have scored only 11 league goals this season.
