The right to gloat about four-in-a-row was not reserved exclusively for supporters of Celtic on Saturday night. Over in Paisley they were celebrating a quadruple of their own.

The right to gloat about four-in-a-row was not reserved exclusively for supporters of Celtic on Saturday night. Over in Paisley they were celebrating a quadruple of their own.

Winning four successive league matches would barely merit a second thought at either Ibrox or Celtic Park but, for St Mirren, a club still trying to establish themselves in the top tier of Scottish football, this was a very fine achievement, indeed.

It has been a tumultuous ride. Victories over Rangers and Hamilton Academical in October were followed by a horrendous run of results in November that yielded just one point and led to some supporters hollering for the removal from office of Gus MacPherson, the St Mirren manager.

Four straight wins in December, though, and MacPherson is back in vogue and the leading candidate to claim the latest Manager of the Month bauble to add to the one he earned in October.

Victory over Motherwell next week, in what will likely be the last game to be played at Love Street, could take St Mirren into the top half of the table, an unlikely turn of events for a side that began the month rooted to the bottom.

Any examination of this dramatic metamorphosis needs to be accompanied by a glimpse at the fixture list.

Bysheer coincidence, or incompetence, the SPL computer spluttered out a run of games which pitted StMirren against teams in the top half of the table one after the other in November. Little wonder then that a draw with Hibernian was their sole return from that period.

By contrast, their next five fixtures pitted them against those around them in the table.

That favourable scheduling has provided a springboard to consistency and infused a previously demoralised unit with fresh confidence.

In what was a poor contest played on a pitch resembling an ice rink, St Mirren were far from dazzling against Hamilton but always looked in control. It took a late strike from Craig Dargo, a player in much need of salvation after a drought in front of goal, to eventually clinch victory, although few could argue the win was not deserved.

St Mirren's recent plundering of a plethora of points has coincided with the return to form of Andy Dorman. The midfielder has proven to be a pivotal figure in recent weeks and, while he didn't score on this occasion, his contribution was still substantial enough to earn him the man-of-the-match accolade. Helping to give the old ground a suitable send-off on Saturday is next on his agenda.

"I'm feeling good and it's great to win as it breeds confidence," he said. "We've had a run of playing the teams in the bottom six and, fortunately, we've got the right results, but it can all change quickly.

"Next week's going to be a massive game for the fans and the players have got to know their role in saying goodbye to the stadium."

For Hamilton, this was an afternoon to forget. There was little of the verve or doggedness that was a feature of their win over Motherwell the previous weekend, with even James McCarthy unable to offer much inspiration.

"We didn't play well," was the honest assessment of Billy Reid, the Hamilton manager. "Conditions weren't brilliant and we were missing two influential players. I think it showed in the whole set-up of the team."