Watt targeted as Saints make mincemeat out of Hamilton
ST JOHNSTONE striker Tony Watt was targeted by a pie thrown by a disgruntled Hamilton fan after scoring in his side’s 2-0 win in the William Hill Scottish Cup.
Watt netted the second goal for Tommy Wright’s 2014 cup winners, who took full advantage of goalkeeping errors by Scotland Under-21 international Ryan Fulton to stroll into the last 16 with a seventh successive win over hapless Hamilton.
Watt added to Jason Kerr’s effort, with his 26th-minute strike prompting an angry reaction among Accies’ small band of followers.
A pie was flung towards the Saints striker, but their ire was mainly directed at manager Martin Canning and attracted the attention of several stewards.
There was no place in the home line- up for former Rangers and Melbourne City winger Michael O’Halloran, who had signed 24 hours earlier for a third stay at McDiarmid Park.
On the other hand, midfielder Tony Andreu, who headed south to Norwich five years ago in a £1 million deal, was thrown straight into the Accies side after returning on loan from Coventry. He was joined by another debutant, ex- Blackpool striker Steve Davies.
But any aspirations Accies had of piecing together a morale-boosting cup run were dealt a blow just 45 seconds in when keeper Fulton inexplicably failed to deal with Liam Craig’s free-kick from the right and Kerr’s header floated into an empty net from just six yards.
With Hamilton still reeling, home striker Chris Kane wasted two opportunities in the space of as many minutes.
At the other end Davies battered a 30-yard free-kick into the defensive wall and headed well wide as he tried to make an impression.
But another Fulton error gifted Watt the second in the 26th minute.
The stand-in for injured regular Gary Woods had Ross Callachan’s raking shot covered, but spilled it and Watt pounced to slam a close-range finish high into the net.
The visiting fans made their feelings known, but things almost went from bad to worse for their side.
Fulton slid out of his box to concede a 36th-minute free-kick after winning a race with Callachan, prompting skipper Dougie Imrie to try to lift his spirits.
Attacking full-back Richard Foster teed up Kane for a 63rd- minute header, which drifted over.
In the closing minutes Andreu finally tested Zander Clark from 20 yards, but the home keeper fended off the danger as Saints closed out a routine win.