Wake hopes glory double will earn him starting place

Aug 30 2007 By Andy McGilvray

BRIAN Wake blasted Hamilton into the CIS Cup third round and paid tribute to the resilience his table-topping side have shown this season.

Striker Wake’s double gave Hamilton a 3-2 win over Berwick Rangers at Shielfield on Tuesday and he just hopes that’s enough to earn him a starting berth against Partick Thistle on Saturday.

But he tipped his hat to the strikers who have kept him on the bench so far.

And he pointed out that it’s all about the team game.

He said: “My two goals could be viewed as a signal of intent for Saturday’s team against Partick Thistle but we’re playing really well at the minute and the lads that have been starting have been different class. You’ve got to take your hat off to them.

“All you can do is do your best in training and take the little chances that come your way when you do get on and do your best for the team.

“It’s difficult when you’re not playing regularly but you’ve got to keep yourself going, keep as fit as you can and when you put the work in it’s always nice to nick a couple of goals for the team.

“We’re all in this together, we just want to win the games and see where we can go this season.”

Wake was delighted with his double at Berwick and admitted the Second Division side made life difficult for Hamilton.

He said: “It’s difficult coming to places like this and you’re on a hiding to nothing at times but it’s good that we showed desire by coming back from an early goal.

“They could have knocked the stuffing out of us by equalising but we kept going, worked hard, and thankfully we got through. Hopefully we’ll get a good game in the next round.”

Wake added: “It was like a cup final to Berwick. We’re riding high at the top of the First Division, so they had nothing to lose.

“We had to keep our focus and try to win the game and thankfully we did that.

“We showed a bit of resilience but I think we’ve done that in a lot of games this season.

“When games are 0-0 and in the balance we’ve shown great determination and we’re managing to battle through and nick results. That’s a great sign.

“Hopefully we can go to Partick on Saturday and get another result and keep showing our intentions by trying to stay at the top of the league.

“It will be tough. In our divisions, you don’t get any easy games, but we’ll go there and be focused, work hard as usual, and try and get a result.”