Accies skipper targets return against 'Well

Oct 21 2010 by Andrew McGilvray, Hamilton Advertiser

HAMILTON Accies have been handed a major boost with news that captain Alex Neil has been given the all-clear to resume training – and he could return for the derby at Motherwell at the end of the month.

Boss Billy Reid has been cautious with his midfield enforcer, who was given the go-ahead from a specialist in England on Tuesday having recovered from hip surgery during the summer, but is desperate to have him back to shore up his side.

Now Neil (left) has resumed training, Reid is relishing the chance to put his skipper back in his teamsheet.

“It’s a massive lift for everybody,” admitted the Accies boss. “Alex has been a huge influence in the five years he has been at the club, and he really helps the young players progress.

“He has been a major loss this season, the same as he was at the start of last season, and the sooner we get him back, the better.”

Neil’s ability to break up opposition attacks was sorely missed on Saturday as Accies lost a two-goal lead against St Mirren.

Following the 2-2 draw at New St Mirren Park, a furious Reid told his players they must tighten up.

“We’re playing well and that’s the annoying thing, because it would be easier to understand if we weren’t,” said the Hamilton manager.

“Going to St Mirren and drawing 2-2 is usually a situation in which you take the point, but it wasn’t like that.

“We’ve lost stupid goals in recent weeks – we conceded a last-minute winner against Rangers, handed Hibs a goal at Easter Road, allowed Celtic a cheap third goal, and we’ve conceded six penalties this season.

“We were 2-0 up against Kilmarnock with 10 minutes go, conceded a goal, fell apart and nearly lost 3-2.

“On Saturday, we were the best side, in terms of quality, cut them open and looked a threat, while they hit balls back to front, bypassing the midfield.

“We had Martin Canning, Mark McLaughlin Simon Mensing and David Elebert at the back, but they just didn’t defend the high balls.

“They never won a ball and that’s just incredible – we’re too soft and that’s a big, big problem for me.

“These guys have been absolutely brilliant for me and I’ve got experienced guys all over the park, but I had a 20-year-old in Jon Routledge trying to hold us together – I think that tells you everything about the experienced players, who didn’t do enough.

“Going up front, I thought Nigel Hasselbaink was a handful and Dougie Imrie and Flavio Paixao were always a threat, but that’s not the problem for us – our problem is that we didn’t do enough between defence and midfield, we were all over the place.”

Although Reid is happy with his side’s recent for, he admits that problems at the back are undermining Accies’ attacking threat.

Reid added: “I think, performance-wise, it’s as good as you’ll see at Hamilton Accies and, in terms of going forward, we’re a major threat and give teams problems, including the Old Firm.

“But if you can’t shut your back door, you’re going to have problems.”

Reid hopes to see an instant improvement on Saturday when seventh-placed St Johnstone visit.

He said: “St Johnstone will come here and try to steal the points, but we’re looking to make amends for last week.”