Binos have respect of Hamilton

Sep 13 2007

BILLY Reid insists high-flying Hamilton won’t underestimate visitors Stirling Albion on Saturday, as he targets wins from each of their next three games.

As part of a home triple bill, Binos’ visit is followed by a league clash with Livingston next weekend, and a mouth-watering CIS Cup third round tie with SPL side Kilmarnock.

Reid wants his side to continue the good work that has seen them soar to the top of the Irn-Bru First Division, and says they won’t take Allan Moore’s side lightly.

He said: “We’ve got three home games in a row, and they’re games we’re really looking forward to.

“We’ve got back-to-back league games against Stirling and Livingston, followed by the CIS Cup game against Kilmarnock, and I’m really looking for us to take the initiative in those games.”

Reid added: “Stirling have had four draws from their five games and that shows that they’re hard to beat, but we’re the home side and we have to be looking to take the three points.

“Nobody here is taking Stirling lightly, but if we play to our potential then we can win the game.”

Reid appreciates more than anyone the importance of Dunfermline’s visit on Saturday to second-placed Dundee, whose next two matches include a league visit to Stirling before entertaining SPL champions Celtic in the CIS Cup — a run Reid hopes Accies can take advantage of.

The manager said: “We’re looking to take six points from the two league games. We have a nice two-point cushion over Dundee, who play Dunfermline on Saturday so something’s got to give in that one.

“If we win the two league games it would put us in a healthy position but even though we’re playing teams from the opposite end of the table, every game is difficult — there are no walkovers in this league.

“The players have done everything we’ve asked of them and more. They’ve been well disciplined and we haven’t conceded many goals.

“We try to win every game we play, and I’ve always said that we had a decent squad here — we just needed a bit of continuity, which I haven’t had in my time at the club up until now.

“If we continue our current form we’ve got a chance of getting through the first lot of games at the top end of the table, and that’s fantastic.”

Dumping Jim Jefferies’ side out of the CIS Cup isn’t going to be easy, but Reid reckons the Killie clash will provide excellent experience for his young side, if nothing else.

He said: “It’s a draw that I think our guys will relish.

“Some of the young lads have never played against Premier League opposition before and Kilmarnock are an established SPL side who regularly finish in the top six, so we look forward to testing ourselves against a team at that level.”

Hamilton should be fresh going into the games, having enjoyed four days off last week, due to the international break.

Reid said: “I was able to do that because I trust the players, and they’re all in good spirit.”