Graham Alexander's Motherwell reign got off to a frustrating start as St Mirren fought back to keep a point in Paisley
It was Motherwell's own doing too, as a foul on Lee Erwin saw Jamie McGrath level from the spot in 79 minutes.
Motherwell had looked to be heading for their first win in 11 games, when Devante Cole put them ahead midway through the first half. However, it does arrest a slide of two straight defeats.
And while Saints had pressed, they had done little to trouble keeper Liam Kelly on his debut, up until the penalty.
The Steelmen weathered a bit of an early storm from Saints before grabbing the game by the scruff of the net and started to create the better opportunities.
It was no surprise then when they took the lead midway through the first half, when Liam Polworth's corner from the left was partially cleared, with Tony Watt heading it back into the box and Devante Cole pouncing on it to net his second goal of the season.
Saints pushed to get back into the game in the second half, and eventually got their reward.
Alexander made two changes to the side that lost at Hamilton as Kelly made his debut in goals to replace Aaron Chapman, and Mark O'Hara came back from suspension, replacing Liam Grimshaw.
Saints boss Jim Goodwin made two changes to the side that drew with Kilmarnock, as Kyle McAllister and Lee Erwin came in for Brandon Mason and Jon Obika. Loan signing Eamonn Brophy was on the bench.
Motherwell made an attacking, lively start, but Saints had the first real chance in four minute when they broke from a Well corner and McAllister tried a cheeky lob, but it drifted harmlessly wide of the left post.
Richard Tait's cross eventually fell to \Marcus Fraser in 11 minutes but his shot was deflected past the left post.
Kelly was confident that Erwin's shot was going wide but it fizzed narrowly past in 16 minutes.
McAllister tried his luck with a thumping shot from distance in 18 minutes, but it flew past the right post.
Motherwell created the best chance of the game in 22 minutes when Polworth's cros found Tony Watt at the back post and Jak Alnwick did well to block it before clearing.
And the visitors should have taken the lead two minutes later when Devante Cole was presented with a decent chance but pulled his shot wide of the left post from just outside the box.
Motherwell did tale the lead in 26 minutes when Polworth's corner from the left bounced about the box before falling to Cole and he slammed it into the net.
Saints tried to get back into the game and in 35 minutes Erwin saw a deflected shot skid inches past the left post when really it could have gone anywhere.
A terrific ball sent Dylan Connolly through for Saints in 39 minutes, but Kelly raced off his line well to block for a corner.
There was a nasty-looking clash of heads between Motherwell's O'Hara and Saints' Jamie McGrath on the hour-mark, but thankfully both were able to continue.
Ethan Erhahon sent an effort fizzing just wide in 62 minutes as Saints tried to get back into the game.
Motherwell roared back into it though and in 72 minutes Hastie sent Cole into the box, but with nothing in clear sight he drove a cross over the face of goal, with no takers.
However, St Mirren levelled from the spot in 79 minutes when Erwin was fouled inside the box, referee Bobby Madden signalled penalty, and McGrath confidently slotted it past Kelly.
Ilkay Durmus then saw a curling free kick superbly saved as Saints tried to turn the screw.
Motherwell sub Jordan White's shot on the turn was deflected past inside stoppage time.
But the game ended all square on a freezing cold afternoon.
ST MIRREN: Alnwick, Fraser, Shaughnessy, Tait, McCarthy, McGrath, McAllister (Brophy, 57), Connolly, Erhahon (Durmus, 76), Doyle-Hayes, Erwin.
Subs (not used): Lyness (GK), Finlayson, Flynn, Sheron, Foley, MacPherson, Jamieson.
Booked: Doyle-Hayes (47)
MOTHERWELL: Kelly, O'Donnell, Gallagher, Mugabi, Carroll, O'Hara, Campbell, Polworth, Cole (Maguire, 84), Watt, Hastie (White, 72).
Subs (not used): Morrison (GK), Grimshaw, McGinley, Crawfor, Seedorf, Devine, Cornelius.
Booked: O'Hara (14)
Referee: Bobby Madden.
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