Hamilton fans quickly forgave James McFadden for his none-to-subtle gesture in their direction a few weeks ago.
And Motherwell supporters would surely do likewise if the St Johnstone striker sunk them with a winning goal when the two teams clash this afternoon.
The former darling of Fir Park will be happy if that’s put to the test, as only a Saints victory is in his thoughts for his first competitive match against his relegation-threatened old team at the Lanarkshire stadium.
McFadden has had to sit out the McDiarmid Park side’s last three matches through suspension two of those games as a result of a Tattie Marshall Commonwealth Games-style salute for the benefit of Accies’ followers on his way up the tunnel.
And the former Scotland man has revealed that the people of Hamilton were a good deal more understanding than the SFA’s compliance officer.
“I live in Hamilton,” he said. “I’ve met a few people since who were at the game, and they just thought it was funny.
“It wasn’t malicious. It was just a spur of the moment bit of madness. Folk have been having a laugh about it. I’ve not been hiding away in Hamilton!
“One player can appeal and get away with it, and another gets a two-match ban. That’s just the way it is.”
For a player who has been kept out of more than his fair share of fixtures through injury, it didn’t sit comfortably to be fit as a fiddle and in the stand.
“It’s even more frustrating when you miss games through suspension than injury because it’s avoidable,” McFadden explained.
“It’s done now though, and I’m concentrating on getting back in the team.
“Of course I regret it, and I wish I’d never done it, but I think the punishment was a bit harsh and I want to move on.
“The fact that it was three games in a week was a bit of a blessing because it was over quicker than it could have been. But I hate missing training, let alone missing games. I’m ready to go and up for the game at the weekend. I can’t wait.”
McFadden got a taste of the playing against and beating – Motherwell awkwardness in Perth a few months ago.
He knows that going back to his old stomping ground will not be a usual Saturday experience, but he pledged that his commitment and desire to win will be undiluted.
He pointed out: “I’ve played at Fir Park against Motherwell for Everton in a pre-season friendly.
“I’ve still got a lot of pals there, and a lot of memories. It was the club I started with at 12, and it will always be special to me. There will be pleasantries before and after the game but not during it.
“They’ll not want me to do well, and I’ll want to beat them. It’s as simple as that. I’ll be trying my best, as I do in every game, to get us a win.
“They need a result but so do we for a different reason. We want to push up the league.”
He added: “It will be a different one to the match at McDiarmid.
“Both of us were on bad runs and it felt like two teams who didn’t know how to win. Thankfully we did win it. Since then we’ve never looked back.
“I think they had a slightly better performance last week, and it’s going to click for them at some point. You don’t finish second top and become a bad team.
“They’ll get the bit of luck to get them going, and hopefully it doesn’t come against us.
“I’ve spoken to a few of the players. I don’t know what it is that they’ve been missing but we know the qualities they still have in the team.”
McFadden believes Saints are on track for a successful season in the league.
He said: “It’s been going well. We won six on the trot but there was always going to be a stage when that came to an end.
“The boys showed great character against Aberdeen. They were excellent and could have won the game.
“We’re going into games thinking we’re going to win them. It doesn’t matter who we’re playing.
“The manager will set us out positively and will tell us to go and enjoy it, same as he always does.”
Chris Millar is unlikely to play, while Dave Mackay is also a fitness doubt.