Reid Wants Title Show

Jan 31 2008 By Andy McGilvray

RAGING Hamilton boss Billy Reid this week tore a strip off his stuttering stars and told them they could be about to throw away their chance to become legends.

Reid knows that the current Accies squad can make history by becoming only the third team in the club’s 134-year existence to reach the Premier League but only if they improve their current league form.

Following Saturday’s 3-0 demolition by Partick Thistle at Firhill, the furious New Douglas Park gaffer said: “I said to the lads before Saturday that our season started there, that it was ‘game on’.

“Every game is going to be massive for us and it’s not going to be easy winning the championship, but I told the players they’re never going to get a better chance.

“There are many players who have gone through their career and never won a championship, and these guys have an opportunity to make history, to take Hamilton into the Premier League for the third time in their history.

“That’s how big a prize this is for us, but they’ve got to go and do it.”

Reid refused to use the shocking state of the Firhill pitch — which had hosted a vital Glasgow Warriors Heineken Cup match on the Friday — for Accies’ capitulation, and said Thistle thoroughly merited their win.

He said: “It’s completely alien to where we are, but to be honest we didn’t perform.

“We’ve got too many players not performing, and I keep saying that it’s down to the players.

“Nothing has changed for us as it’s the same guys that were winning football games freely, scoring goals and looking hungry – but Saturday was the complete opposite of what we’re about this season.

“We have been making chances and I have been pleased with the way we’ve been playing, but not on Saturday.

“The performance wasn’t acceptable to the group of players I’ve got and, as the manager, I can’t accept that. Questions have got to be asked of us.”

Reid hopes to make amends by dumping Clyde at Broadwood on Saturday, before taking on Brechin City in their twice re-arranged Scottish Cup fourth round tie on Monday.

He said: “It’s important that we get back to scoring goals on Saturday against Clyde.

“It’s also important that we score the first goal and I don’t care if it happens in the last minute or whatever — we need to get back to winning ways.

“We want to make amends for the Partick Thistle defeat, and that maybe gave us a kick up the backside that we needed.

“The lads’ confidence has taken a wee dunt, which is always the case in this situation, but it’s not easy winning a championship.

“We need to kick on and make sure there are no more slip-ups.”

Should Hamilton beat Brechin at Glebe Park on Monday, a tie against SPL side Aberdeen at Pittodrie looms on Saturday, February 2.

And Reid said: “I’m not taking anything for granted against Brechin but I managed to get up to Pittodrie to watch their win over Falkirk on Tuesday — it’s important to plan ahead for these matches.

“There are big prizes ahead of us in the coming weeks, and it’s up to us to face that challenge.”

Reid is working “round the clock” to bring new faces into New Douiglas Park and hopes to do so shortly.

Young striker Paul McLeod has gone on loan to Ayr United for the remainder of this season.