BACK ACCIES TO WRECK GRETNA PARTY SAYS REID

Apr 12 2007 By Andy McGilvray

BILLY Reid has urged the people of Hamilton to turn up in numbers on Saturday as his side tries to wreck Gretna’s title party.

It’s a make-or-break game for a number of reasons and one that is shaping up to be a cracker.

Gretna would be within touching distance of the First Division championship with a win, and would then clinch it should Clyde beat second-placed St Johnstone on Tuesday.

But an Accies win would put the Raydale Park club under intense pressure as Saints would be able to reduce their deficit to two points, with two games remaining, when they play at Broadwood.

A Hamilton win on Saturday would also put them within a point of Saints — and Accies entertain Owen Coyle’s side on the last day of this season.

Having comfortably dumped Livingston 3-0 on Saturday, Hamilton go into the game with a proud home record of just one league defeat this season, and are confident.

Reid said: “It would be nice for fans to get behind us on Saturday when we’re playing against the champions-elect.

“Winning that game would be a massive confidence-booster ahead of next season, and it would be nice for the people of Hamilton to come out and support us.

“I think we offer a good brand of football, and it would be good if people come and see us play.”

Reid added: “Gretna will come here hoping to win the championship, so we’re certainly not going to lie down and make it easy.

“We want to try and make sure we spoil their championship party, but it’s not just that — we want to play the way we can and win the game.

“It’s easy at this stage of the season to say ‘we’re sitting well, we’re not going to get relegated’, to just switch off — and I will not allow that to happen.

“I think people saw from the reaction of my players on Saturday that we’ve still got something to play for.

“If somebody does switch off, they won’t be in my team.

“It’s just unfortunate in this division that there’s nothing to play for in second place. I can’t influence that but the players will keep going. If we play our game and the players perform at their best, we can be a handful.”

Reid was delighted in Saturday’s 3-0 win over Livingston.

The gaffer said: “We could have been 3-0 or 4-0 ahead at half-time.

“Our shape was good, we made some great runs, and with a bit more composure in front of goal we could have gone further ahead.

“I just hope people don’t focus on how poor Livingston were, rather than how well Hamilton played.

“I thought there were some great performances from the team.”

Livi didn’t have a shot on target until the 73rd minute, but Reid was annoyed that the Lions even broke through on that occasion.

He continued: “I thought our front three were great on Saturday; Mark Gilhaney started in the manner that I wanted him to, Richard Offiong has a presence just from being on the park and I was delighted with Davie Winters.

“He’s been left out of the team a couple of times when we’ve been away from home, I’ve explained the situation to him, and he’s come back from that brilliantly.”

Reid is delighted to have most of his squad signed up for next season, although there are still one or two players to make a decision on.

Veteran defender Chris Swailes has been offered a new contract on condition that he steers clear of injury; James McArthur and David Elebert were taken off with injuries but should be fit to face Gretna.

Accies secretary Scott Struthers is head of the SFA’s delegation in Germany as Scotland’s under-19 women’s squad take part in European Championships against the host nation, Hungary and Sweden. Ex-Accies star Tony Gervaise is Scotland’s coach.