Accies boss tells players to prove they are good enough

Feb 3 2011 by Andrew McGilvray, Hamilton Advertiser

RAGING Hamilton boss Billy Reid this week told his players to use Saturday’s Scottish Cup clash with Dundee United to prove they’re good enough to stay in the side.

The New Douglas Park gaffer was left fuming at the manner of Tuesday’s meek 2-0 defeat against St Johnstone at McDiarmid Park.

And he’s told all of them to prove they’re good enough to earn a place and stay in the team.

Struggling Accies entertain United in a televised fifth-round clash at New Douglas Park and Reid is looking for a big improvement.

He said: “My players need to forget about Tuesday night but they have to do a lot better.

“They need to earn the right to wear a Hamilton Accies jersey and fight to stay in the team – for the last six years I’ve had guys who have stood up to be counted and I didn’t have that on Tuesday.”

Injuries played a major part inReid’s team selection, as Mark McLaughlin sat it out due to a whiplash injury suffered in Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Kilmarnock while Simon Mensing was ill.

David Elebert broke down during the warm-up, meaning 17-year-old Ziggy Gordon made his debut – and was a stand-out in red and white – while Martin Canning was struggling.

That meant debuts were made by transfer deadline signings Mark Carrington and James Chambers in the starting line-up, while Jon Routledge and Tom Elliott came off the bench.

Billy said: “Ziggy did fine on his debut. He’s a smashing lad, has a fantastic attitude and played well.

“But there were no positives to be taken from that performance – we were inept and soft.

“There were a lot of changes, which I take responsibility for. It’s difficult to bring in so many players at one time and I’m well aware of that, but we didn’t really have a choice.

“The centre-back position is a big problem for us right now – Simon Mensing and Mark McLaughlin were missing on Tuesday, Martin Canning was struggling and David Elebert broke down in the warm-up.

“The last time we were at McDiarmid Park we beat St Johnstone 3-2 to finish seventh in the league and three players from that team played on Tuesday – that tells you where we are.”

On Tuesday Hamilton swooped to bring in midfield duo Carrington (23) and Routledge (21) – who were released by MK Dons and Wigan, respectively – on deals until the end of this season, adding to the earlier signing of ex-Leeds United striker Elliott (20) on Monday.

That took Accies’ January window shopping to six players, adding to the signings of midfield duo Chambers and Aaron Wildig and striker Mickael Antoine-Curier.

However, Reid reiterated: “I’m pleased with the guys I’ve brought in but they’ve all got a point to prove.

“We need to get these guys up to speed. Fitness is a big thing in the SPL and I don’t care what anybody says, I think it’s a lot faster than the English Premier League.”

Reid was frustrated with his side’s performance in Saturday’s 1-1 New Douglas Park draw with 10-man Kilmarnock as well, and reiterated that Accies must improve.

He said: “We take the point but we’ve got to start winning games and it’s not good enough in the final third.

“There are guys who have done better for this club who are making incredible decisions.

“We had so much of the ball but it didn’t matter what I tried, we didn’t see the quality and there were so many things wrong.

“We take our point but if we want to progress in the league we need to be better than that.”