St Johnstone took another big step to all but ensuring their Premiership safety with this win over Hamilton Accies at McDiarmid Park.
The victory elevated Saints up to seventh in the table with the Perth side now 15 points ahead of rock bottom Ross County and 12 in front of Partick in 11th.
The decisive counter of the game was an early own goal by Accies Scott McMann with the home side going on to dominate the first half.
Hamilton made a better fist of things in the second 45 however St Johnstone took all three points to extend their unbeaten run to three games.
Saints boss Tommy Wright made two changes from the side that drew 1-1 with Hibs before the international break.
Jason Kerr, who was capped last week for the Scotland Under-21 side against Andorra, returned from suspension at the expense of Liam Gordon while George Williams came in for Chris Millar.
Hamilton manager Martin Canning brought back Darian MacKinnon following his recovery from an injury sustained against Dundee in January.
St Johnstone got off to a dream start with their goal in just the fifth minute. Blair Alston fired a corner in from the left that was flicked on by Liam Craig with McMann getting the last touch under pressure from Kerr.
Shortly after, the home side had another opportunity when the ball broke to Chris Kane 16 yards out but his shot was blocked on the line by Hamilton’s Rakish Bingham.
There was another half chance for Saints in the 20th minute when an Alston free-kick from the right eventually found its way to Steven Anderson but the big defender could not keep his attempt down and it flew high and wide.
St Johnstone were certainly well on top in terms of opportunities with Alston again the provider, delivering a cross from the right with Kane sending a bullet header just inches over Accies keeper Gary Woods’ bar.
There was further pressure on the Hamilton goal in the 29th minute when Scott Tanser hit a cutback from the left towards Alston with McCann making a vital block as the midfielder pulled the trigger.
Little was going right for Accies as summed up by Woods comically slicing what should have been a straight-forward clearance out of play. The keeper would have breathed a big sigh of relief with Kerr unable to take full advantage with a downward header from the resultant corner.
Canning was also no doubt a relieved man that his side headed down the tunnel at half-time only one goal in arrears considering the home side’s superiority throughout the first 45 minutes.
Accies finally had a half chance of their own in the 50th minute when sub Ross Jenkins’ flighted cross from the left sailed over Saints keeper Alan Mannus before settling on the roof of the net.
St Johnstone hit back right away with George Williams cutting in from the left but his low shot was straight at Woods who easily gathered.
However, the home side were not having things all their own way and Hamilton mounted a lightning break on the hour mark but the move ended tamely with another sub Antonio Raul Rojano shooting straight at Mannus.
Alston then created some space for himself at the edge of the Accies penalty area but again his shot lacked power and was gratefully snapped up by Woods.
Saints would have been all too aware that although still on top, their one-goal advantage was a slender one.
That was perfectly illustrated in the 70th minute when Mannus did well to punch away a wicked corner from the right. The ball fell perfectly for MacKinnon who hit a low drive from 14 yards but it flew straight back into the arms of Mannus.
The keeper then had to look lively to fist away an inswinging free-kick from the left by David Templeton with the same Accies player then going close with a smart shot from distance.
Saints could have put the game to bed in the 78th minute when they broke quickly with Steven MacLean playing a great cross-field pass to Kane who hit a powerful shot that was well saved by Woods.
Attendance – 2,037.
St Johnstone – Mannus, Tanser, Alston, Shaughnessy, Anderson, Davidson, MacLean, Williams (Willock, 72), Kerr, Kane, Craig.
Subs not used – Clark, Millar, Johnstone, McClean, Watson, Gordon.
Hamilton – Woods, McMann, Tomas, Imrie, Bingham (Jenkins, 45), Templeton, McKinnon, Lyon, Want, Sarris (Miller, 80), Ogkmpoe (Rojano, 45).
Subs not used – Fulton, Redmond, Hughes, Van der Weg..
Referee – Euan Anderson.
