Hamilton were the team who needed a result – and it showed.
St Johnstone couldn’t be faulted for effort but their performance lacked the edge that the hosts brought to the context.
Accies started fast and had the lead in just 11 minutes but it was a scruffy one from Saints’ point of view. Ziggy Gordon found the net from close range after the Perth men failed to deal with a corner.
The second goal wasn’t much better.
On 57 minutes – as Saints were starting to threaten an equaliser – Steve Davies was gifted the ball on the 18-yard line and his low finish was a clinical one.
The nearest the visitors came to scoring was in the first half when a David Wotherspoon shot was cleared off the line, with the keeper beaten.
The good news was that Brian Easton made his first appearance in nearly a year-and-a-half, while youngster Ollie Hamilton was given his debut, coming on for the last 10 minutes.
