Time To Make Saints Suffer

Feb 14 2008 By Andy McGilvray

HAMILTON boss Billy Reid this week urged his players to break their St Johnstone hoodoo and take another step towards the title with victory at McDiarmid Park.

Although Hamilton have defeated Saints already this season, they haven’t won in Perth since March 5, 2005.

Reid hopes to shatter that poor record, and says his side have nothing to fear from anybody in the league if they’re on peak form.

He said: “The next four games are tricky for us, and I only like to take it a game at a time.

“We go to St Johnstone on Saturday, we know how big a test that will be, but I’ve said to the players that if they’re all on their mettle like that it will take a good team in this league to beat them.

“I think that was proved right on Saturday.”

Reid added: “It’s a place where, in management with Hamilton Accies, I haven’t done particularly well, and it’s another step in the development of this club that we have to go to places like St Johnstone, play the way we can play and stand up to them physically, because they’re a big, strong side.

“If we do that then we’ll be fine.”

Reid was delighted with Saturday’s 3-0 win over Dunfermline, and praised the Pars for at least having a go at New Douglas Park.

He explained: “I’ve said before that teams have been coming here, sitting in, and it’s been difficult to break them down.

“I thought Dunfermline would come here and have a go, and I think that suited us, because we were able to play our game.

“Teams that come and have a go at us try and outplay us on our park and that’s difficult for them, because we’ve got players that can play and pass the ball, and I thought we did that in abundance on Saturday.

“I thought for the first 15-20 minutes it was a fantastic game with both teams going for it.

“But I thought some of our play was fantastic; I asked my players to be on the money and I thought they all were.

“The damage was done in the first half, but I thought the second period was just as important and to see out the game in the manner that we did was excellent.

“I think Dunfermline are a decent side with good players, and they’ll take points off of teams between now and the end of the season.”

Reid was delighted with the response from Hamilton’s fans on Saturday, but urged them to stay patient.

He said: “There seemed to be a real buzz about the place, maybe because we started the game well and had six corners early on, but it seemed to give the fans a wee lift.

“I want to say to them to believe in what we’re trying to do here, because we have a fantastic group of players here.

“Back us to the hilt and we’ll give it our best shot.

“If it’s good enough then fine, but if it isn’t, it won’t be for the lack of trying.

“There are 12 games to go and although we’re seven points clear there’s a lot of football to be played between now and the end of the season.”

James McArthur, who suffered a broken nose against Dunfermline, will play against Saints wearing a protective mask. Mark McLaughlin returns from suspension.