Only way is up for Accies

Oct 16 2008 by Andrew McGilvray, Hamilton Advertiser

HAMILTON boss Billy Reid wants his side to use a win over St Mirren on Saturday to move up the SPL table.

Reid is aware that Accies are just four points off third-placed Kilmarnock, despite their ninth position, and says the only way is up.

Saturday’s New Douglas Park clash is the first of three important games, promptly followed by Rangers in a league and cup double-header.

Reid hopes his side can halt a recent run that has seen them ship eight goals in two games, when the Paisley side come calling. He said: “We’re looking up. We’re four points behind third place and while other people will say if we get beat we’ll be down nearer the bottom end of the table, we’re not focusing that way at all.

“We’re eight games into the season and we’re four points off third place, but we’re also only two off the bottom – that shows that there isn’t a big difference between third and 12th, and we’re in that group.

“If we win a few games we’ll be at the top end of that group, and if we lose a few games we’ll be at the bottom end of that group, it’s that simple.

“But I like to try and be positive. I know what we’ve got and we can be at the top end, but we’ve got to go and prove that.”

Reid said his team will be concentrating on their own game for the visit of St Mirren.

He said: “It’s always been an interesting game between ourselves and St Mirren since I’ve been here.

“They’re a stuffy team who have done well in the Premier League in terms of staying there.

“They’ve got a style of football that suits them, and they’ve just had a fantastic result against Rangers.

“We’ll just try and play our own game and going for the three points has to be our aim.”

Reid wasn’t overly concerned about losing 4-0 against Celtic and 4-1 against Falkirk, but was disappointed in some performances.

He said: “We’ve had a couple of bad results, but we got a wee bit of a lesson at Celtic Park.

“Celtic were good, we tried to play our own game to see where we stand and we came up short.

“But if you catch the Old Firm when they’re not at their best and you play to your potential you can take something off them.

“Four or five of our players performed the way I expected them to, but three or four could have done a better.

“They must learn from it because you can’t make mistakes at this level, but it’s a learning curve for us all.”

Reid doesn’t have too many injury problems ahead of Saturday’s tussle, but concedes the game has probably come too early for defender Mark McLaughlin.

The gaffer acknowledges just how important McLaughlin is, and won’t risk bringing him back before he’s ready.

Reid said: “It’s not rocket science to look at the fact that Marko has played two games this season and we took six points. He’s a huge player, and he will feature as soon as he’s back and ready, but I’m not going to take any chances.”

Young striker Lucas Akins has performed well in reserve outings and is pushing for a top-team place at a time when Reid is trying to find his most potent attacking options.