Hamilton manager Brian Rice called for greater respect of his side, after they left Perth with a point despite a number of absentees.

A disciplined performance, combined with a healthy dose of abysmal finishing from their opponents who had 28 efforts on goal, ensured yesterday's clash ended in a stalemate.

Hamilton's ranks have been jaded by injury and illness, and key men Ross Callachan and Scott Martin remained unavilible for Wednesday's encounter.

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“We defended well as a team I think we had the best chance of the game in the first minute,” said Rice. “But I know what I’ll read tomorrow. St Johnstone this and that because we’re Hamilton. But it just inspires my team.

“We never get it {respect}, that’s my personal point of view and it frustrates me at times because I know how much my lads give.

“I think we deserved it today you know it was a hard working, honest performance and we deserved the point.

“I was delighted {as well} with the response during the game {in midweek against Celtic}. We’re playing Glasgow Celtic and we got beat 3-0. When we get beat 3-0 it’s a hammering and a doing, when other teams get beat 3-0 it’s Celtic won 3-0. Give us a bit of respect please at times.”

While the hosts had the better of the opening exchanges, and created numerous opportunities, it was Hamilton who perhaps passed up the first half’s clear-cut chances.

Nathan Thomas was close to putting his side ahead within a minute, when he profited from a long ball which was misjudged by the home defence and allowed him to run through on goal. An outstretched leg of Zander Clark kept the score level, however. Andy Winter also went close against the run of play, reacting first to a second ball and volleying wide of the target.

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The inclusion of seven defenders in the Hamilton side made Saints’ route to goal slightly more taxing, though they would have felt begrudged to not lead at the break. They came closest when Callum Booth’s right footed effort flew narrowly over the cross bar, while Stevie May would have been disappointed to have not found the net on more than one occasion, despite often occupying promising positions.

For a side that have suffered four defeats and had three men sent off in the last two weeks, St Johnstone could have been forgiven for falling victim to frustration as the second half wore on and their finishing touch continued to evade them.

They were their worst enemy at times as indecision and slack finishing ensured that Hamilton keeper Kyle Gourlay was rarely tested despite their countless efforts on goal. Chris Kane’s misjudged header when unmarked from six yards perhaps best summed up his side’s afternoon. Michael O’Halloran and David Wotherspoon also failed to work Gourlay from close range late on.

But Hamilton had chances of their own in the closing stages, with Thomas in particular proving difficult to tie down. He should have done better with his finish when he created a chance for himself on the counter-attack, but fired into the side-netting from close range. 

Glasgow Times:

Callum Davidson was justifiably bereft at quite how his side failed to pick up all three points.

“It is two points dropped with the way we played," he conceded.

“The attitude of the players was terrific and we created enough chances to win two or three games. But we didn’t take them.

"After the run we’ve been on sometimes you go and shut up shop and make sure you get a point to get you back on track but the players tried to win it."

Davidson also revealed why he refrained from using summer arrival, Guy Melamed, despite his side's inability to score.

“We’re not in a great position in the league to chuck players in who I don’t think will play a full game," he said.

“He’s {Melamed} got qualities but it’s a difficult balance for me.

"It’s probably my fault for not throwing him in – there’s that trust issue. I thought Kano {Chris Kane} was excellent again today and I trust him to do the other side of the game for me."