Motherwell face a critical Premiership fixture away to St Johnstone this weekend as they aim to arrest a damaging run of form. The Steelmen have lost their last four league matches, a sequence that has left them 10th in the table with just eight points from nine games, having recorded two wins and two draws against five losses.
Their most recent outing was a 3-2 defeat at Kilmarnock on 17 October. Lowry and Sebastian Palmer-Houlden scored for Motherwell, but a double from Greg Kiltie secured the points for the hosts. That result followed a 2-0 home loss to Celtic the previous week, and prior defeats to Dundee and Aberdeen, meaning their recent form reads four straight losses. Motherwell's current form of five straight losses in all competitions is a major concern.
St Johnstone present a mixed challenge, having lost 4-0 at Rangers last time out but beating Aberdeen away earlier in the month. They are expected to line up in a 3-4-2-1 shape, with the likes of Fowler leading the line. Motherwell's last starting eleven used a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Lowry, the team's top scorer this season with three goals, operating behind striker Palmer-Houlden.
League context and stakes
The pressure is mounting on Motherwell, who are now 16 points adrift of leaders Celtic. Their goal difference of minus five, with 11 scored and 16 conceded this season, underlines the defensive issues that need addressing. A positive result in Perth is vital to build momentum before their next fixture, which is at home to third-placed Hearts on Sunday 25 October.
The team must find a way to convert their attacking moments, often provided by Lowry, into a more resilient and complete performance. The focus is firmly on stopping the slide and starting to climb the table, with the immediate task being to secure a result against a St Johnstone side sitting just two points above them in ninth place.
