Celebration earns Swailes harsh card

Jan 15 2009 by Andrew McGilvray, Hamilton Advertiser

CHRIS Swailes admitted his winner against Ross County came from a training ground move... but Hamilton didn't get it right until Saturday.

Friday mornings session saw on-loan Celtic starlet Paul McGowan ping over a series of corners for Accies big lads like Swailes and Mark McLaughlin to attack, but they simply werent meeting them.

But he said the 21-year-olds delivery at Victoria Park was absolutely perfect for him to grab his first goal of the season.

Swailes (38), said: We practiced corners in training on Friday morning and Paul was putting the exact same balls over all the time, but we just werent getting our heads on them but on Saturday it was just perfect.

Big Brian Easton put the goalkeeper off, Mark McLaughlin was making a nuisance of himself and I just got on top of my man and out-muscled him, really.

Swailes was disappointed to find himself one of four Hamilton players booked by card-happy referee Crawford Allan on Saturday seemingly for over-celebrating his winner, and admitted he feared being given an early bath like stand-in skipper James McArthur.

He said: Its funny because sometimes when you score you just get so carried away that you dont know what to do.

My children have asked me if I have a celebration that Ill do when I score, and I told them I do, but it went completely out of my head probably because I dont score often.

It was disappointing to be booked because the referee said I ran to the crowd, but I didnt.

I was about five inches off the pitch and I could have gone on to the tarmac, but I didnt.

I told the referee I thought it was harsh, but he just said, youre booked and youre staying booked.

That put me on a knife-edge, especially in a game as physical as that and with as many bookings, so I was relieved when the final whistle went and I hadnt got a second caution.

Gateshead-born Swailes believes Hamilton deserved to win the tussle and said: In the first half we dominated and got in front.

In the second half Ross County threw everything at us but, to be fair, without creating much. Tomas Cerny didnt have much to save.

We knew it was going to be a close game before we went up there.

Ross County are a strong side with a lot of players who have Premier League experience, and it was just a relief to get through.

Chris is relatively content with Sundays Homecoming Scottish Cup fifth round draw, which paired Hamilton with Dundee United at New Douglas Park on February 7.

He said: Weve got Dundee United in the next round and that should be an interesting one. Theyre in a great position in the SPL, theyre a big, strong, physical side but we matched them both times weve played against them this season.

We beat them at our place on the opening day and drew against them at Tannadice when we probably should have won. There were also a lot of things said about the way we played after that game.

There are a lot of games between now and then, so well take it as it comes.

Were all glad we got a home draw, but Dundee United will be a big obstacle.

The next game in an important run for Hamilton comes on Saturday with the crunch clash with basement rivals Inverness Caledonian Thistle.

Chris said: Saturdays game is one of those that you can call a six-pointer. Its our 22nd game of the season and weve got 16 to play after that, so its really important.

Inverness dont want to be losing this one, while we would love to win because it would continue our run at home where weve won our last three games without conceding a goal.

We have to do it without Alex Neil and Richard Offing who are both suspended and it will be difficult, but hopefully by 5pm well have three points and be six clear of Inverness.