Easy! Easy! Easy!

How many points are St. Johnstone behind accies now?

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

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

8 i think

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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?

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.

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

St.Johnstone will win the league by ten clear points

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

Correct.

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.

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:







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.

Who is older, Savo or Sam?

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.

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"

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....

A gracious Accies fan, well done sir, nice to see, your behaviour marks in stark contrast to that of the rest of your support.

As for FA, nice to see that he is AGAIN resorting to a personal attack on my character. Delving this time to the depths of ageism. Poor show.

I think livingston were a real test !..............who do S tJ play next

Ah well we were bound to get beat eventually... but the manner of defeat concerns me. First half, no problems. We got an early goal and were more than a match for st. johnstone. agree wholeheartedly about the ref thinking we'd paid to see him. he was a joke.

2nd half st johnstone really rose to the challenge and once the penalty went in their spirits lifted and the accies heads went down. accies never really got back into the game until 3-1 and just couldn't put the ball in the net, despite playing some decent football in spells.

so well done st. johnstone. based on the 2nd half you deserved the win. we on the other hand have been given much to think about ahead of next weeks clash with dundee.

Not at all old bean. I was simply asking a question. From what you post, I like you. And I have found your posts this season to be quite entertaining, and I always appreciate a sense of humour. I suspect that you are older than Sam. You are certainly much funnier.

Pleased for you today - that result was a long time in coming. I just did not see it coming.

Accies good run was always going to come to an end with a defeat, but I agree with Jie Bie, the manner in which you were beaten cannot be brushed off and taken lightly. You weren't just defeated by your bogey team away from home, you shipped four goals in one game and never looked like scoring beyond your early opener.

All good teams lose, but you have to worry when you are beaten 4-1. I feared the worst today given the difference between the form of the two teams, with the only saving grace being that the game was at home. Never in a million years did I expect to watch such an easy and comprehensive victory. I said on WAP if you mark Gilhaney out of the game, nothing gets into Offiong and if you mark Offiong out of the game, Hamilton have no plan B and the outcome is inevitable.

If Accies get any injuries to these sort of key players this season, they'll struggle.

I don't know who has been writing your script here pet, but Gilhaney is not Accies most influential player.

What p1sh you talking? Accies caved in after 63 minutes when you lot got a 2nd. Yer third had a great deal of fortune to it too, whilst your 4th was a well worked goal. Such and easy and comprehensive victory?

take your head out the clouds pal for just a second....

Good win for the saints but dont exaggerate...

And they say that chicks no nothing about football.

Best team won,thats all there was to it.
We WILL beat Dundee next week.

Btw,what happened right at the start of the 1st half in the Saints end,seemed to be a scuffle with police and stewards running over??

3 hamilton neds decided to come in the saints end, They started pushing saints fans and one of them knocked over my 6 year old son, Dirty scummy b*****ds

wow! what in the wide wild world of sports did coyle say to saintees at half-time? they were a totally rejuvenated side and had us on the rack for most of the second half, well done and if you keep playing like that for the rest of the season both us and dundee are in serious bother!

as for us, what in the hell happened at the back? as for badgers substitutions- offiong had to go savo as he was playing mince,cannot understand taylor being taken off as he was playing a blinder and was replaced with a defender! mcleod coming on for winters when it was obvious mccarthy was fecked, come on badger get a grip.

After your first goal, you didn't look like scoring.

After we equalised, in the 48th minute, only one team was ever going to win it. What sort of team with championship aspirations "caves in" after going 2-1 down? I'll correct you, what pish are you talking?

Two wins from eight games is hardly championship form St johnstone. Dundee are our main challenge. After next weeks game we will be back to 4 points clear. I predict Livingstone 4- 0 Stjohnstone which will then equal two wins from 9 games.

You are soooooooooooo bitter. It makes todays comprehensive and easy victory so much sweeter.

Are there more posts by SaintSam on this thread than she's made since the start of the season?

I wasn't at the game, but from what I've heard the better team won and that's that. I don't have time for much analysis, but I wanted to make a point of coming on here and acknowledging defeat with the same grace (I hope) as when we win. From what I've been told it was a game of two halves, but the second half clearly a bit of a disaster from our point of view, shipping more goals in 45 minutes than we have in the entire season to date.

Was it a blip or has our bubble burst? Who knows, but we're still top of the legaue and in no danger of going into the Dundee game next week with any complacency.

Well done, Saintees. We'll have to wait till you come to NDP for our revenge.

2 points, mainly directed at Savo.

To say Hamilton have failed at their first real test is arrogant and simply untrue.

Secondly, how can a side concede one goal in their opening 6 matches and be called a one man team with the "one man" being a striker?

Cracking result for the Saintees but in this league a succession of small wins means far more than one big win.

I have no shame in admitting I'm absolutely revelling in the victory today. I'm not sure I would be quite so eager to mock if the margin had been slimmer, but we absolutely trounced the so called best side in the league, and they looked very much like last season. Predictable one man up front, play wide to Gilhaney, slip in to Offiong, boom. It never seems to work against Saints though, it delights me.

I have been reading this forum every day as per, but not posting as much for the simple reason that there's not been much to post about, there's not been too many threads about Saints bar the pre and post match analysis. All of the focus has been on Hamiltons admittedly good start, but don't think the thread about "Can the Saintees get any better" had escaped my attention. They didn't, I did read them. The simple answer to that one is yes, we can get better, and what a game to do it in!

Get it right up the lot of you! We will probably lose to our very own bogey team Livingston next week, but in the mean time, I'm going to enjoy that 4-1 lesson in how to play football, and I'll not apologise for it.

Mark Gilhaney shot narrowly over the bar in the 2nd half after some great wing wizardry, Brian Wake was one on one with Alan Main in the 2nd half and chipped it over the diving keeper but it went narrowly wide. That was our other two clear cut goal scoring opportunities with James McCarthy shoting wide from the edge of the box in the 1st half - but I would only call that a half chance.

not bad for a team that didnt look like scoring....pish boy

For the last 87n minutes of the game there was only 1 team in it.

1st half was poor & spoiled by a picky ref. Accies cored from a cross from a soft free kick & the defended a 1-0 lead.

We weren't good but had 2 or 3 good chances to equalise.

2nd half was completely different , best 45 minutes of football all season & well deserved win 4-1. Accies very poor 2nd half.

Narrowly! Narrowly! FFS!

A sweeping statement that does you no credit at all, sir.

St Johnstone thoroughly deserved their victory today, especially in the 2nd half.
Deuchar was excellent in the air all day. There is no doubt for me that he has what it takes at this level and I have rarely seen a striker give big Marko such a tough afternoon.
In short, the first half belonged to an absolutely shocking referee and the second to St Johnstone all the way.

In the dark days of supporting Accies, a 4-1 defeat felt like your knackers getting slammed in the door. These days, its just like having something in your eye. Still a good time to be an Accie.

offiong has not scored since the partick game and since then we have won two, drew one, lost one,scored 8 and one of the wins was against spl opposition.
does that sound like one man team, eh savo?

saintsam you need to get out more. You are getting too excited in front of your computer. Your team won today. Thats twice since the start of August in the League. Get yourself out and try and calm yourself down. Its only a game. You will be back to normal next week

Let's be fair to Accies here, they only have one or two deplorable fans whilst the rest of them have just been quite rightly enjoying the great start to the season they've had. The result today is more of a get it right up you to the fans of other clubs who have been prematurely ejaculating about our struggling start this season, than a slight on the bulk of the Accies support.

I still enjoyed it thoroughly however. To return your chants of "Easy! Easy! Easy!" after the third goal went in was just fabulous. It's all banter.



I really don't like the whole one man upfront approach, I'd hate to see Saints play it. Regardless of Fast Actions comments, I do believe Gilhaney is your biggest threat in attack. Every time you move forward, you do it through him and up against Gary Irvine today it was no contest. Gilhaney eventually switched wings in search of more glory. Irvine was outstanding keeping Gilhaney contained, meaning nothing got into Offiong. He still looked good in the opening stages though. I was most impressed with him back in April when we beat you on the last day of the season. He was a one man tank up front.

She is a sort, not a boy. Surely you had worked that much out?

BTW - Why does your username tend towards bhigotry?