[SaintSam]

Easy! Easy! Easy!

[Accies1]

How many points are St. Johnstone behind accies now?

[DAFC]

bubble had to burst eventually, no penalties and sending offs for them this week then?

[Martins Hardies Love Child]

Accies1, on Sep 29 2007, 17:20, said:

How many points are St. Johnstone behind accies now?

Accies deserve to be there, they are no mugs and are a very good side, they were beaten by a team that finally found some belief.

How shocking was that ref today, he was appauling.

[Accies1]

Martins Hardies Love Child, on Sep 29 2007, 17:22, said:

Accies deserve to be there, they are no mugs and are a very good side, they were beaten by a team that finally found some belief.

How shocking was that ref today, he was appauling.

Seriously how many points is it, I've not seen the table I just know that we're 1 point ahead of Dundee

[Todd_is_God]

Accies1, on Sep 29 2007, 17:24, said:

Seriously how many points is it, I've not seen the table I just know that we're 1 point ahead of Dundee

8 i think

[Martins Hardies Love Child]

Accies1, on Sep 29 2007, 17:24, said:

Seriously how many points is it, I've not seen the table I just know that we're 1 point ahead of Dundee

We are 8 points behind in 3rd. We also have a very tough game next week at Livi our bogey side.

[SaintSam]

Accies came into the match a staggering 11 points ahead of us. They came here, flying high with six wins out of seven and were brought back down to earth with one terrific thud.

[Jamie_Beatson]

Good result for us.

First half - Hamilton came out hard and fast and scored within three minutes despite the efforts of Main and (I think) McManus who both got touches before it hit the net.

The game then developed in to the Eddie Smith show as the whistler decided he was more important than the match. Blowing for silly fouls, booking people for niggly wee fouls and letting others off with very similar incidents. He let Deuchar off with what he interpreted as a dive (he certainly went down easily although the leg was left in by Hamilton player), then booked a Hamilton player for something similar, then gave Hamilton a free kick when there was clearly no contact made.

In short, he was shocking, and was for both teams.

As the half progressed it was fairly open, with Hamilton forcing Main into one smart save from a header, while Halliwell had a similar save from Deuchar. Dr Goals also put one wide when he really should have hit the net after Sheerin set him up, and Sheerin also put one wide early on after some good link up play.

One decision Smith didn't get wrong was the penalty. Jackson was slipped in and the Hamilton defender had a huge tug at Jacko. Penalty given, although bizarrely no yellow card for a blatant foul when Jackson had a great shooting opporunity.

Sheerin tucked it away, and we took a real hold of the game, barely letting Hamilton out of their half.

We added a second with some good work by Mclaren and Quinn feeding Jackson who tucked it away nicely after having Halliwell make a good save from a similar chance minutes earlier.

The third came when Mclaren cut inside and unleashed a shot that was heading towards Halliwell's top corner. For some reason, Deuchar stuck his head in the way only for it to deflect off a Hamilton defender straight back into his path, and he couldn't miss from inside the six yard box.

The final goal was fairly simply - Long ball flicked on by Deuchar to Jackson who sent a superb lob over Halliwell.

I think based on the second half we deserved the win, and it was good to see us taking our chances and killing the game off. Hamilton only had one real chance in the second half, when their left midfielder basically walked past McManus down the left, cut inside and hit a shot that went just wide of Alan Main's top corner.

Great second half performances in particular from Irvine, Quinn, Jackson and Sheerin. If we can repeat that second half performance from now on we will move up the league.

[SaintSam]

I think we owe that win in part down to Gary Irvine who kept their nifty little winger, Gilhaney, quiet all day. He also stepped in on numerous occasions to completely own Richard Offiong and generally nothing got past him for the duration of the match. He was also good at driving forward. Some good link up play with Rocco Quinn too. He was our man of the match by a country mile. Felt Anderson and McManus also responded well to some quick, sharp play from Accies to protect Main. Goran Stanic was also at the top of his game as well.

The goals were all excellent. Jackson is going to win us a lot of penalties this season as defences can't cope with his strength and his pace, leaving them with the only option to foul him 90% of the time. He was cracking again today and capped a good performance off with two goals, the second of which really has to be commended. Most players would miss a chance like that, I reckon. He got the height and the dip of that lob just spot on. Superb header onto him from Deuchar as well. This partnership is a dream.

Accies shot themselves in the foot when they took Offiong off at 1-1. If he wasn't injured then that was a criminal decision from Reid. He may not have been having much luck against our defenders, but he looked much more dangerous and capable than his replacement, who came on and did nothing in Hamiltons feable attempt to claw back the eventual deficit. The first half was one to forget from a St.Johnstone point of view, with only a couple of chances and not much else. The second is really deserving of praise though. We controlled the game, the passing was slick, the defending competent and the finishing top class.

Hamilton looked the same as they did last season with the tactics very much the same and very predictable. Mark the Gilhaney out of the game, and they lose their danger. I'm really impressed that we were not only the first side to beat them this season, but we did so in such style. Players deserve so much credit for showing that level of character.

This post has been edited by SaintSam: 29 September 2007 - 16:42

[SaintSam]

The most encouraging thing for me from the last four games - Thistle, Morton, Brechin and Hamilton aside from the fact that we've won three, drawn one, scored 12 and conceded only 4 is that we now appear to be forming a semi settled side.

Main picks himself. We have three of the best centre backs in the division in Rutkiewicz, McManus and Anderson who can all chop and change between partnerships and formations. Gary Irvine looks to be the signing of the season for Saints and he can play wing back as well as full back. Weatherston was a steal, Kenny Deuchar is not only banging them in himself but is also bringing on the sensational Andy Jackson in leaps and bounds. The whole team played fluently in the second half today against a side superior to any other we've faced so far this season.

It's really encouraging, and all that is without Martin Hardie, Steven Milne and Kevin James. I'm not that hopeful that this season is going to be our season considering how far behind our start has left us, but to thump Accies like that was just impressive.

[LargsTON]

Trust the fermers to hit form right before our semi-final.

Morton will be a different kettle of fish from the league game, though. The Cowshed will be rocking.

B)

[stepek 4 tellys]

SaintSam, on Sep 29 2007, 17:17, said:

Easy! Easy! Easy!

Ah sam, you've been awful quite lately but 4 posts out the ten so far show you are a fairweather poster. Must be a bit damp underfoot where you're sitting!

[Fast_Action]

I must confess, I did not see this coming. Few results surprised me this afternoon, but this one did, and big time!

What on all earth went wrong?

[Tubbs]

This result and others today show that the teams who we thought would challange will do that albeit after not starting well.

Part of our joy at our start was due to us comparing ourselves to teams who we thought were the best ( St J, Dunfermline, Dundee and maybe Livi) so going into the game we knew St J were a great team at home and we would have taken a draw and St J confirmed that judgement. To come back after being 1 nil doww and facing a shocking start to the season it would appear that St J showed their bottle as well as their skill to win the game convincingly........... almost happy i couldn't make it.

Hopefully we can take this as a shock to the system.......... we will need to as we face dundee and Dunfermline next.

[Silver Blue]

Fast_Action, on Sep 29 2007, 18:20, said:

I must confess, I did not see this coming. Few results surprised me this afternoon, but this one did, and big time!

What on all earth went wrong?

Guess the Accies finally played a decent side. Nothing to do with the surface as we usually do well at their place as well.

[Reynard]

St.Johnstone will win the league by ten clear points

[Fast_Action]

Tubbs, on Sep 29 2007, 18:22, said:

This result and others today show that the teams who we thought would challange will do that albeit after not starting well.

Part of our joy at our start was due to us comparing ourselves to teams who we thought were the best ( St J, Dunfermline, Dundee and maybe Livi) so going into the game we knew St J were a great team at home and we would have taken a draw and St J confirmed that judgement. To come back after being 1 nil doww and facing a shocking start to the season it would appear that St J showed their bottle as well as their skill to win the game convincingly........... almost happy i couldn't make it.

Hopefully we can take this as a shock to the system.......... we will need to as we face dundee and Dunfermline next.

Let me sum it up for you in six words - The Saintees are your bogey team.

[Tubbs]

Correct.

[Radford]

I think that second half today had been coming. There's just been a few signs lately that we're getting back to playing at a decent standard and the side has a more settled look to it.

Not sure why but we seemed to be stuck in the dressing room for the opening few minutes. No tempo to our play meant Accies had has pinned in our own half and took the lead before we'd even ventured into opposition territory. The ball found it's way to Taylor at the back post and he turned Anderson well before finding the net through a ruck of players. Accies, understandably, celebrated like they'd won the league.

We were ok after that I thought and if you'd come into the game after the opening two minutes, you wouldn't be unhappy with our peformance. Tempo came back with quick free-kicks, throws etc.. and Sheerin and Deuchar had the pick of the chances as mentioned by Jamie.

Second half was good though, and Accies were pretty much forced onto the back foot for the duration. We had a variation to our play with the long balls to Deuchar and the shorter passes in the middle and the movement of Jackson caused them all sort of problems. Quinn looks a class act and McLaren is showing the sort of form we knew he was capable of. He's far more prepared to take control of things this season, whereas he'd just do his own job last year. Irvine looks another great signing and gets up and down the park all day.

For Accies' part, you always worry when Offiong is up front and they are a more athletic side than us but I thought we showed more heart today.

I'm glad we won so I can say this without being accused of being bitter but I thought, once again, Eddie Smith had a shocking game. Blew for every bit of contact in the first half and made more wrong calls then I can ever remember seeing, too many to list in all honesty.

Important not to get carried away but it's good at least to see us starting to play some decent football again.

[A previously banned poster]

Really, Savo should be running riot right now.

I mean, week after week after week, us loyal and unassuming Saintees have endured a barrel load of abuse from the Dundee and Accies fans, all claiming that one of their respective sides will indeed lift the league title come the end of the season.

But the so called heavyweight of the first division has faltered at the first hurdle. They had to overcome what we all know is a depleted St Johnstone side and they failed; they didn't even come close. But let's look a little closer. Let's look at the facts behind the scoreline. At what critical juncture did it all fall apart for the Accies?

May I refer you to the following, particularly the last quote:

SavotheGreat, on Sep 24 2007, 21:01, said:

Offiong is an excellent player, mind you, he won't be with you forever. Offiong will definitely move on and without him, you have nothing.

SavotheGreat, on Sep 24 2007, 21:01, said:

Yeh, but I think you are missing the point. Offiong has improved this season. Even if those players did maintain fitness last season, you'd still have been shit.

SavotheGreat, on Sep 24 2007, 21:01, said:

Richard Offiong is Hamilton. With a fully fit squad and when things are levelled up, we are better than you. I know that. Hamilton fans don't want to admit that. I'm sure you'll be the exception.

Well, 61 minutes gone, and the Offiong was too. Sixty-three minutes gone and it was 2-1. Then 3-1. Then 4-1.

Who ever said Accies were a one man side? Oh, that's right, me.

In sum:

We beat Accies, the so-called champions elect, with a reserve side.

Enough said.

This post has been edited by SavotheGreat: 29 September 2007 - 17:49

[Fast_Action]

Who is older, Savo or Sam?

[Tubbs]

To the victor the spoils !

That your 'reserve' is so strong is testament to the depth of , and cash spent on, your squad. That our first team has so many youngsters and needs to be strengthed is just the way we are.

St J have, on paper, a better squad than us, as do dunfermline, that we are sitting above you by as much is part of the reason we are so thrilled at the start we have made. That we have been caught out was inevitable, that it is away at Perth is almost inevetiable as well.

[stepek 4 tellys]

St Johnstone were our first real test? So they are the benchmark by which all other teams are measured, f**k off! Had you been in second place before todays game then i might, just might have bought your " real test theory"

[Jydo]

Martins Hardies Love Child, on Sep 29 2007, 17:22, said:

Accies deserve to be there, they are no mugs and are a very good side, they were beaten by a team that finally found some belief.

How shocking was that ref today, he was appauling.

the ref was absolutely terrible today. he booked 2 st j players after 23 minutes for fairly bread and butter challenges then failed to book one of them for an assualt on our Easton. He failed to let play flow for both teams - terrible ref!!!!!!!!

I thought we played quite well in the first half, looked solid at the back and Winters & Gilhaney looked lively going forward. We did miss Alex Neill badly. It was looking bright at the interval but the second half started badly then fcuk knows what happened? We collapsed, couldnt keep the ball when st j gave it away, didnt look like scoring except the Wakey chip that went wide.

All credit to st j, they got a penalty to get back in it then had their tails up. Accies were really bad second half. Its not all bleak tho, still top and one defeat in seven. Everyone would take that form......

Well done Saints....