It's make-or-break for Accies' title bid

Mar 6 2008 By Andy McGilvray

HAMILTON boss Billy Reid has admitted the next nine days could make or break Hamilton’s season.

Accies entertain Morton on Saturday and travel to Dunfermline on Tuesday, before the big one — Dundee at New Douglas Park on March 15.

Reid knows this is a crucial period in his campaign and said: “It’s not rocket science and it doesn’t take a miracle-worker to work out that this is the business end of the season.

“This period could make or break our season, without a doubt, but it’s the same for Dundee.

“St Johnstone are hanging in there but in all honesty it would need a collapse by ourselves and Dundee, while they would have to win every game between now and the end of the season.

“That can happen, never rule that out, but we’ve worked hard all season to get ourselves into this position and it will mean nothing to us if we let that slip.

“We have no intention of doing that, we’re in the driving seat, we’ve not been headed all year, and if we can win Saturday’s game then it kicks us on again.”

With Dundee involved in Scottish Cup action a home win on Saturday would move Accies five points clear, with the Taysiders then having to play catch-up.

That would give Hamilton an advantage, certainly psychologically, and Reid hopes to take full advantage.

He said: “Winning the game would be a big bonus, with Dundee involved in the cup tie, but if it goes the other way and we don’t get the three points, then I think it gives them an initiative to maybe get above us.

“The players know that and they’ll be ready for it.”

He added: “It’s better to have points in the bag, without a doubt. Don’t get me wrong, we’d have loved to be in the next round of the cup, but the league is the big priority — I think Dundee would tell you that as well — and at least we can focus on that.

“Dundee are fighting on two fronts, and good luck to them, but we’re two points ahead just now, we’ve got two games coming up against them, and the first is at home, so that should give us the initiative.

“We’ve got nine games to go and five of them are at New Douglas Park.

“We’re still top of the pile, and we knew it was going to be hard, but if we take care of our home fixtures and pick something up on the road then we won’t be far away.

“But if you don’t go about your business the right way, you’re going to have problems.”

Reid was left fuming at lacklustre Hamilton’s first-half performance during Saturday’s 2-2 draw against Queen of the South at Palmerston Park, but felt that a half-time roasting turned things around.

He said: “There were a few harsh words said at half-time to three or four individuals who weren’t giving enough and they’re not good enough to do that.

“Their first goal came from a free-kick that shouldn’t have been given in a million years.

“The second goal we lost was an absolute disgrace, under no pressure, and I told them ‘the championship is on the line, get out there and get the finger out, every one of you — I’m not having any passengers’, and I think you saw the real Hamilton Accies in the second half.

“I can’t fault my players for effort in the second half, I thought we looked really hungry, the way we’ve been all season.

“I think if we had scored any earlier we would have got another goal, but we take a point and move on.

“They showed a bit of resilience but they’re all playing for places now.”

Captain Alex Neil sits out the second of a two-match suspension, and he will be joined in the stand by midfield ace James McArthur, who has also gone over the disciplinary points threshold.