BEATEN BUT NOT BOWED

Nov 23 2006 By Andy McGilvray

HAMILTON boss Billy Reid this week reflected on Saturday’s 3-1 defeat at Partick Thistle... and insisted his side has played worse and WON this season.

Thistle’s third goal came as Accies looked likely to equalise in a pulsating Firhill tussle that saw two penalties conceded by Hamilton — one of them missed — and goalkeeper Raymond Jellema being replaced by Davie McEwan following injury.

Reid praised Dick Campbell’s men for scrapping out the win, but reckoned his side didn’t do too much wrong.

He said: “We can take a lot of positives out of the defeat. It was a crazy, crazy game — I don’t think Partick Thistle did anything in the first half, but they went in 2-0 up.

“But if you give goals away like we did and concede penalties like that, then you’re going to have problems.

“I said to the players at half-time — and believed it — that we could have won the game rather than just gone for a point.

“I got a reaction from the players... we scored, and how we never got a second goal was quite incredible.

“I thought we played very well at times and for 20 minutes after our goal we battered them.

“We had a couple cleared off the line, their keeper made a great save from Paul McLeod, and at that time I had no doubt that if we had got another goal we were going to win the game.

“It just wasn’t to be, but we’ll learn from that.

“We played better than we did last week when we beat Airdrie, but the important thing in this league is to win games.

“Partick Thistle aren’t pretty at times, but they’re finding ways to win games. That’s what everybody else in the league should be trying to do, because Thistle are up there on merit.”

Reid praised his side for their effort and revealed that several played through the pain barrier.

He said: “I have no complaints — I asked them at half-time to come out and give me everything and I felt as though they did that. I think we’re going from strength to strength, and we’re now a unit.

“Some teams would have chucked it at 2-0 down, but this squad of players certainly don’t do that, which is pleasing.

“I think my players ran themselves into the ground.

“Tom Parratt played without training that week and I think that showed a wee bit. Alex Neil played again despite a knock, but unfortunately my captain Marvyn Wilson had to pull out of the game with a rib injury, which was frustrating.

“My goalkeeper Raymond Jellema had to come off after eight minutes because he was injured at the penalty. He took a bang on the eye and it completely closed up — the boy’s not meant it, but has flicked him on the way by.”

Reid added: “I have to say I thought the supporters were fantastic, backing the team until the final whistle, and myself and the players really appreciate that.

“I had a set of players in the dressing room who were really disappointed, because we didn’t think Partick Thistle were much better than us.”

Reid has now turned his attention to Ross County’s visit on Saturday, and hopes to continue a four-game unbeaten home record.

He said: “Ross County are scrapping for every point, but we feel as though if we play to our potential, and give nothing away cheaply, then we can get three points.

“Ross County won the Challenge Cup and good luck to them, but the important thing for everybody is probably league points.

“It will be difficult, but every game is — Airdrie beating St Johnstone 2-1 last Saturday tells you that.

“If you’re not on your toes and don’t do things the right way, everybody’s capable of beating anybody.”

Raymond Jellema and James McArthur (knee) are fitness doubts, while Scott Tunbridge is ruled out and may need a knee clean-up operation.

Captain Marvyn Wilson will again be given until the last minute to prove his fitness after picking up a rib injury against Airdrie United.