BOSS PRAISES YOUNG STARS

Nov 16 2006 By Andy McGilvray

HAMILTON boss Billy Reid this week insisted that nobody will get carried away by their joint-top league status... because he’s still concerned about relegation.

With the First Division as tight as it is — only 17 points separate top from bottom — Reid wants to distance his side from what could be an almighty relegation dog-fight.

Reid is understandably delighted that Accies are in such a good position following Saturday’s 2-1 derby win over Airdrie United, but is taking absolutely nothing for granted.

He said: “I think to be sitting joint-top is a phenomenal effort by everybody at the club.

“But we’re not getting carried away, there is no expectation that we’re going to win the league.

“It’s fantastic for the club that we’re sitting at the top of the pile on points.

“I know Partick and St Johnstone have a game in hand over us, but we’re just trying to get as many points on the board as possible and get away from the bottom end of the table — and I really do mean that.

“But who knows what can happen, if we get our players fit.”

With Partick Thistle just a point behind Hamilton and with a game in hand, Reid is relishing Saturday’s Firhill showdown.

Hamilton are looking to exact revenge for a 2-1 New Douglas Park defeat back in September, but Reid knows that will be difficult against a side that he feels hasn’t been given due credit for an impressive season.

He said: “People talk about Partick Thistle being in a ‘false position’, but they’re up there on merit because they’ve won games.

“People say they’re not as good as that, but at the end of the day they’ve got the points and deserve to be up there.

“Partick have a lot of experience throughout their team, they’re a big club, so why not?

“But we go there with a wee bit of confidence from picking up the three points against Airdrie, and we know we’re going to have to be at our best — if we don’t, then we’re going to have problems.

“I think we’re starting to believe in ourselves, the young players are getting more and more games under their belts, and they can only benefit from that in the future.”

Reid was delighted with Saturday’s scrappy win over Airdrie, particularly considering how many players were unavailable.

Mark McLaughlin, Derek Fleming, Mark Gilhaney, Davie McEwan, Scott Tunbridge and Tom Parratt were just some of his missing stars, forcing Reid to make several changes.

Midfielder James McCarthy made his first start the day before his 16th birthday, captain Marvyn Wilson was deployed in defence, and Alex Neil played through injury to help out.

And Reid said: “It wasn’t a great game, but we won, got three points, we’re joint-top of the league — and that’s all that matters.

“We’ve played well this season and got nothing; I thought last week, with 10 men, we deserved something at Clyde and lost.

“So we said to the players at half-time that we had to find a way to win the game, and they responded.”

Reid added: “It’s been a habit of ours to lose late goals, and I think that’s only the second time we’ve done it to somebody else so that was pleasing.

“We had some hairy moments towards the end of the game, but that’s to be expected, when you see the young lads who were on the park.

“It was a phenomenal effort, two or three made their debuts, and James McCarthy was excellent.

“The touches he showed were fantastic and some of the things he does shows that he’s a quality player.

“Young Paul McLeod is a striker, his main asset is his movement, but he’s getting stronger. We’ve found him a position wide on the right, and he’s made it his own.

“James Gibson came on at left-back and he’s aged only 17, and wee Gary Gow was on the bench at 16.

“People forget that Tony Stevenson and Brian Easton are 18 years old, while James McArthur and Paul McLeod are 19, so it augurs well for the future here.

“We’ve had so many problems, but the players keep bouncing back, and it’s all credit to them.

“To be sitting joint-top with what we’ve been through is, for me, sensational.”

Hamilton go into the game with doubts over Tom Parratt, Brian Wake and Brian Easton, although Reid hopes at least the latter two will make it.

A late decision will be made over Irish defender David Elebert, but goalkeeper Davie McEwan has resumed full training and will be re-introduced to the squad.

Omar Rezgane has served a one-match suspension and comes back into contention.