THERE can be a fine line between winning and losing.

That was quite literally the case for Motherwell on Saturday.

Around an hour into the match with St Mirren in Paisley and the visitors were beginning to creak.

Despite being a man to the good following Steven Thompson's sending-off, Well had been unable to both assert their numerical advantage or stem the flow of Saints attacks coming in their direction.

Then came the moment the hosts thought they'd made the breakthrough.

A Stephen Mallan corner was headed off the bar by Kenny McLean, with the ball bouncing down and back up perilously close to Dan Twardzik's line.

Quick as a flash, Motherwell's Josh Law pounced to hook it away before anyone could investigate further and play was continued.

Twelve minutes later he provided the assist for his team's winner from John Sutton

"It didn't go over the line. I was quite near it and it didn't go over," insisted the Fir Park midfielder with a smile on his face.

"There was one in the first half from the corner and then in the second half the guy has hit the bar a couple of times from a corner but that's the kind of luck we've not had this season.

"We got it on Saturday and we'll take it."

That intervention offered Motherwell a lifeline while also kicking St Mirren when they were down.

Up until that point the 10 men of the Buddies had been the better team and created most of the chances.

And Law said: "They do sit in and you have to work them and break them down.

"Obviously the confidence when you're down where we are isn't massively high to try those threaded through balls.

"But in the second half we controlled it a lot better and got a lot more width into the game.

"The manager told me at half-time that he wanted me to go to right back and give us a bit of impetus from the full back area and to make those runs.

"It came off after a great ball from Henrik Ojamaa."

It would prove to be a landmark day for Motherwell in their quest to be fit for a higher purpose they have become accustomed to in recent seasons.

Languishing dangerously near the SPFL Premiership relegation zone, they have now pulled five points clear of bottom-markers St Mirren and five ahead of Ross County.

More importantly, it signalled of Ian Baraclough's chapter as Motherwell boss.

And while it wasn't a vintage performance by any stretch of the imagination, Law was delighted to get off on the right foot with his new gaffer.

He said: "Obviously it was nervy late on when they going for it but we held firm and are delighted.

"It was a massive game anyway with us and St Mirren being down there in the dogfight.

"But it's a great start for the manager and gives everyone at the club a lift.

"He's been good. There has been a good tempo to the sessions.

"It has been high intensity and he's brought some fresh ideas. We are enjoying it."

Baraclough's arrival has meant Stuart McCall's former No.2 Kenny Black, who applied for the manager's post after taking temporary charge, reverted to being a first team coach on Saturday.

And Law said: Kenny's been brilliant. He's gone back into the role he had before and he's great with the players.

"He's a great coach and he and the manager have shared it between them, so it's not been too different.

"It's a bonus for us if he stays."