Hamilton 1 St Johnstone 1

Pic: Jeff Holmes

Martin Canning's wretched tenure as Hamilton player-manager continued as he was sent off before his side surrendered the lead to draw 1-1 with St Johnstone in the Scottish Premiership. The defender had failed to win in 11 attempts since taking over from Alex Neil in January but there was plenty of positivity around New Douglas Park when midfielder Ali Crawford opened the scoring in the seventh minute with a confident finish. However, the Lanarkshire side were reduced to 10 men when Canning was shown a straight red by referee Greg Aitken in the 58th minute for a reckless challenge on Perth forward Michael O'Halloran. Striker Brian Graham headed the visitors level in the 72nd minute and the home side then had to hold on, desperately at times, for the draw as their manager watched from the back of the stand. Canning had brought himself back into the team along with Stephen Hendrie, Louis Longridge, Darian MacKinnon and Nigel Hasselbaink. Kieran MacDonald, Jesus Garcia Tena, Darren Lyon and Jason Scotland started on the bench with Dougie Imrie suspended. Saints showed two changes with midfielder Danny Swanson and defender Tam Scobbie in for Steven MacLean, left out of the game on Accies' artificial surface to protect his knee, and Frazer Wright, who was named among the substitutes. St Johnstone only had themselves to blame for falling behind in a non-descript opening. Hasselbaink's short pass to Crawford inside the penalty area looked certain to be cleared but the Saints defence hesitated, leaving the ball to run free and the Accies midfielder gratefully scooped it past Perth goalkeeper Alan Mannus from around 10 yards out. The home side discarded whatever anxieties they may have had but the game developed into a mostly incident-free affair with neither side able to take control, with shooting a particular problem for both. Simon Lappin replaced Murray Davidson for the start of the second half and that appeared to spark the Perth side into life. In the 49th minute Graham's cut-back from the bye line fell to the Saints substitute but his shot was blocked inadvertently by his own player, O'Halloran, and the home side survived the subsequent goalmouth scramble. At the other end moments later, Crawford's free-kick from 25 yards went after Canning took out O'Halloran on the flank with a brutal tackle. Defender Tena was immediately sent on for Danny Redmond but Saints drove forward with increased belief and moments later Graham headed an O'Halloran cross just past the far post when he ought to have hit the target. However, the Saints striker, on loan from Dundee United, was much more accurate from Lappin's cross from the left, heading the ball powerfully past Hamilton keeper Michael McGovern from close range. Tommy Wright's side pressed hard for the winner but Accies held out for 95 minutes in total for a point which Canning will know might have been three had he stayed on the pitch.