St Johnstone can send Hamilton Accies down to the first division at McDiarmid Park tonight, but Perth midfielder Jamie Adams has insisted there’s no room for sentiment as they seek to finish their home league campaign on a high.
There will be no favours given to either Accies or St Mirren FC on Saturday, should the relegation issue still be alive by then, according to the former Kilmarnock FC man. The only issue for Adams, who opened his SPL account with a header in the 2-0 weekend win against Aberdeen FC, is that they maintain their recent upturn in form.
He said, “Accies are fighting for their lives and they still have a chance of staying up. We also face St Mirren on the last day of the season so we will have a big say in the relegation issue. But we have shown in our last two games that we aren’t giving up on the season. We have pride to play for and we want to keep the fans happy. I am sure they have enjoyed the wins over Hibs and Aberdeen.
“That was a team that was right at it at Pittodrie. We followed on from the second half against Hibs. It would have been easy to roll over after the cup semi-final defeat to Motherwell FC but that isn’t in our make-up.Massive”This is our final home game of the season and we want to give the fans another win. Obviously it’s massive for Hamilton because they have kept their hopes alive with some crucial wins. But with so much riding on the game that could give us an extra lift.
“Accies or St Mirren will go down but that’s not something we can concern ourselves with. The higher we finish in the table the more money there is for the club and for the players in bonuses. We don’t want to pass up on that. We are desperate to sign off with four successive wins.”
The 23-year-old’s goal at Pittodrie capped off an impressive overall performance.
“That was my first goal for St Johnstone and my first ever in the SPL so it was a great moment for me,” he said. “I scored for Dundee while I was on loan. But the main thing was a good team performance and three points at Pittodrie.
“Assistant manager Tony Docherty works hard on set-plays so it’s good that it paid off. I got across my marker for the header and Liam Craig’s corner was perfect. Set-pieces are important at both ends of the park in the game nowadays.
“It’s the wrong time of the season for me because I feel I am just getting going. It has been frustrating having niggling injuries and not getting as many games as I’d have liked.
“But I will keep my head down and work hard over the summer. It is a short break this year and I know the gaffer has a lot of competition for places in the middle of the park. But I want to stay in the team for the last two games and take it from there.
“I have played at the back as well, but I’ve been a central midfielder since I was a boy and feel most comfortable in that role. At every club I’ve played at I’ve got my fair share of goals so hopefully there will be plenty more for Saints if I am getting regular games next season.”CompetitiveManager Derek McInnes recalled the fight that Accies put up on the last day of the season when Owen Coyle’s Saints were chasing a first division title. He believes that match typified the honesty and competitive streak which runs through Scottish football.
He said, “Hamilton played that game in a proper manner and did all they could to win that match. There is a professionalism about the whole league in our country, and an appreciation of fairness. Nobody is going to put the tools away for another team. And a win for us would go a long way towards finishing eighth.
“I have read all about how poor Aberdeen were at the weekend but it would be very wrong not to mention how good our players were from start to finish in winning at Pittodrie for the third time in a row. We got two goals and it could have been a lot more. If we can finish above clubs like Aberdeen and Hibs for successive seasons, given their size and budgets, it would be a huge testament to my players and their efforts this year.
“Of course we wanted to make the top six and a cup final and I accept we lacked a goal threat because we didn’t have an Adam Rooney or a David Goodwillie. But everything else was there in abundance.”
McInnes added, “I totally sympathise with the position they are in. I would hate to be in the position of rival managers Billy Reid and Danny Lennon,” he said.
“Accies have shown a real determination to hold on to their SPL status. They have had a couple of great results. I don’t think any of us expected this so full credit to them for keeping it going. I watched them against St Mirren and they deserved the three points.
“I can’t pretend there is more riding on this game for us than for Hamilton. But we want to get another couple of positive results before the end of the season.”
Danny Grainger could return to the team if he passes a fitness test on a groin strain and Murray Davidson should make it despite a hip knock at Pittodrie. Collin Samuel, Jody Morris, Graham Gartland and Sam Parkin are all still out. Teenager Liam Caddis has recovered from a knee injury to join the Scotland under-19s for two games against Denmark this week.
Midfielder Jon Routledge could feature for Hamilton after returning to training following a knee injury. Skipper Alex Neil is definitely back after serving a one-match suspension but defender Martin Canning remains on the sidelines with a stomach injury.