Gavin Skelton optimistic about Accies' performances

Feb 24 2011 by Andrew McGilvray, Hamilton Advertiser

GAVIN SKELTON believes Hamilton can take heart from their performance in the narrow defeat to in-form Aberdeen on Tuesday.

The midfielder admits he was disappointed with the result, sealed by Chris Maguire’s first-half penalty, but feels Accies can build on their display and start picking up points – with a little bit of luck.

Ahead of a tough double-header at home to Dundee United on Saturday and relegation rivals Hibs on Tuesday, Skelton said: “I thought we did quite well – we lost to a penalty for the second game in a row.

“We just desperately need a break, for the ball to hit off somebody or to get a lucky deflection.

“I might be a bit biased but I thought we were the better team. We got into good positions but the final pass wasn’t quite there.

“I hope we can take confidence and talk is cheap – we’ve been saying this all season – but we need to turn performances into points.”

Accies had an early chance to test Dons keeper Jamie Langfield when Skelton found Flavio Paixao, who skipped past Zander Diamond before curling the ball over.

Mickael Antoine-Curier then headed over from a Dougie Imrie free-kick before firing wide minutes later.

On the half-hour mark, however, Jim McAlister’s clumsy challenge on Aluko sent Sone Aluko crashing to the turf and Maguire made no mistake from the spot.

ABERDEEN: Langfield, Smith, Diamond, McArdle (Considine, 71), McNamee, Aluko, Milsom, Young (Hartley, 63), Jack, Maguire, Vernon (Magennis, 82). Subs (not used): Howard, Vujadinovic, Paton, Blackman.Booked: Young, McNamee.

HAMILTON: Cerny, McLaughlin (Hasselbaink, 73), Canning, Elebert, Skelton, Imrie, McDonald, Routledge, McAlister, F. Paixao (Elliott, 84), Antoine-Curier. Subs (not used): Murdoch, Graham, Buchanan, Carrington, Casalinuovo. Booked: McLaughlin, Skelton.

Referee: Stephen Finnie. Attendance: 7019.