Easton teaches pupil Stubbs his tricks of the trade as Hamilton shut up shop
BRIAN EASTON isn’t quite at the veteran stage yet but his experience was one of the main reasons Hamilton brought him home this summer after six years at St Johnstone. The one-time Accies youth prospect is 31 now but still has plenty left in the tank — as demonstrated in an imperious defensive display which shut out a St Mirren side who had plenty of the ball but could do little with it. Easton led by example in central defence as he headed or thumped away every cross or pass that arrived in the penalty box. Even when he wasn’t directly involved, he was encouraging partner Sam Stubbs to take similar evasive action. It was a hard slog at times — especially when Hamilton’s George Oakley was sent off early in the second half — but Accies merited their clean sheet in the end. There is a rawness about 20-year-old Stubbs — son of former Celtic defender and St Mirren manager Alan — but he and Easton have already struck up a formidable partnership. If Brian Rice’s side are to avoid the drop once more, maintaining that defensive solidity will be vital. ‘The manager wants me to be that experienced leader because we have a young squad,’ said Easton. ‘It was something I was buzzing for. I got helped a lot when I was younger and I feel I can help Sam out. ‘He’s up here (on loan from Middlesbrough) to get match experience but he was already very vocal and a good organiser. He wants to learn and improve. I’ve really enjoyed playing beside him. ‘He was heading everything on Saturday and was composed when he had to be. His dad was an unbelievable player, so it’s a big shadow to come out of. ‘But he’s shown so far that he’s
got a lot of potential. Given time, I’m sure he’ll make his own name. ‘It’s brilliant when you’re trying to help boys and they’re taking it in. It means you’re not wasting your time.’ Accies manager Rice insisted his game plan was to try to win the match but there was little sign of any attacking intent, even with 11 men on the pitch, and Saints boss Jim Goodwin later described it as the most frustrating afternoon of his career. That was clear when the Irishman got involved in an altercation with young Stubbs in the tunnel after the game. ‘I thought the big centre-half went over terribly easy at times,’ said Goodwin. ‘But I’ve been there and done it myself. Listen, they will be delighted with a point on the road because there was only one team that was trying to win the game. ‘Going down to ten men probably suited them because it gave them all the more reason to drop deeper.’ For all Goodwin’s complaints about the visitors’ style of play, the onus was still on the hosts to break Hamilton down but they lacked the creativity and guile to do so. When Sam Foley’s goalbound effort late in the game was blocked by his own player, Jon Obika, it seemed to sum up their day. The draw at least halted a run of defeats for the Paisley side but Foley knows they must do better. ‘Hamilton came with a game plan to contain us but we have to look at ourselves,’ said the midfielder. ‘We had 90 minutes to create more opportunities and not rely on fine margins.’ As for his late, thwarted effort to seal victory, Foley said: ‘Jon couldn’t do anything about it, it was just one of those things. ‘He got in the way of my shot which was going in, it was really just one of those things.’ ST MIRREN (4-2-3-1): Hladky 6; P McGinn 7, Broadfoot 6, McLoughlin 6, Waters 5; Flynn 6, Foley 5; Magennis 6, Andreu 5 (Mullen 69), Durmus 5 (McAllister 62); Morias 5 (Obika 76). Subs not used: Lyness, S McGinn, Djorkaeff, Breadner. Booked: McAllister. HAMILTON (4-1-3-2): Fon Williams 5; McGowan 6, Stubbs 7, Easton 7, McMann 6; Gogic 6; Smith 5 (Beck 78), Alston 6, Collar 5 (Hughes 62); Ogkmpoe 5 (Moyo 74), Oakley 3. Subs not used: Southwood, Fjortoft, Want, Davies. Booked: Oakley, Fon Williams, McGowan. Sent off: Oakley. Man of the match: Brian Easton. Referee: David Munro. Attendance: 4,807.