4 Saints 1

M’well 0

“You just need to look at how Celtic are going now, they are sticking four and five away every game.

“We knew a defeat in that game wasn’t going to define where our season was going to go.

“But we knew it was a kick up the backside that we needed to get our mind into gear and get back to being resolute at the back.

“We’ve got back to what we used to be, which is hard to break down and showing a willingness to not get beat.

“It’s also a willingness to play when we can to create chances. The last four games have proven it’s what we can do.”

Saints have moved up to fifth in the Scottish Premiership but Clark was taking little of the praise for the recent run of results.

Keeping the momentum flowing is the plan when Accies, who defeated Livingston last week, pitch up in Perth.

Clark said: “It’s mostly down to the boys in front of me, the back four when we’ve played it or when others step in and do excellent.

“We’ve got the capability in us where we can change it. If we go a four we look solid, and also a three so long may that continue.

“The way it has been, the strikers are feeling that if they can nick a goal then it’s going to give us a chance of winning.

“That’s because we have been so tight defensively. But it’s not just at the back, it’s all

Clark has joined Peter Enckelman (right) on four top-tier clean sheets in a row with Saints over the park.

“Tony Watt and Matty Kennedy start it off at the front, pressing their defence and forcing them to play long balls.

“Hamilton are always the favourites with the media to go down but every year they do well and turn it around.

“They are a tough team to play against and are always well organised. They never give anything away cheaply.

“So again we know we’ll need to be resolute in defence and try take the chances when we can get them.”

Outwith the top tier, Alan Main kept eight consecutive clean sheets in Division One in 1996. The run started with a home win against St Mirren on October 26 and stretched through until the end of December when Saints defeated Falkirk 3-1.

Also in Division One, both Kevin Cuthbert and Allan McGregor kept six clean sheets in a row. Cuthbert went on his run in 2002 while McGregor was 2004.

Rarely called upon in this win in Perth. David Wotherspoon and Matty Kennedy netted the goals but the Saints also missed from the penalty spot on two occasions. Captain Joe Shaughnessy was the hero as Saints recorded a fourth straight win. Clark did well to deny Stevie Mallan’s moving second half strike. Top form Defender Jason Kerr nodded in a last minute winner to bank the win as the Saints backline held firm. It was a quiet afternoon for big Zander at Fir Park. A solid show from the Saints stopper as he dealt with a number of balls into his box. Denied Scott Pittman with a smart save in the first half.