St Johnstone’s hopes of closing the gap on the Premiership’s top five were dashed as high-flying Hamilton Accies took full points from Perth.
Tony Andreu’s 13th goal of the season in the first half was enough to separate the sides, and proved to be sufficient to see Accies jump above Dundee United and draw level on points with Celtic in the table.
Saints, meanwhile, will have to hope that Kilmarnock do not take the chance to go above them in the standings when they play the champions tomorrow evening.
Accies started the better but Saints could and should have seized the initiative in 10 minutes when Michael O’Halloran cracked an effort off the crossbar from six yards out.
However, the visitors grabbed the lead in 34 minutes as they took full advantage of a Saints defensive lapse.
Stephen Hendrie’s ball in from the left found Andreu unmarked directly in front of Saints keeper Alan Mannus and he steered his volley beyond the Northern Ireland international from 10 yards out.
Accies very nearly doubled their advantage nine minutes after the restart when Mickael Antoine Curier’s goalbound effort deflected off Steven Anderson, although the ball crashed off the underside of the bar.
Saints improved in the closing stages but their task was made nigh on impossible with six minutes left as James McFadden was dismissed for a second yellow card.
For full match coverage and reaction, see Monday’s Courier.