Any goal will do for Simon

Apr 30 2009 by Andrew McGilvray, Hamilton Advertiser

SIMON Mensing doesn’t care if Hamilton score “the worst goal ever seen” on Saturday, so long as they take three points from Kilmarnock.

Jim Jefferies’ men visit New Douglas Park in the first round of the five post-split fixtures, and Mensing wants Accies to take a major step towards SPL safety.

The midfield ace admits he doesn’t care how it’s achieved, as long as Hamilton grab their first league win since February 21.

And after a dispute with Richard Offiong over who scored Accies’ winner at Rugby Park back in January, Mensing hopes he can claim it, should he net on Saturday.

He said: “We’ve won two out of the three games against Kilmarnock this season, and fingers crossed that it continues on Saturday. They’re on the same points as us, so they’ll be looking to guarantee their safety as well.

“It’s a game we’re all looking forward to – I’m sure they are as well – and it’s a must-win for both teams.

“If I score this time I hope it counts for me – as far as I’m concerned, I’ve scored against Kilmarnock already this season and Richard’s taken it off me!

“But no, seriously, anyone can score as long as we get the three points.

“We’ll take a 1-0 win with the worst goal ever seen!”

Simon is well aware of how important Saturday’s clash could be, if Hamilton are to avoid becoming embroiled in a relegation dogfight.

He said: “We’re getting to the nitty-gritty part of the season and, like most of our games have been, it’s a must-win.

“We’re looking at getting the three points, we want to concentrate on ourselves, and if results go our way at other places that will help us.

“But our concern is to get the win and if we do we’ll be a happy camp.”

Tenth spot in the SPL, six points clear of bottom side Falkirk and with five games remaining, Mensing is quite content with Hamilton’s current position.

Naturally he would like to improve on it, but he knows there are teams who would rather be in their position.

He said: “At the beginning of the season if you had offered us the position we’re in at the moment, I think we would have been happy.

“We’re in a good position. We’re six points clear of the team that’s bottom, and it’s in our own hands.

“If we don’t do enough in the five games then we’ll be to blame and wouldn’t deserve to stay up, but we’re quietly confident that we will.

“There are a lot of teams who would rather be in our position – especially the two below us – but we’re concentrating on ourselves.

“At the moment we’ve got a six-point cushion but we’re not taking anything for granted.

“We know we’ve still got to win a few more games to guarantee our survival, and that’s what we’re looking to do.”

Despite being Hamilton’s second-top scorer this season with a healthy five from midfield, Mensing insists he should be higher up in the goal charts.

A spectacular overhead kick strike was mysteriously chalked off in February’s 1-0 derby defeat at Motherwell, and Mensing said: “As far as I’m concerned I’m on seven for the season!

“On a personal note you obviously want to score goals and if I could get a couple more by the end of the season I’ll be happy with that.”