Bigirimana came on after a goalless hour at Fir Park as Motherwell changed formation in the wake of the introduction of St Mirren substitutes Cammy Smith and Adam Hammill.

But it was the visitors' changes which had the desired effect in the 68th minute as Smith emerged with the ball from a duel with Bigirimana as the pair chased a ball forward. The Saints sub saw his shot saved but Simeon Jackson netted the rebound to earn the Buddies a 1-0 victory.

"As a player you always have to look at yourself individually," the former Coventry and Newcastle player told Motherwell's YouTube channel.

"For me this season there's been a couple of games where I have made individual errors and it's cost the team. This time I stay with my man and the ball bounced between us and it's gone in his path. It's a difficult one for me to take to be honest.

"I feel for the boys because they always give everything for the team. I just wanted to come on and help but unfortunately what happened, happened.

"It's not a nice way to lose a game, especially at home, and it was a big game. We are all disappointed and we have just got to move on."

Ninth-placed Motherwell had the chance to move 12 points clear of danger but defeat means they are closer to the bottom of the Ladbrokes Premiership than the team above them.

They will now look to reverse that situation in games against Kilmarnock and Hamilton before the winter break.

Bigirimana said: "The promising thing is this season we have shown good character, when there are games we have not performed well the next games we respond really well.

"So that's the positive but the negative is you want to have consistency. That's what we have to work on as players, individually and as a team."

St Mirren manager Oran Kearney was delighted with the contribution of Smith, who has gone from a key figure in the club's Championship-winning team to a more peripheral role.

"He did really well," Kearney said. "It's been a frustrating time for him up to this point and I mentioned in front of everyone in the changing room afterwards – his attitude has been 100 per cent.

"That's exactly what you want from subs. I spoke to Adam before the game, we made a choice to approach the first half in relation to what it would like, and we made the choice with Cody (Cooke).

"Adam was exceptional when he came on, we got a great response from him and Cammy. Cammy has been more out than in the team but I still have that faith in him because of how he trains and goes about his business."

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