If that's the team, with Wallner on the right, I think we'll win. I'd maybe think about starting with Graham and bringing Gilhaney on later, just to freshen up a bit.

Also, Marko and Elebert have only conceded 1 goal as a central defensive partnership all season. Even that was to a counter-attack from a bad attacking free-kick against Livi at home. That's in 8 or 9 games. In fact, not having Elebert at centre half and Parrat at right back in the last 7 games has coincided with our bad away form.

Was speaking to Derek McInnes this morning. He reckons the Saintees will get at least a point. Main aim is to ensure they don't lose as Derek believes they will make up the points gap and win the First Division.

I agree with him. St. Johnstone will win the First Divsion this season now that that buffoon Coyle is away.

i would have winters out on the left, gilhaney has been gash for a couple of months now.

Thought we merited at least a point from that. Another blunder from Main saw us fall behind early on when we'd had Hamilton on the back foot for the opening spell. I thought we dominated the entire first half but came up against a very good backline - bar the shocking right back!

Second half Accies sat on their lead and killed the game, happy to wait for any opportunities to arise on the break. Very professional second half from them.

I'm no disappointed with the way we tried to play our football though. Would maybe have liked to see Halliwell tested a bit more but the performance was a million times better than at Firhill where we stole a point.

Best for Accies were the outstanding McCarthy and McLaughlin and I didn't think any of our players had a poor game, although clearly Main has to be held accountable for the goal.

I couldnt agree more Radford took the words out of my mouth. A bad keeping error cost us again. But other than that a very good first half performance though yeilding little end product. People have been pointing fingers at Main all season some of it merited but for me any fan that can defend Stanic this season, really in my opinion doesn't know what they are talking about. He was poor and has been all season, nearly lost us a couple of goals. But some positives.

Delighted by that win, in what was not a great game. St J did have lots of the ball with very little penetration, our centre halfs were hard worked but showed a bit of quality.

We needed this win and we got it by scoring the goal and making better chances in the second half.

I was impressed by St J in midfield but less so up front and at the back. The left winger had Mensing twisted and turning a few times and perhaps St J should have got the ball to him more often.

Agree with McCarthy and Marko being our best players. Some of McCarthy's first time passing was great to watch. Also agree that St. Johnstone deserved a point in terms of territory, although they didn't create very much. Accies defending was immense. Great to have Elebert back. Think Halliwell had one testing save to make all game which is a credit to the back line considering St.Johnstones possession in our half.
Mensing actually had an ok game. He passed the ball pretty decently and was a bit of a presence. He was skinned for his booking and probably just about deserved it. Then St. Johnstone's number 7 jumped into Mensing to get an obstruction. I was watching the ref and he wasn't even looking at the incident. Then Mensing tripped a St. Johnstone player by accident. The ref did well not to send him off despite McInnes shouting for it. Billy did the smart thing and subbed him at the start of the second half.

Hamilton had an off day and only began to play after Wake and Gilhaney came on. Even though Hamilton were poor- I still felt we were more likely to score throughout the game!! We attacked three times in the first 60 minutes and nearly scored three times. When the game stretched we had some excellent chances to extend the lead.

It was messy- but good to have beaten the bogey team.

this was an ugly win for accies, but win we god damn will! thought we were the better team in the first half and mcarthur took his goal well. mensing was booked for what was a foul, but never a booking and should have been booked afterwards for what were more bookable offences. quinn was lucky to stay on the park for an outrageous tackle on halliwell and how the saintees fans could cry cheats is beyond me.
second half was all st johnstone with accies getting little in the chances department and we only came away with a win due to an unbelievable save from halliwell ( waves at tig) best for accies was stalwart big marko who must be up for first division player of the year.

I wouldn't disagree that as the game wore on, Accies had the better chances but that was more down to the numbers of players behind the ball each side had. That's not a criticism of Hamilton either, when you can defend that well, you play to your strengths.

I think if the game had finished 0-0 or 1-1, the Accies fans would be frustrated at falling behind Dundee but both sets of fans would agree it was a fair result.

Don't agree about Mensing though. I was encouraged when I heard he was playing right back and right enough, I thought he struggled badly. Reid had to sub him before he got sent off as he couldn't contain MacDonald.

Please say you weren't at the game!

I doubt anybody at the game will agree with that assessment!

So where are Savo and Sam these days?

Little in the chances dept ???

Realy ? Winters just past the post, Graham one on one with Main - great save, Wake again straight on the keeper, Gilheny nearly nipping in front of the St J defender at the 6 yard box.

No idea mate. Sam will no doubt make an appearance after X-Factor but is appears as if Savo only posts when we are winning.

was your assessment stolen from radio scotland? dominated the entire first half

do hamilton always timewaste that much or was today a one off?

ok, i admit we had a few chances in the second half due to us piling everyone at the back and hitting saintees on the counter, thought grahams move was outstanding and he was unlucky.
it was the only thing he done all game

What goes around comes around.

how did liam craig play?

Do elaborate on main's blunder. I am keen to hear about it.

At last,the bogey is slayed-albeit temporarily.Saints seemed to win the midfield battle with the big gingery haired(or strawberry blonde)guy winning a lot of possession.

If Reid hadn't subbed Mensing,he was going to get sent off as he is too slow at full-back against the better teams.He was also skinned superbly in the first half with an excellent piece of trickery by McDonald I think.Solidity in defence was the key to our win.Plenty of Saints possession which will happen with one man up front who was having one of his can't be arsed days which allows the opposition to bring the ball forward constantly..

When Wake came on,most Accies fans thought " what the f##k is Reid doing"?Wallner looked the choice, but Wake made me and others eat our words with a gutsy harrying performance which deserved a goal.I think the run into the box,shot etc then somehow spinned off Main's posterior to not go in was reminiscent of Wake as a player.Namely the nearly man.

I think if Halliwell hadn't pulled off that world-class save,Saints would have got at the very least a draw.Reid for once was not afraid to chop and change personnel which was surprising but welcome.Gilhaney noticeably played better than he has recently as he now has to work for his place in the team.

Very interesting that Wallner never came on.May it be that Accies know he won't be staying hence why other subs were used?Who knows,but at least we had a few options on the bench.

Again,young McCarthy came on to a good game in the second half and it is refreshing to witness some of his control and wee flicks at times.
However,what looked like an elbow in the face from McManus was o.t.t.Again no foul given.

We had a few chances in the second half ,but I feel Accies still miss Stuart Taylor in midfield.Time for my first drink in a month.Gagging for a pint which will taste all the sweeter after today.Still time for a run of wins by Saints as Accies and Dundee will drop points.

Well that settles that debate then. Game over and im glad i missed it. Main should not have played IMO.


Congrats Accies. The chances of us sneaking up are non-existent.

As if i couldn't get any more miserable the X Factor final is about to start.

Never mind, my wee team are playing later. Adelante Los Ches!

Main did make a couple of great saves in the second half.

Another disappointing result but at least we haven't given ourselves false hope & can build for next season.

That side of him hasn't diminished. When it comes to shot stopping he's normally top notch. His general positioning and distribution has been rank though.

He learned it all at tannadice you know!

It was last year with Gretna too though. I still think, as I thought then, that bringing him back as a first team keeper was a bizarre thing to have done.

Can't agree with Ye Olde's comments about Offiong. I felt he ran about all afternoon, chasing and harrying, but he has no support up front. He can only do so much with those high balls if there's nobody behind to receive the flick on, or if the support from midfield is not there. I wouldn't be surprised if he wanted away because he cuts a disconsolte figure at times.

Mensing could easily have been sent off for tugging MacDonald's shirt as he burst past him after his booking. The ref clearly didn't see it, may even have been a penalty. Also felt Wake may have handled or armed the ball from a corner late in the game.

For all that Saints had most of the ball, Halliwell only really had the one save, and what a save! We had Winters scorching shot, Graham's great piece of skill and a fine save, Wake narrowly missing McCarthy's stab across goal after a great move and the comic cuts attempt that I can't even remember now but almost went in off a prostrate defender.

I think it must be two horse race now. We have Elebert back with the magnificent McLaughlin but we need more bodies in. Whether Graham will be one is up for debate but I thought he looked good when he had the ball but that wasn't often, in fact in spells it was a struggle for any Accies player to see much of the ball.

I think we may have lost that game or at least failed to win if Deuchar was still there. Excellent midfield but too small and light up front, especially against our bulky defenders.

Professional job from Accies.

Got the lead. Held onto it.

We could have played all day and our so-called bogey team wouldn't have scored.

Bottom line is we played well within ourselves (you could even say it wasn't a very good day for us) and still won.

Just how long is this X factor programme that apparentely stops Saint Sam from posting? How "easy easy" was it today?

Too many Accies posters giving Saints too much credit!! They were crap!! They went down far too easily and were moaning at the ref all day . I gave them a lot of credit last year but they are a shadow of the team they were last year. Great win for Accies today and I thought young James was outstanding today. Big Wake also deserves a mention, he came on and really rumbled up the saints defence. Onwards and upwards!!

They kept the ball well at times but their centre forwards never got a sniff.

Radford is right actually. Mensing was poor in defence but is a good passer and strong runner. That's what I liked about him. Although these attributes would probably be better used in midfield, he wouldn't strengthen that area for Accies.

What was the booing of Halliwell all about? Quinn jumped at him with his foot raised. He was rightly booked. Then Halliwell was booed.

Strange.

I think some people felt it was a fair challenge on the keeper. I also believe it happened shortly after one of Mensings assaults which dsome people may have felt was worth a 2nd yellow which made the booking even more galling.

I wasn't there so im only surmising.

Saint Sam,Saint Sam,come out, come out, wherever you are!

Also, Mensings booking came after a clear free-kick Hamilton's way that wasn't given. The ref was poor. It felt like he was giving everything St. Johnstone's way. However, right at the end he gave Hamilton a few dodgy decisions as well. Just a bad ref. Swings and roundabouts.

I'm not making excuses mate i'm just telling you why people might have been booing.


Your right though. Every game is turning into a lottery with the decisions the officials are making. I agree with you its the same old story. A paedo's guide. Swings and roundabouts.

Hamilton - with Elebert and McLaughlin fit anyway - are superb defensively and that is what limited us today, rather than us being "crap" as one poster puts it. Accies defence was better than our attack, it doesn't mean it was "crap". I thought our defence did alright as it happens as well. Obviously we were stretched a bit when we were chasing the game but for the large majority of the game, both sides struggled to break down the other. Despite that, I still thought it was a decent and enjoyable game.

Still think Badger's Apprentice was at a different game but most Accies fans have been very fair with their analysis - their side as a whole maybe didn't need to reach their peak but their defence had to be on top form.

As for Halliwell, what a meal he made of the "challenge" from Rocco. That's why he was booed, for pretending he'd been shoot when he was barely touched.

What is the proper past tense for someone who the crowd boo. Is it "booed" or "boo'd".

These are the key points i have drawn from todays events.

I know you weren't at the game and weren't making excuses. I was trying to let you know what else happenned with the game.

Today is probably the only day where we have got more than we deserved. Against Queens and Dundee we probably got less than what we deserved. We're due another "lucky" result now to balance things up.

I thought it was a rather fair match. Both teams having chances, although in the second we could have killed the game after numerous clear cut chances, which is something we really need to sort out! Our defence was solid, but when we pushed foward we looked a rather bland. But im very pleased with the result and the 3 points, and i now think its a 2 horse race for promotion, as i dont Partick or St J making up the lost ground.

To be fair- he wasn't exactly rolling around and didn't indicate to the ref that he wanted the player booked or red-carded. He had jumped reasonably high and may have landed awkwardly. He was caught as well and it was a high and perhaps "over the top" challenge. Thought the booing was a bit harsh.
There are a couple of St. Johnstone players who like to "make a meal" of things as well. Particularly MacDonald. Although, i wouldn't say it's that bad in Accies or St.Johnstone.

Badger's Apprentice must have slept through the match if he was there. We had one attack in the first half and scored. Hardly controlling it!!

zzzzzzzzz now wheres that second half are you telling me we were not by far the best team in that first half? even if we probably did have more chances in the second, did we not try to attack more in the first half? cause we certainly did not in the second, it was boring backs to the wall stuff and hitting on the break and you have to appreciate that with the end result and if saintees had equilised we would be slating the badger for such negetive tactics on our own patch.

You weren't there, were you?

We hardly got out of our own half!

Stop making a fool of yourself.

Badger changed things just in time in the second half and saved the day so all Accies are happy.

We've played (a lot) better and lost this season.

Seconded.

Did anyone else see 1 of Stuart Taylor's crutches enter the field of play in the 2nd half??

I don't think for a second that Rocco Quinn is capable of putting a dirty, or even hard, challenge in on anyone. The boy's a fairy.

Oh, and Halliwell's antics are legendary.

I think Quinn's challenge was fair an he was entitled to go for it. It was 'Dida' Halliwell's reaction folk were annoyed about, he got up and played the rest of the game fine, he was clearly feigning injury which suggests to me he was tryin to get Quinn booked.

We were so poor yesterday and the league is defo over for us. A wee run in the Scottish cup is about all we have to look forward to. Stanic was very poor, i don't think i've ever seen him so bad. Main at fault agen and could have lost us at least 1 more when he sort of ran past the ball an let their boy hav a shot at an empty net, cant remember who it was who got in and cleared it off the line.

Only positive from today was McDonald's trickery which excited me quite a bit!

I don't think I've ever read such a bizarre summation as of that by badger's apprentice. We did very little in attacking terms in the first half, the midfield failed completely to get a grip of the game with McArthur in particular anonymous. Saints controlled most of the game, we came into it in spells in the second and certainly created the better chances, I'll give you that. We had our best period when they went all guns blazing with 4 up and left gaps.

The game was a bit like our defeat at Dens, we had more possession with little punch and they came more into it towards the end. Even the goal times were almost identical, 11 mins and 12 mins.