Hamilton were terrible in the first half and only went close when trying to score direct from corners. Saints, on the other hand, had enough chances to win two games and just couldn't take them.
Charlie Adam and Simon Lappin both went close early doors, whilst Kirk Broadfoot dragged a free kick wide. Midway through the first half a Lappin free kick was headed goalward by John Sutton, only for it to cannon off the crossbar. Fortunately big Kirk was in the right place at the right time and rattled in the rebound for his first goal of the season.
Saints continued to dominate the first half and could have been another goal soon after taking the lead. Another Lappin free kick found Sutton, and this time his effort was blocked by the excellent David McEwan in the Hamilton ball. Sutton laid the rebound off to Adam, whose shot was once again saved by McEwan.
Into the second half and Saints were still on top, Stewart Kean firing a drive across the face of goal before McEwan denied Hugh Murray, making his 250th Saints start, with a fantastic save.
Brian McGinty replaced Kean and could have added the second, only to screw up Sutton's great pass. However, he recovered enough to set up Shuggy but his effort caused more danger to passing planes rather than McEwan.
It was a costly mistake. Hamilton made a rare attack and were level seconds later, when Paul McLeod played a ball across the face of goal that Mark Gilhaney somehow got to and squeezed into the net. Chris Smith could have got it, but left it as he thought it was going out. Oops!
Saints continued to attack and some good work by McGinty set up Andy Millen, but his effort was blocked by Sutton!
Fortunately, with seven minutes left, another great piece of work by McGinty saw him once again find Millen. Millen fed it to Lappin and he thrashed it into the bottom corner of the net, given McEwan no chance. Love Street went wild, as did the players, as did some people in the press box (not just me for a change!). That was it for goals and Saints deservedly won 2-1.
A great performance, with no real failures and even McGinty looking decent. Keep it up lads, a win on Tuesday and no defeat next week could make things very interesting.
A word about referee Dougie McDonald - you are a clown. Equally bad for both sides, missing fouls (and a passback) and giving free kicks for nothing. How this guy got an Old Firm game I'll never know.