There aren’t many in the McDiarmid Park dressing room who haven’t tasted European football.
Simon Lappin is a rare breed.
The Saints midfielder knows there is a lot of work to be done before the Perth club can even set up a shot at making it into the Europa League.
Finishing in the top six after their next two games are completed is the only thought in their minds at the moment.
But the 32-year-old has admitted that playing in Europe is an ambition that still burns bright after a decade-and-a-half in professional football without it.
“At this moment in time we’re not looking any further forward than Tuesday night,” Lappin insisted.
“Against Ross County (tomorrow) and then Dundee (on Saturday) it will be about getting as many points on the board as possible.
“Then after next weekend we can see where we are.
“You never know. Every single player will say it’s one game at a time, and I’m the same.
“We’re not even in the top six yet. That’s the target.
“If we do manage to get there, then who knows?
“Every team is capable of beating any other on any given day, but we’ll concentrate on getting there first.”
If Saints do get themselves into a position to challenge for fourth, Lappin’s motivation would be different to most of his team-mates.
“It goes without saying that once you’ve got a taste for it, you want more,” he pointed out.
And that’s what would apply to the bulk of the Saints players who are now European veterans.
He added: “I’ve not had it in my career and I definitely want the opportunity to play in Europe.
“I missed European football this season because it was the third league game of the season when I signed and we were out.
“It’s something I’d love to get on my CV.”
Next up after their 1-1 draw at Hamilton is a clash with a Premiership team showing form that even Celtic would be happy with Ross County.
Lappin said: “They’ve had another great result at Tannadice. They’re on a brilliant run.
“We’ll concentrate on ourselves, approach it the right way and hopefully get a positive result.
“Any time I’ve gone up there in years gone by it’s always been a hard, hard game and I’m sure this one will be no different.
“There’s not too much needing changed. It’s just about grinding out results at this stage of the season. And that’s what we’ll aim to do in Dingwall.”
Until Lappin’s introduction after the re-start at New Douglas Park, a third defeat out of three against Hamilton was looking probable.
Defenders bumping into each other had presented ex-Saint Nigel Hasselbaink with the ball in the box early on, and he picked out Ali Crawford who had a simple finish from six yards.
The rest of the first period was an uneventful affair, and the visitors only created a couple of half-chances.
Michael O’Halloran took the ball round keeper Michael McGovern on the edge of the box but the angle ended up being too wide for a shot and the attack faded to nothing. And that was about it.
The second half was much more like it from Saints, though.
Lappin came close to scoring at the back post five minutes after coming on, and then just short of the hour-mark, Accies player-boss Martin Canning got a straight red for chopping down O’Halloran in full flight.
It was pretty much one-way traffic thereafter.
Graham missed the target with a six yard header but made amends not long after when he nodded home Lappin’s cross from the left.
Brian Easton could have claimed all three points when he met a Lappin inswinging corner, but didn’t time his header well enough.
Lappin reflected: “It was probably a game of two halves.
“We were unfortunate not to nick it at the end, especially with them going down to 10 men.
“There was only one team going to win it by that stage.
“But it’s another point on the board, and another game down.
“Now we go again in Dingwall on Tuesday.
“You want to get the three points in any game, whatever the circumstances but it’s a good point.
“Even before they were down to 10 men I thought we had got on top of them.”
It was Lappin’s first match since being sidelined with a knee injury a few weeks ago at Tannadice.
“The manager told me to get on the ball and do what I do,” he said.
“I knew I would have to bide my time before I got back into the side because the boys had been going so well.
“But the manager knew that if and when I was needed I would be ready to do my bit for the team.”
Wright was sure that this was a point gained, particularly in view of Kilmarnock and Dundee United losing, and Dundee drawing.
He commented: “After going a goal down we showed a lot of character to get back in the game. I’m pleased with the response I got in the second half.
“Any joy we got in the first half was with flick-ons from Brian.
“So we decided to go a wee bit more direct, get the ball wider and get crosses in the box. And it worked.
“Hamilton made it difficult for us, even with 10 men.
“It’s an important point. With other results, it’s a great point.
“I’m not disappointed. Hamilton are fighting for their lives. We probably did enough to get all three but I’m happy enough with one.”
Hamilton assistant manager Guillame Beuzelin noted: “It’s a mixed feeling. At 1-0 up we were pretty comfortable. The sending-off changed the whole game. For me it was just a yellow.
“If it had stayed 11 against 11 I think it might have been a different story.
“In the end I was so proud of the boys to get a point.”