REID'S MEN BOUNCE BACK TO FINISH FIRST QUARTER OF SEASON IN STRONG POSITION

Oct 11 2007 By Andy McGilvray

HAMILTON boss Billy Reid was delighted with Saturday’s 2-0 win over Dundee as his side bounced back from last week’s defeat against St Johnstone.

The result sees Accies go into this weekend’s international break with a four-point cushion over the Taysiders at the top of the Irn-Bru First Division but Reid preferred to focus on the fact that his side had exorcised their demons after their sole league defeat.

Honest Reid held his hands up for the 4-1 loss to St Johnstone and said he was as much to blame as his players but he said they deserve enormous credit for dumping Alex Rae’s Dundee when it mattered.

He said: “That was a massive result and it was really important for us to bounce back.

“I was disappointed in a few wee aspects last week because I thought we gave the points to St Johnstone too cheaply. That’s unlike us, but we’re only human. I wasn’t happy with my own performance, in terms of things I did that maybe changed things, but I’m human as well and I don’t call everything right.

“But to be four points clear after the first quarter is an outstanding contribution from everybody in that dressing room.

“The pleasing thing for me is that I’ve got guys sitting on the bench who are frustrated at not getting a game but they’re coming on and giving me everything.

“That’s the sign of a good team for me and a measure of how far we’ve come as a football club.

“When Richard Offiong isn’t scoring goals, other guys are chipping in, so we’re pleased at the way things are going but we’ll keep our feet on the ground.”

On the match itself, Reid said: “We’re really happy because it looked as though it was heading for a draw.

“I said to the players at half-time to be patient, keep doing the right things, stay solid, and their chance would come — and that was proved right.

“It was a great goal. It was a good ball in from David Winters, with Mark McLaughlin rising above everybody and powering it into the net. Then Paul McLeod got his chance to come off the bench and smashed one into the net.”

He added: “It’s a pleasure to work with these guys. every day in training they give me everything and I think that shows on the park. They give me every ounce they’ve got.

“They’re a young side learning their trade and as a manager that’s refreshing for me.

“I think I give them everything back as well and if we keep on doing that, who knows what we can achieve this season.”