Reid undaunted by Accies leading SPL

Aug 21 2008 by Andrew McGilvray, Hamilton Advertiser

HAMILTON boss Billy Reid warned his side they will have to be on top form to emerge unscathed from a tough double-header against Clyde and Kilmarnock.

SPL leaders Accies travel to Rugby Park on Saturday hoping to maintain their 100 per cent start, before hosting Clyde in the Co-Operative Insurance Cup second round on Tuesday.

Killie boss Jim Jefferies will be looking for revenge after Accies dumped his side out of last season’s CIS Cup competition, while former Hamilton hero John Brown will want to take a scalp as he rebuilds the Cumbernauld club.

Reid pointed out: “I said before the start of the season that the first four games were ones we were looking at taking points from, and nothing is different.

“We turned Kilmarnock over in the cup last season – I’m sure Jim Jefferies will have that fresh in their minds, and we’ll need to be at our best.

“If we can win then it has been more than a decent start to the season.

“Their motivation will be to beat us and prove they’re better than they were in that game, but our motivation will be to keep our unbeaten run going – hopefully that will be enough.

“We’ll take it a game at a time but if we could take nine points from nine it would be some achievement.

“Winning games on the road in the SPL is a lot harder than winning games in the First Division, and although we just did that at Inverness, it’s no easy task.”

On Tuesday’s game, Reid commented: “As a team from a different league, I’m quite sure Clyde will raise their game against us and we have to be on our guard against that.

“We beat them fairly easily on the second-last day of last season to win the league, but that won’t have any bearing on this game at all.

“We have to endeavour to play at our best, or we are going to have problems.

“But we have a big squad, we’re a Premier League club, and we want to make sure we go on a good cup run, and we hope to go as far as we can.

“There are big prizes on offer at the end of the day, and if nothing else, winning matches gives players confidence.”

In that regard, Accies are flying high, having dumped Inverness 1-0 at the Tulloch Caledonian Stadium on Saturday, courtesy of a Richard Offiong strike.

But Reid maintains that it’s how his young side responds to defeat that could be vital this season.

He said: “Inverness is a venue that is hard to go to and take points, but I thought we handled the occasion fairly well. Richard scored a sensational goal, and we merited the three points.

“We started the game well and it panned out exactly as I thought it would, in that Inverness would be cagey and keep it tight with a 4-5-1 formation.

“That made it difficult for us to get behind them, but we managed it just before the break and Richard took his goal well.”

Reid added: “I don’t have a problem with us being top of the league and people getting carried away with that – at the end of the day you want your team to win.

“We carried that mantel last season, we know what we’re trying to do at the club, and we’ve got belief in that.

“We’re going to take a few hits along the way this season, but it’s how we react that’s important – I just hope it doesn’t happen on Saturday.

“I want my players to go out there and maintain their form.

“A lot of goals that are being conceded in the SPL are because people are making mistakes, so we need to try and cut them out.”

Reid confirmed that he has spoken to former Celtic and Arsenal striker John Hartson about becoming striking coach at the club, but while it is something he will pursue, the gaffer says too much has been made of the Welshman’s potential contribution.

However, Reid said: “Players like that can give you a lift and can bring in fresh ideas.”

Hamilton were due to play a Liverpool XI last night (Wednesday), and midfielder James McArthur was due to start Scotland Under-21 European Championship qualifier against Lithuania the same day, with Reid hoping his players get through both unscathed.

Defender Tom Hateley has returned to Reading, after Hamilton decided against taking him on loan.

Hamilton’s Co-Operative Insurance Cup second-round clash with Clyde at New Douglas Park on Tuesday kicks off at 7.45pm.

Admission prices have been set at £10 (adults), £5 (over-65s and students), or £3 (under-16).