Accies boss Reid hopes new signing is on a scoring run

Oct 1 2009 by Andrew McGilvray, Hamilton Advertiser

HAMILTON boss Billy Reid hopes Marco Paixao will go on a scoring run after bagging a cracker in Saturday’s 2-1 defeat by Hearts at Tynecastle.

And the New Douglas Park gaffer pointed out that the Portuguese striker needed time to settle before hitting form.

Paixao’s confidence clearly took a boost from the strike and he was unlucky not to salvage a point for Accies later in the game – and Reid reckons he was outstanding.

He said: “I was pleased with Marco’s overall performance. We signed him so we know he’s a good player, and with Derek Lyle out for the season I thought we could take an out-and-out striker like Marco, play him on the left, and I thought it worked well for us.

“People need to remember though that guys like Marco are coming over from different countries and it’s a culture shock for them because they have to get used to the country, the weather, the pace of the game and how we play as a team. It’s going to take time to adjust to that.

“But Marco now knows he can play at this level and score goals.

“I thought he was excellent, overall he was very good from open play, and that was a real plus-point for me.”

Reid was left disappointed that Hamilton didn’t take a point from Tynecastle, and reckons even Hearts fans would admit their side were fortunate.

He said: “We took a point the week before against Falkirk and I thought we played better on Saturday but ended up with nothing.

“That was a much better performance and closer to being exactly what I want from them; I think even the Hearts supporters coming out of the game will have admitted that we merited a draw.”

Billy won’t criticise match officials, but conceded that certain aspects of the game disappointed him.

He said: “In the lead up to their first goal Jose Goncalves handled and the referee said it was accidental – but their boy’s gained an advantage because if not for the use of a hand he wouldn’t have controlled it.

“As for the penalty, I don’t think there was a lot in it, but I can see why the ref has given it. It’s like Stephen McGinn’s for St Mirren a couple of weeks ago, where he has been clever and gone over the top of their player.”

But Reid added: “Hearts’ second goal was disappointing from our point of view, but these things happen. It was a bit of a farce – Richie Hastings could have done better and then either Tomas Cerny hit the ball off of Trent McClenahan or vice-versa.

“But we will bounce back again. We can take positives from the fact that Marco Paixao scored a smashing goal.

“There’s a way to get beaten and I think that was it for us because we went down fighting – but I felt for them out there because they put so much into the game.”

Hamilton go into Saturday’s visit by St Johnstone boosted by the signing of former Hibs and Coventry midfielder Guillaume Beuzelin on a short-term deal.

The 30-year-old was training with Celtic, and Reid is delighted with his capture.

He said: “Guillaume is a very technically gifted player and a fantastic footballer.

“If he gets into the work ethos of Hamilton Accies, has the right attitude and is prepared to do his duty then he can be a big success.”

Reid hopes his side can continue their decent home form that saw them take four points from six against Hibs and Falkirk.

He said: “It’s a big game for us, it’s another one at home and we took four out of six points in our last two.

“We’ve targeted picking up as many points as we can from our home games. I’m sure St Johnstone will be the same, and it’s easy to see how they’re playing – they’re scoring freely but they’re also conceding.

“That should make it an open game but it’s one that we can win.”