Reid: Show me you are title contenders

Nov 22 2007 By Andy McGilvray

BILLY REID has urged Accies to prove their championship credentials by dumping Dundee at Dens Park on Saturday.

A win on Tayside would open up a nine-point gap over Hamilton’s nearest rivals — and the New Douglas Park gaffer is going for the jugular.

He said: “If we could win the game, it would stamp our mark as serious title contenders.

“I’m quite sure people are saying that about us just now but if we could go nine points clear of Dundee, and 15 ahead of St Johnstone (whose next league match is on December 1), we will have set the standard early in the season and I think we will be classed as serious title contenders.

“I would say to my players to go out and try to win the game; just keep doing the things we have been doing.”

He added: “I think we’re improving as the season goes on.

“This is the fittest squad I’ve worked with, and I think we’re strong — the younger lads are getting stronger by the minute, and senior lads like Mark McLaughlin and Alex Neil playing every week is helping them.

“I think we’re healthy at the moment but I’m wise enough to know that in this game if you switch off it will come back and bite you.”

Reid expects a tough encounter as Alex Rae’s side try to stay in touch with the leaders.

He said: “I watched Dundee against Clyde a fortnight ago and they will be disappointed that they lost that game so for me that makes them dangerous.

“Dundee know it’s their ‘cup final’ because if they were to lose, we would step further ahead.

“I’m also quite sure they’ll be looking for revenge for the defeat at our place back in October.

“They’ll be up for it but I feel as though this group of players are more than ready to go up to Dundee and stand up and be counted. It’s a chance for us to go nine points ahead of Dundee and we feel as though we’re fresh.

“I think the international break has helped us. We’ve had one or two wee niggles and it’s helped us along with that. I’m hoping that we’ll be prepared in the right manner.”

Reid hopes to have Irish defender David Elebert back in the squad but Tom Parratt is still out.

The Accies boss confirmed that fringe players Marc McJimpsey and James Scales have been freed. It’s believed McJimpsey has quit football.

Reid was a long-term admirer of the player, who he also worked with at Clyde. He said: “Marc was a young player we had high hopes for but he probably wasn’t quite ready to break through into the first team.

“I think that was a wee bit frustrating for him but he would have had to move Alex Neil and James McArthur out of the team and that’s a huge ask for any young man.

“We wish him well, he’s a smashing wee player and I hope he gets back into the game.”

Meanwhile, Reid is in negotiations to keep hold of talented goalkeeper Tomas Cerny, whose loan deal from Czech side SK Sigma Olomouc expires in January.

Cerny, who is understudy to Bryn Halliwell, hasn’t featured often but Reid is an admirer.

He said: “We’ve already spoken to Tomas about signing a contract. I’m trying to sort things out at the Czech Republic end and I’m hopeful — and almost certain — that will happen.

“Fans haven’t seen Tomas Cerny yet. He’s a smashing goalkeeper, we have really high hopes for him, and he’s been outstanding in the reserves week in, week out. Bryn has eight clean sheets in 12 games but if need be we’ve got another keeper we can bring in that we can equally trust.”