Match preview: Saints v Hamilton #PaintItBlue

Friday 27th January

St. Johnstone entertain Hamilton Academical tomorrow afternoon (3pm kick off) in the first home league match of 2017. The match comes just three days on from Wednesday night's narrow defeat to league leaders Celtic, with Brendan Rodgers' men winning 1-0 at Parkhead. Saints went close to scoring, with Danny Swanson hitting the post and Steven Anderson going close with a header, but a 72nd minute Derek Boyata goal secured all three points for Celtic. The latest meeting between St Johnstone and Hamilton was last September when Liam Craig's late strike earned Saints a 1-1 draw at New Douglas Park.

Saints sit 5th in the table heading into the weekend's encounter, five points ahead of Ross County in 6th. Visitors Hamilton are 11th prior to Saturday's fixture, and a defeat at McDiarmid tomorrow could see them end the day bottom of the Scottish Premiership. Richard Foster returns from suspension after missing the midweek match with Celtic, but Ally Gilchrist and Michael Coulson remain injured.

Despite the quick turnaround from Wednesday's match, Tommy Wright is confident his Saints side can secure a victory on Saturday. "We have lots of fixtures coming up over the next few weeks so we'll have to use the squad well. We've played Wednesday - Saturday plenty of times before so we're confident it won't affect our performance.

"Hamilton have good quality in their side and are a strong team. They're an aggressive team who will have a real go at us, which we'll be prepared for."

Match preview by Joshua Barrie.

To read about the club's #PaintItBlue campaign for this fixture, please click HERE.

ADMISSION INFO:

Home supporters will have the choice of entering either the East or Main (West) stands for this match, or the SSE Ormond Family Stand if you're bringing children, at the follow admission prices:

WEST STAND

Adult - £24

Senior Citizens (65 and over) - £15

13 - 16 year olds - £14

Kids aged 12 and under (must be accompanied by an adult, maximum of two children per adult) - Free of charge

EAST STAND

Adult - £23

Senior Citizens (65 and over) - £13

17 – 18 year olds - £12

13 - 16 year olds - £9

Kids aged 12 and under (must be accompanied by an adult, maximum of two children per adult) - Free of charge

ORMOND FAMILY STAND

One adult and up to two children aged 12 or under can gain admission at a cost of £16. Unaccompanied adults or children aged 12 or under will not be admitted. Children aged 13-16 can gain admission at a cost of £9. Additional adults within a'family group' are admitted at a cost of £16.

WHEELCHAIR USERS & DISABLED PEOPLE WHO DO NOT USE A WHEELCHAIR

Details of concessionary pricing for the above categories of supporter can be found in the Disabled Supporters section of the website.

AWAY SUPPORT

Hamilton Accies' supporters have been allocated the north end of the Main (West) Stand, through turnstiles 6 and 7, for this fixture at the following admission prices:

Adults - £23

Over 65s - £13

13-18 year olds - £12

Accompanied kids aged 12 and under – free of charge

Turnstile 5 will offer a family deal of 1 adult and up to two kids aged 12 and under for £16. One additional adult in the family group is £16.