Melamed’s moment in spotlight riles Accies
HE cut a peripheral figure among the celebrations at Hampden Park on Sunday but this was to prove Guy Melamed’s night.
With St Johnstone trailing to Ross Callachan’s stunning strike with three minutes remaining, their Israeli striker might well have thought Ryan Fulton in the home goal had his number.
What a finish he produced to claim a point for the League Cup winners, though, his control and dink over the keeper earning his side their just deserts.
A draw alone probably gives Callum Davidson’s side too much to do to make the top six but it is another point closer to safety.
‘It was a great through ball and an unbelievable first touch from Guy, but we know he is capable of that,’ said the Saints boss. ‘It was top-class finishing and I thought that was the least we deserved.
‘That just shows his character after being left out. He is over here living on his own and you can see what kind of character he is.
‘I was really pleased with his performance.’
Saints now need to win their games with Hibernian and Ross County and hope St Mirren and Dundee United stumble.
‘I thought we needed to win the game to get in the top six,’ added Davidson. ‘But to come from the emotional high of Sunday and put in a performance like that was all credit to the players. I thought the boys were brilliant given it was such a quick turnaround.
‘I was worried there might have been a hangover but, after the first five minutes, we were good and our energy levels were tremendous.’
Saints shrugged off a sluggish start and created the bulk of the early chances. Craig Bryson missed with a header, Scott Tanser fired a meaty volley wide from Liam Craig’s deep corner while Melamed saw a couple of decent attempts fielded by Fulton.
Just when you sensed the goal was coming at one end, it happened at the other. The communication in Saints’ backline had been excellent until Jason Kerr ignored a call by Liam Gordon and lost the ball while out of position.
Accies worked the opening well. Bruce Anderson found Callachan and, some 25 yards from goal, the midfielder guided the ball into the top-right hand corner with his right foot, just outwith the grasp of Zander Clark.
Although Saints continued to press, with Bryson and Craig both going close, Scott McMann might well have doubled Accies’ half-time lead. His close-range header, though, was always rising.
Melamed always looked the visitors’ best bet for a goal. Gliding onto David Wotherspoon’s cross after the break, his header looked in all the way until Fulton changed direction and threw up a blocking arm.
In keeping with Brian Rice’s normal approach, Hamilton did not sit in to protect their lead and David Moyo crashed a strike off the woodwork after nimble footwork by Callachan with Clark well beaten.
Credit to St Johstone, though. With both Michael O’Halloran and Glenn Middleton having been introduced from the bench, they kept going and, having been held in reserve on Sunday, Melamed looked lively right to the end.
Taking a ball over the top by Gordon under control with a majestic first touch, he picked his spot behind Fulton. In balance, his side just about deserved it.
The loss of two points so late on must have felt like a punch in the guts to Rice and his players, though. Set to move up to tenth, they remain bottom of the pile on goal difference.
Their annoyance wasn’t helped by a hint of offside about the late goal they lost.
‘We’re obviously disappointed to lose the late goal after scoring a fantastic one ourselves to go in front,’ said Rice.
‘I’ve seen their goal again and I think it’s offside but it doesn’t matter what we think now. The assistant referee didn’t think it, so it’s just one of those things.
‘I feel a bit aggrieved at the goal but it’s another point towards safety.
‘We’re now behind Kilmarnock on goal difference with a game in hand but that doesn’t mean anything if we don’t take something from it.
‘We’ve been over the course before at this stage of the season and you can either deal with that or you can’t and my lads have already proved that they can.
‘A win can lift you up a couple of places. We hit the post but St Johnstone had chances as well.’