A hat-trick from Steven MacLean helped St Johnstone to a comprehensive demolition of Hamilton at McDiarmid Park.
A goal from Liam Craig and a double from MacLean had the game dead and buried by half-time as Hamilton were continually dismantled on the break by the pacey Saints frontline.
MacLean got his hat-trick soon after the restart, whilst Lucas Tagliapietra’s counter for Accies offered scant consolation.
It could have been different had referee Andrew Dallas not waved away a massive Hamilton shout for a penalty within the opening minutes, with Ali Crawford picking up a loose ball in midfield and playing Carlton Morris in on goal.
Brian Easton slid in from the wrong side and clearly brought the striker down, but Dallas remained unmoved.
St Johnstone then had a great chance as the match started in open fashion, Murray Davidson lifting the ball in behind for Graham Cummins to advance on goal but Michael McGovern did well to spread himself and block.
The home side made the most of their next opportunity though on 23 minutes, as Lucas misjudged a long ball up the channel allowing MacLean to get down the right.
He got his head up and picked out the arriving Craig, who had just come on for the injured Murray Davidson, and the substitute finished into the top corner from 12 yards despite McGovern getting a hand to the ball.
Things got worse for Accies just two minutes later, as a cross into the box was contested by Darian MacKinnon and Craig. In clearing, the referee adjudged MacKinnon to have used a hand, and awarded the spot kick.
MacLean fired home emphatically to McGovern’s right to quickly double Saints advantage.
Accies almost hit back as Jesus Garcia Tena advanced from the back, but his curled left-foot effort from 25 yards whistled just past the top corner.
MacKinnon then set up a chance for Morris, but his powerful effort from a tight angle was beaten away by Alan Mannus.
It was a brief revival though, and the home side moved three ahead in the 41st minute.
Again, Accies offered up far too much space down the right, allowing David Wotherspoon to set Michael O’Halloran free.
His low cross picked out MacLean in the six yard box and the striker tapped it home.
It almost got even worse for Accies just before half time, as Gillespie brought down Wotherspoon on the edge of the area.
Dave MacKay stepped up and curled an effort inches past the top left-hand corner.
It didn’t take long into the second half for St Johnstone to rub further salt into Hamilton’s wounds as they got their fourth after 54 minutes.
Again the Accies defence were posted missing as Brian Easton floated a cross over that Cummins knocked down towards goal, allowing MacLean to slide in and poach his hat-trick by poking under McGovern.
Darnell Fisher was a little lucky only to see yellow for a reckless sliding challenge on Antons Kurakins just after the hour, and Hamilton were cursing the officials again shortly afterwards as Gramoz Kurtaj had a goal chalked off for offside.
They did get a goal back on 67 minutes, as Crawford’s corner was cleared back to him, and he managed to pick out Lucas at the back post who thumped a header home past Mannus.
He almost added another late on, again rising to meet a Crawford delivery at the back post, but his second effort after his initial header was blocked was saved by Mannus from close range.
St Johnstone (4-3-3): Alan Mannus; Darnell Fisher, Dave MacKay, Joe Shaughnessy, Brian Easton; David Wotherspoon, Murray Davidson (Liam Craig, 20’), Chris Millar; Michael O’Halloran, Steven MacLean(Craig Thomson, 78’), Graham Cummins (John Sutton, 83’).
Scorers: Liam Craig (23’), Steven MacLean (p. 25’) (43’) (54’)
Booked: David Wotherspoon (34’), Chris Millar (51’), Darnell Fisher (61’), Liam Craig (72’)
Hamilton (4-1-3-1): Michael McGovern; Ziggy Gordon, Jesus Garcia Tena, Lucas Tagliapietra, Antons Kurakins; Darian MacKinnon (Greg Docherty, 62’); Dougie Imrie (Christian Nade, 45’), Grant Gillespie, Gramoz Kurtaj; Carlton Morris (Louis Longridge, 82’).
Booked: Grant Gillespie (2’), Darian MacKinnon (25’)
Referee: Andrew Dallas
Attendance: 2648
Man of the match: Steven MacLean (St Johnstone)
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