Ross McCormack scored twice as Well looked to be cruising towards the point they needed to stay up.

But Saints substitute John Sutton, who scored twice, and Billy Mehmet turned the game on its head. Only a late collapse by Dunfermline, who lost 2-1 at Inverness, saved Well from a nervous trip to Dundee United next weekend.

The jubilation of the Saints fans was in stark contrast to the reaction of the Well supporters, many of whom called for the head of Malpas.

Most of the applause that came from the home support was directed towards the St Mirren players, while a handful of Motherwell fans invaded the pitch and about 200 protested outside Fir Park.

Malpas said: "I am disappointed with the fans' reaction. I expected the fans to get behind the team. They can criticise me all they want.

"The fans' reaction has hurt me, I thought we had a better bunch of supporters."

But he added: "They won't get me out, if anyone else wants to get me out, fair enough."

Malpas criticised the timing of news about takeover talks owner John Boyle has held with Lanarkshire businessman Tommy Coakley.

"It has been a difficult week," Malpas said. "Speculation about the takeover I think gave the fans something to gripe about. The speculation in the press was out of order.

"I think a lot of people have been thinking of a clean sweep of the directors and myself."

But Malpas did not defend his team's second-half performance. It was the second home game in a row they had squandered a two-goal lead following the 3-3 draw with Falkirk a fortnight ago.

The Motherwell boss said: "Too many people didn't have the heart, probably too many players don't want to be here. The second-half performance was gutless.

"It's a case of us regrouping and seeing where we go from here. We need to get players in, get a better squad, a more competitive squad."

St Mirren boss Gus MacPherson hailed his side's character after their third away win on the trot secured their SPL status for a second season in a row.

He said: "For that group of players to stay in the SPL, and the club with the resources it has, is a major achievement.

"For players that haven't experienced the demands of SPL football week in, week out, the mental strength required is considerable.

"I have probably learned more about them in the last four or five weeks than I have for the last two years."

Dunfermline forced Saints all the way with a run of five wins from six SPL games before their loss at Inverness and MacPherson hit out at claims by "certain members of the press" that neither side deserved to stay up.

He said: "It was ridiculous for people to suggest two teams should be relegated. You have got to look at the resources available to every club.

"Everyone in football knows how tough the SPL is. We have done the right thing and done our talking on the pitch."