Tony Watt rescued a draw for Motherwell in their first away game of the Premiership season.
The 27-year-old stepped off the bench to rifle home an unstoppable volley on 80 minutes following a great team move.
The Steelmen created a couple of good chances in the first half but they fell behind when Stephen O'Donnell diverted David Wotherspoon's cross beyond Liam Kelly.
But they showed great resilience to withstand pressure before they secured a good point on the road courtesy of Watt's equaliser.
Graham Alexander made just one change from the entertaining 3-2 opening day defeat to Hibernian last weekend.
Connor Shields was handed his competitive debut as Watt dropped to the bench.
Saints boss Callum Davidson made five changes from the midweek heroics in Turkey against Galatasaray with goalscoring captain Jason Kerr dropping out with a knock.
It was an eventful opening ten minutes to the game as both sides threatened.
Kevin van Veen, excellent against Hibernian last weekend, forced Zander Clark into a smart save at his near post on four minutes following an excellent pass from Kaiyne Woolery.
Motherwell were fortunate to avoid punishment on eight minutes after Callum Slattery was robbed in possession by Ali McCann.
The Northern Ireland international fed Stevie May but he dallied on the ball and Bevis Mugabi made an excellent recovery challenge as the danger was averted.
St Johnstone carried a real threat from set pieces and Stephen O’Donnell had to be alert to clear off his own line with Hayden Muller poised to tap home.
The impressive Woolery thought he’d scored on 18 minutes but he was denied by an outstanding save from Clark.
He evaded his marker from a corner to bullet a header towards the bottom corner but Clark produced a stunning one-handed save to keep the ball out.
It was a fairly even opening half hour but the Steelmen fell behind in unfortunate circumstances on 34 minutes.
David Wotherspoon whipped in a sensational in-swinging cross from the left and it fizzed off Stephen O’Donnell and beyond a hapless Liam Kelly.
The hosts grew in confidence after going ahead and Muller curled an effort just over the bar as Motherwell struggled to respond before the interval.
Luck didn't appear to be on the Steelmen's side at the start of the second half.
Mugabi's looping header rebounded off the post and van Veen reacted quickest but his shot was thwarted by Clark.
The Saints goalkeeper was in inspired form and he pulled off another superb save to keep out Ricki Lamie's header on 61 minutes.
Motherwell pressed forward for an equaliser in the final twenty minutes but Liam Kelly kept them in it with three good saves - the highlight a low stop from Michael O’Halloran.
But the visitors attacking approach paid off as two of Alexander’s substitutes combined to equalise after a brilliant team move on 80 minutes.
Tony Watt collected a pass between the lines and popped the ball off for Lawless as he continued his run.
The diminutive midfielder found Watt with a brilliant chipped pass and the former Saints striker volleyed powerfully beyond Clark.
Motherwell went close to finding a winner when Slattery arrowed a shot from distance just past the post but the Steelmen travel back to Lanarkshire with a deserved point.
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