Hamilton Accies suffer points loss after defeat to St Johnstone

Oct 8 2009 by Andrew McGilvray, Hamilton Advertiser

JAMES Wesolowski reflected on Saturday’s tame defeat against St Johnstone and admitted: “We weren’t good enough.”

Accies slipped closer to the foot of the SPL table after goals in either half by Steven Anderson and Danny Grainger saw the points going back to Perth.

Midfielder Wesolowski said: “I don’t think we can be happy with our performance. We didn’t work hard enough and didn’t have enough quality out there.

“They scored from a set-piece which got them on top and it was pretty hard from there.

“We put in the effort and gave 100 per cent, but we’ve got to look to improve the quality of our play, especially on the ground.

“We gave what we could but at the end of the day it wasn’t good enough, so we’ve got to go back to the drawing board, look at the video and see what weaknesses we need to work on to improve our performances.

“I think it’s important that we do that over the next few weeks.”

Wesolowski added: “Realistically, that was a game we needed to win, and we knew that.

“When we play them at McDiarmid Park and get them back here, we know we’re going to have to get a result.

“It wasn’t good enough on Saturday, we know that ourselves, and we know we’ve got to improve – especially against teams that are round about us.

“Going forward we’re not creating enough and I think we need to work on that.”

Accies were without key players Mark McLaughlin and Simon Mensing due to flu and a hamstring injury, respectively, but nonetheless looked a shadow of the side that unluckily lost against Hearts the previous week.

Marvin Andrews and Grant Evans stepped into the breach and did well enough, but Saints thoroughly deserved the three points.

Hamilton started the better of the two teams, and in 12 minutes Mickael Antoine-Curier’s throw-in on the left sent Grant Evans through on goal, but his touch was too heavy, allowing Alan Main to gather.

Four minutes later a good move ended when Trent McClenahan’s cross picked out Marco Paixao in the six-yard box, but his shot was blocked.

St Johnstone could have snatched the lead on 20 minutes when former Accies striker Kenny Deuchar mugged dithering McClenahan and slipped the ball left to Liam Craig, but his sliced effort clipped the left post on its way out.

Wesolowski went close on 24 minutes, but sent a fierce drive dipping just past the left post from 30 yards.

However, Saints then took a grip of the game.

On 25 minutes Dave Mackay’s cross from the left was knocked down to Martin Hardie, who blazed over from the edge of the box.

Seven minutes later Deuchar’s low cross was clipped inches past the post by Steven Milne.

And in 41 minutes Craig’s corner was met with a Hardie volley, but Antoine-Curier cleared.

Accies nearly scored in 43 minutes when Antoine-Curier took possession from the right flank into the centre where Paixao took over, only to send his shot inches past the top corner.

But St Johnstone took the lead just before half time when Craig’s corner from their right was loop-headed back towards the near post by Hardie and Steven Anderson bundled home.

Accies could have levelled in 53 minutes when Richie Hastings’ corner caused a goalmouth scramble, but none of Hamilton’s players could provide the vital touch.

Ten minutes later a defensive error let Milne through but Marvin Andrews recovered with an excellent saving tackle.

Colin Samuel replaced Milne in 66 minutes and almost immediately began causing problems.

In 69 minutes Tomas Cerny had to look sharp to gather at a Mackay cross from the striker’s head, and four minutes later the Czech keeper saved at his feet.

Hamilton went close to an equaliser in 83 minutes when Evans’ cross from the right was headed past the far post by sub Leon Knight.

But St Johnstone wrapped up the points in 85 minutes when Danny Grainger went on a run down the left, was given far too much time and space, and unleashed an unstoppable shot into the far corner.

Accies tried to get a goal back, and Paixao sent a 19-yard free-kick on to the post, before sub Stuart Taylor’s header was blocked on the line.

HAMILTON: Cerny, McClenahan (Taylor, 61), Hastings, Canning, Andrews, Evans, Wesolowski, McArthur, Mason (Knight, 61), M. Paixao, Antoine-Curier. Subs (not used): Murdoch, Elebert, Wilkie, Kissock, Beuzelin.

Booked: Wesolowski.

ST JOHNSTONE: Main, Gartland, Grainger, Mackay, Anderson, Millar, Hardie, Morris, Craig (Morais, 89), Deuchar (McCaffrey, 79), Milne (Samuel, 66). Subs (not used): Smith, May, Reynolds, Hensley.

Booked: Gartland.

Ref: Charlie Richmond.

Attendance: 2199

Advertiser Man of the Match: James Wesolowski – worked tirelessly to try to make something happen.