Hamilton Academical 1-0 St Johnstone: Accies safe after winning to finish 10th

Hamilton Academical secured a sixth successive season in the Scottish Premiership after beating St Johnstone to avoid a relegation play-off.

Accies led second-bottom St Mirren by a point going into the final round of fixtures.

And strikes by Ziggy Gordon and Steve Davies gave them the victory they sought to render St Mirren's win at Dundee academic.

Brian Rice helped Hamilton to safety four months after leaving St Mirren.

Rice, who replaced Martin Canning as manager, had started the campaign as assistant boss in Paisley and it will be his old club that take on Dundee United in the Premiership play-off final.

• Rice wants younger Hamilton squad

• Reaction & as it happened

Hamilton make pressure pay

The hosts started brightly, dominating both possession and territory. Striker George Oakley was first to get a sight of goal with a stooping header but it went just wide of the post.

Playing with a back three meant Hamilton's wing-backs were getting well up the field to supply the frontmen. Next to go close was Tony Andreu with another header and this time the ball ended up on the roof of the net.

The pressure would continue from Hamilton, Aaron McGowan next to try his luck with a header that was tipped over the crossbar by Zander Clark as the sense of hope continued to rise amongst the home support.

But the question was, could Hamilton make this pressure pay? They would, and fittingly it would come courtesy of two of the heroes who helped haul the club into the top flight five years ago.

Andreu delivered a corner and, amid a scramble in the six-yard box, the ball fell to the feet of Gordon. The defender had plenty to do with his back to goal but did well to turn and fire the shot low past Clark.

St Johnstone had begun with a strong-looking XI but were struggling to create until a huge opportunity presented itself. David Wotherspoon drifted infield before angling a powerful effort that looked to be arrowing into the corner of the net before McGowan made a crucial block.

But overall Hamilton were on top and next to threaten was captain Darian MacKinnon. The midfielder embarked on a mazy run and found himself on the edge of the area before unleashing a drive that whistled just over.

Then, early in the second half, a huge moment: a mix-up on the edge of the box from the St Johnstone defenders ended with the ball arriving at the feet of Davies. The big English striker steadied himself before rifling home expertly low into the net.

The home crowd rose to their feet in celebration and, perhaps, relief.

Wotherspoon would go close again but Hamilton kept the visitors at bay and Marios Ogboe forced a save from Clark in stoppage time before the keeper had to save well from an Andreu free-kick.

'Accies the great survivors' - analysis

Hamilton Academical have shown themselves yet again to be the great survivors of the Scottish Premiership. For a club with such a small support, six top-flight campaigns in a row is a huge achievement.

Things will change with the likes of Dougie Imrie retiring and Ziggy Gordon leaving for pastures new again. But one thing will not change - the conveyor belt of academy graduates will be given their chance. That's the lifeblood of this resilient club that continues to punch above its weight.