May (l) is the toast of his team-mates after scoring for St Johnstone

Match-winner Stevie May was praised by St Johnstone manager Derek McInnes after his brace in the 2-0 win over Hamilton nudged his team up the table.

"He showed good awareness for the first goal and was opportunistic with his second goal, reacting like all good strikers," McInnes told BBC Scotland.

"He has a freedom and liveliness about him which is refreshing.

"He has brought something to our team at just the right time. He can be pleased with his contribution tonight."

Hamilton rarely troubled the Saints defence on a night when they could have lifted themselves off the foot of the Scottish Premier League table, above Hibernian.

Instead, Saints were the more adventurous team and May's goals, one at the beginning of each half, earned the Perth side a deserved three points.

"Even as a substitute this season he has come on and given us something," added McInnes of the 18-year-old.

"He excites the crowd and he excites me: something seems to happen.

"We have asked him to be a bit more trustworthy and use his body better and keep us in possession in the wider areas of the pitch when he has to drop deeper.

"But in the last third of the pitch, (we asked him to) just go and play and be what you are. I think he showed that again tonight."

We are always looking behind us as well, putting a bit of distance between ourselves and the team at the bottom St Johnstone manager Derek McInnes

Michael Duberry and Steven Anderson were dominant in the centre of the St Johnstone defence and McInnes was thrilled that his team had not conceded a goal.

He said: "I think that is five clean sheets in seven games. Our two centre-halves were fantastic. (James) McAlister, (Dougie) Imrie, (Damian) Casalinuovo and Mickael Antoine-Curier are not an easy four to handle and we restricted them to very little.

"We have got to be pleased with the clean sheet against that threat from Hamilton. I felt very comfortable throughout the second half."

With the win, St Johnstone moved from eighth position to seventh - or fifth-equal, as McInnes pointed out after the match - but he seemed as pleased to be easing the threat of relegation as pushing for a top-six finish.

"We have put 15 points between us and Hamilton. We are always looking behind us as well, putting a bit of distance between ourselves and the team at the bottom," said the St Johnstone manager.

"We know we still have a bit of work to do to make sure our SPL safety is guaranteed so we will work towards that. If our objectives change, then that will be great."

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