Motherwell training ground move paid off to earn point against St Mirren, says star

Jack Vale says hard work on the training ground paid off as he sent in a cross that led to Motherwell snatching a vital point against St Mirren on Saturday.

Vale collected a throw-in from Blair Spittal on the left flank and crossed for the back post, with Stephen O’Donnell heading the ball down for Theo Bair to scramble over the line for a 74th-minute equaliser.

That cancelled out Marcus Fraser’s 18th-minute opener for Saints, and left Motherwell with a chance of snatching a Premiership top six finish.

That depends on Motherwell beating both Dundee and Hibs in their remaining pre-split fixtures, while hoping Rangers take full points from Dens Park on Wednesday, April 10.

But the 23-year-old, who is on loan from EFL Championship side Blackburn Rovers, says at least they have a chance.

Vale said: I got the set-back from Spitts, I knew I had to hit the back post, the bodies are there, and Sods has played the ball back over to Theo and it’s an easy goal for him.

“But it was a well-worked goal and it got us a point, so we’re happy.

“On Thursday we were working on throw-ins, restarts, so I was coming short, getting the bounce from Spitts, and maybe putting the ball in the box, so we worked on it and it worked out in the end.

“It’s a good point against St Mirren, I think they’re a good side, but we made hard work of it, really.”

Vale added: “It was a bit sloppy in possession in the first half, giving the ball away easily, and then we came out in the second half and played better football, kept the ball better.

“At the end of the day we were 1-0 down, coming back to 1-1, we’ll take the point, to be honest.

“At half-time the gaffer said we need to be a bit more mean, not too nice on the pitch and giving them too much time on the