ST MIRREN 1
McGinn (45) HAMilTon ACCiES 3
Imrie (21), Gordon (42), Keatings (55)
Hamilton had only scored three goals in their previous eight games and just two away from home in the entire league campaign before yesterday’s game.
But they improved their stats significantly and also put even more distance between themselves and the bottom club after this deserved victory through goals from Dougie Imrie, Ziggy Gordon and James Keatings.
St Mirren’s goal came from Stephen McGinn just before the interval to bring it back to 2-1 but it wasn’t enough for the home team and they failed to build on last week’s excellent victory against Hearts.
The first two goals they conceded were sloppy and angered boss Oran Kearney. The opener came in the 20th minute when Imrie outjumped everyone to head home from seven yards from a Keatings corner.
The visitors doubled their advantage in the 42nd minute when, again, poor marking from Saints cost them.
Keatings sent in a free-kick from 40 yards and it found Gordon six yards out and he shot past Danny Rogers.
Stephen McGinn scored from nine yards with a sweet volley in the 44th minute but they couldn’t score again.
Keatings made sure of the victory with his first goal in the Scottish top division.
And it was an absolute beauty. He struck a curling, left-foot shot from 20 yards that went into the top right-hand corner of the net.
Accies were comfortable after that and managed to see the game out.
Their case was helped when Saints were reduced to 10 men as Simeone Jackson was shown a second yellow card in the 67th minute after a bad tackle on Gordon.
That said, Gordon may well have been fortunate to have been on the park at that stage.
He risked a red in the 51st minute when he hauled back Jackson as the striker got ready to pound in on goal. But referee Kevin Clancy thought a booking was sufficient.
The win puts Hamilton five points clear of St Mirren and eight points in front of bottom club Dundee.
Quite rightly, Martin Canning was proud of his players and delighted with the victory.
The Accies boss said: “We scored great goals and the one from James Keatings was a piece of brilliance. He has magic in his boots and can be a special talent.”