Saints matchwinner Murray makes things Wright with the gaffer
Saints boss Tommy Wright welcomed Murray Davidson back into his good books after the midfielder headed home a late winner.
Davidon was hauled off at half-time against Hibs a fortnight ago after duping his manager into playing him when he was ill.
But the 29-year- old proved he was right as rain to help his side come from a goal behind and earn the points to move them up to second in the table.
Greg Docherty had given Hamilton the lead but Steven MacLean replied early in the second-half and Davidson completed the turnaround.
Saints boss Wright said: “You can’t stay angry with Murray for long! He’s a big boy and can take criticism like everyone here.
“They have to take criticism because I’m hard on them.
“Murray proved how good he is. His goal epitomises him because he’s back making a tackle in his own box one minute then bursting into the box to score the next. He earned that goal through aggression and determination.”
Hamilton threatened first inside three minutes. Docherty curled in a cross from the right but Louis Longridge couldn’t direct his glancing header on target.
With 17 minutes gone, Saints had keeper Alan Mannus to thank for keeping the scoreline blank. Ali Crawford swerved a cross in from the right and Rakish Bingham beat the offside trap to sneak in behind. But the keeper saved with his chest then Docherty skied over.
Saints came close to the breakthrough in 23 minutes but within seconds they were behind.
GrahamCummins raced on to a punt from Paul Paton and won his aerial challenge with Accies keeper Gary Woods. The Saints striker nodded the loose ball towards the empty net but Woods got back in time.
Within a flash, Hamilton were in front when they worked the ball forward on the left and Docherty turned inside brilliantly before lashing a superb drive across Mannus and into the far corner.
It was no less than Accies deserved after opening in impressive fashion.
But seven minutes from the break, Saints could still have drawn level.
A Davidson tackle sent the ball spinning over the Accies defence and MacLean was on to it in an instant. However, he rattled his shot off the bar before Cummins fired the rebound wide.
In a whirlwind start to the second-half, Saints got back on level terms.
Cummins surged to the bye-line on the left side of the area and chipped a cross to the edge of the six-yard box for MacLean to head to goal. Somehow Woods scrambled across to claw the ball away but MacLean, lying on his back, squeezed a shot home.
Woods injured himself making the initial save and had to be replaced by sub goalie Darren Jamieson.
His Saints counterpart Mannus denied Bingham as Docherty’s pass sliced the defence open.
But with just six minutes left, the home team won it. Sub Scott Tanser’s cross found Davidson and he rose highest to nod in from eight yards. There was late drama when Accies’ Darian MacKinnon saw red for a lastman foul on Paton.
Hamilton gaffer Martin Canning said: “I’ve had to give myself time to calm down. That’s not acceptable to be as in control as we were and end up losing the game.”