McLaughlin: I think I’ve proved my critics wrong

Aug 14 2008 by Andrew McGilvray, Hamilton Advertiser

MARK McLAUGLIN hopes he’s proved his critics wrong after playing a major role in Hamilton’s sensational 3-1 win over Dundee United.

McLaughlin (32), bounced back after scoring an own goal, played a major part in Hamilton’s crucial second goal and was unlucky not to score at the correct end.

The big defender said: “I enjoyed that, apart from scoring the own goal! Getting a win in our first game was a great feeling. A lot of people have asked, now that I’m 32, if I thought my chance at the SPL had gone but I believe in my own ability.

“But it’s probably taken me until this age to believe in my ability – and with a lot of help from the gaffer, Billy Reid.

“When I was a kid, a lot of people said I wouldn’t play at a high level. I like to think I’ve proved them wrong.”

McLaughlin added: “It was an excellent result for us because Dundee United are a fantastic side and a lot of people wrote us off before the game.

“We’re well pleased, because we played some good football.

“They’ll probably feel that they could have played a bit better, but all credit to us – we worked hard as a team, every one of us, and the subs who came on were fantastic. Big Lucas Akins and Mark Corcoran came on for their debuts and worked hard.

“It was a great finish for their goal but it’s just one of those things. After scoring an own goal, you just need to get it out of your head, and I just said to myself ‘welcome to the SPL!’ ”

McLaughlin is under no illusions that Accies will face a tough test against Inverness in what’s now a top-of-the-table clash at the Tulloch Caledonian Stadium on Saturday.

He said: “We’ve got belief in ourselves as a team. We know it’s not going to be easy in the SPL because there are a lot of fantastic sides but we need to try to be consistent.

“Inverness had a fantastic result up at Aberdeen. A lot of people probably thought they’d lose but they turned them over and won 2-0. It will be a hard match because they’re a good side, but we’ll try and play the way we did on Monday, work really hard as a team, and hopefully that will be enough.”