Ali piled on the agony
MIRREN MATCHES AS THEY WERE REPORTED AT THE TIME
Hamilton Acc...........3 St Mirren..................0
St Mirren’s on field troubles intensified – and the pressure on manager Tommy Craig increased considerably – after this sickening defeat at New Douglas Park.
Saturday’s result would appear to be the straw that broken the camel’s back for a lot of the travelling fans who made their feelings known to the Saints manager towards the end of this match with an X-rated chant.
Goals from Tony Andreu, Mickael Antoine- Curier and Ali Crawford inflicted the misery on the black and white faithful and, in truth, it could have been a lot, lot more.
Where Saints go from here is now anyone’s guess.
But there is no doubt that a growing section of the club’s support are now demanding change – both on and off the pitch.
Boss Craig sprang a real surprise in terms of his team selection prior to kick-off.
The Saints manager handed a competitive debut to Marc Ridgers, in between the sticks for Marian Kello, while 18-year-old Academy graduates Stevie Mallan and Jack Baird were also introduced for the first time – in place of Gary Teale and James Marwood.
And Ross Caldwell replaced Callum Ball up front in a decidedly different looking Saints team, with as many as four personnel changes from the defeat to Partick Thistle.
Accies midfielder Crawford sent a low, driven effort wide of the left-hand post after Ziggy Gordon touched on possession to his team-mate 25 yards out.
Then Crawford flighted a ball into the dangerzone for former Saint Dougie Imrie to chase but, thankfully, it took a bobble and Ridgers was there to gather.
Chance number three arrived for Accies when Danny Redmond pinged a wicked ball into the six-yard box and all Imrie could do was to prod it over target.
And, seconds later, Crawford side-footed a right foot effort high and wide as the home side continued to grow in stature.
Saints were still trying to find their way into the game as we approached the midway point but Sean Kelly stung the fingers of Accies goalkeeper Michael McGovern with a rasping effort from Caldwell’s knockdown.
At the other end, Crawford teed up Gillespie for a shot at goal as Saints couldn’t clear their lines but the Accies man blasted it wide from 25 yards.
A Jason Naismith cut-back flew across the face of goal with no yellow shirts on the end of it.
The consolation was a corner, however, and McGovern clawed the cross away before Imrie hoofed it clear.
But Accies took the lead five minutes from the break when Andreu latched on to a loose ball and showed great composure to fire into the bottom lefthand corner from 22 yards.
Antoine-Curier picked up a loose ball on the right-hand side at the start of the second 45 and his powerful cross into the box was headed over by Andreu.
It did not provide anyone in the away stand much belief that their side could somehow haul themselves back into proceedings – and so it proved.
Antoine-Curier scampered down the right-hand side moments later to deliver a low cross into the box for Andreu to connect with but, thankfully, Naismith raced in to clear.
Jeroen Tesselaar and Caldwell combined for Adam Drury 25 yards out on the left side, but the young Englishman’s snapshot flew wayward.
Then Ridgers had to hold an Antoine
Curier effort from the edge of the box as the Accies tried to extend the lead.
Redmond saw a glancing header fall inches wide of the right-hand post as the Accies tightened their grip on the game.
And keeper Ridgers was on hand to produce a stunning one-handed save to direct Antoine-Curier’s goalbound effort over the crossbar for a corner kick.
But Accies made it 2-0 when Andreu was in front of goal to collect a cross from the left, his shot initially blocked by Ridgers, but Antonie-Curier was on hand to dispatch the rebound from inside the six-yard box.
Marwood replaced Mallan before the play resumed and Saints had a mountain to climb.
Adam Brown then replaced Drury after 71 minutes but Crawford made it 3-0 two minutes later when that man Antonine-Curier cut back possession. It was touched on kindly in front of goal
by a yellow shirt for the Accies number 11 to gleefully guide into the middle of the net.
Kenny McLean saw an effort strike the upright and rebound away from goal after a lovely run down the right hand side.
Then fellow midfielder Brown smashed the post with an effort as Saints sought a consolation.
Ball missed a golden opportunity when Marwood prodded a cross into his path but, disappointingly, he failed to get a proper connection – in fact, any contact at all, and a golden opportunity was missed.
Towards the end, Brown came close with a side-footed effort in the penalty box that just cleared McGovern’s crossbar.
At the death, dejected Saints fans launched a verbal volley as they witnessed yet another defeat that only serves to increase their club’s relegation woes.