Accies set to attack Celtic

Oct 2 2008 by Andrew McGilvray, Hamilton Advertiser

HAMILTON boss Billy Reid this week told his young side to go out and enjoy the biggest game of their lives at Celtic Park on Saturday.

But he warned that Accies will have a go against the Scottish Premier League champions.

Reid is still upbeat despite Saturday’s 4-1 defeat at Falkirk, and said: “The way the game turned out won’t affect the way we go and play at Celtic Park; we’ll go there and play the same formation – 4-3-3 – and try to win the game.

“It’s a big ask against a team like Celtic, but that’s my principles. It’s our belief that we’re good enough to go and do that, and we’ll bounce back.

“This is a game we don’t have to motivate the players for. The players should go out and enjoy it, and take responsibility. There will be 60,000 people looking at them, so they should go and show them how good they are.

“People at Celtic Park should remember the names James McCarthy and James McArthur, because they’re going to be top players.”

Reid was disappointed in Saturday’s defeat but doesn’t think it’s anything to panic about, as defeats are inevitable in the top flight.

He said: “Falkirk were the better side over the two halves. I’m not going to have a go at any of my players, but they say goals change games and to concede just before half-time was a big, big thing for us.

“I’m not worried, I’m not too concerned. We want to win games and we’re obviously disappointed and frustrated to lose four goals in the manner we did, but it wasn’t the case that we were over-run, outplayed and battered out there.

“We made a couple of mistakes and at this level you’re punished for it but with a couple of breaks out there the scoreline could have been quite different.

“I don’t think we look out of place at this level, regardless of what anybody says, and I think 4-1 flattered Falkirk.

“Without making excuses I think Wednesday evening had a big bearing on us in the second half; we looked really tired.”

Reid reckons he has the nucleus of a team in place, but challenged certain players to do more.

He said: “We’ve got the basis of the team that plays week in, week out, guys like Brian Easton, James McArthur and James McCarthy, and these guys have been fantastic, but one or two others have probably not done enough, if I’m being honest.

“I’ve said to the guys that the most important thing is that they need to earn the right to come in and play all the time, and if they do the business for me they’ll be on the park – it’s a simple as that.”

A major factor in Saturday’s display was undoubtedly the unavailability of captain Alex Neil, who on Friday signed a two-year extension contract.

Neil has been outstanding all season and was immense in Wednesday’s Co-operative Insurance Cup third round victory over derby rivals Motherwell, but a calf injury kept him out at Falkirk.

Reid has absolutely no doubts over the influence of his skipper and said: “Alex is a massive player for us – the influence he has on and off the park is huge.

“He’s the one that keeps our shape, he’s a talker and an organiser, and I think we badly missed that.

“He’s the captain, the leader, and against Motherwell during the week he was outstanding.”

Reid was delighted in Wednesday’s 2-1 win at Fir Park, setting up a quarter-final clash against holders Rangers at Ibrox on Tuesday, October 28.

He said: “It was nice to beat our rivals, but the game could have gone either way – they hit the woodwork a few times and everything seemed to be happening out there.

“We had a few chances, we went 1-0 up and should have controlled the game, but we let Motherwell back into it.

“Then, when we went ahead again, we still didn’t control the match, although on the break we looked as if we could have scored.

“It was an exciting game for both sets of fans and that is what football is all about.

“We’re a Premier League club now, there’s no reason why we can’t go on and have a run in any of the cups, and we’re in the last eight.”

The Scottish Football League this week confirmed that Hamilton’s Co-operative Insurance Cup quarter-final against holders Rangers will take place at Ibrox on Tuesday, October 28, at 7.45pm.