While the first half showing might have approached pass marks, the lack lustre performance in the second had the travelling 'Well fans at a loss to understand the loss of form.
Passes were misplaced, we were caught in possession and the build up play was so slow and studied that the opposition had plenty of time to prepare for the inevitable long ball to Jutkiewicz which would end the move.
It is hard to fathom the thinking behind the half time changes. We were a goal behind and it was no surprise to see the fourth official engaged with the boards as the teams emerged from the tunnel. What we were presented with was a midfield five and a lone striker. Presumably the cunning plan was to move Murphy upfield but it didn't work out that way.
The referee booked Hammell and Murphy and both decisions mystified the Motherwell camp. Hammell's shirt was almost ripped away in a tussle yet he was cautioned and when Bamba felled Murphy for what appeared to be a stonewall penalty referee Brines again penalised our man - a mystery.
The news that Jim Gannon had spurned the media conference (again) served only to reinforce his growing reputation as a bit of a maverick. It may be that on this occasion he is content for the focus to be on his behaviour rather than his team's performance.