Accies play well but still fall short against Rangers

Apr 14 2011 by Andrew McGilvray, Hamilton Advertiser

RELEGATION-HAUNTED Hamilton put in one of their best performances in months on Sunday but ultimately lost out to title-chasing Rangers.

Winger Dougie Imrie admitted it was frustrating to leave empty-handed after he was given a chance to put Hamilton ahead from the spot, only to watch in horror as Allan McGregor saved his low effort.

But he reckons that if Accies continue to play like they did they won’t have any problems in bouncing back to the top flight if they are relegated.

He said: “Obviously, it looks as if we’re going to go down this season and there aren’t many games left, but if we can stick the nucleus of the team together and play like we did on Sunday then I’m sure – if we do go down – that we’ll bounce straight back up.

“I thought over the 90 minutes we were the better team. What we’ve been trying to do all season is get the ball down and pass it, and I thought everyone did that.

“For some reason, we haven’t had the breaks – and when we did get one, we missed a penalty, which is frustrating.

“McGregor guessed right and made a good save but I’ve got to hold my hands up and say I should have done better, so I’m disappointed.

“I thought we had other chances in the game where we could have scored and I don’t think Rangers really caused us problems over the 90 minutes, but they scored a good free-kick.

“Tomas Cerny could have been better positioned at the free-kick but, to be fair, Nikica Jelavic has put it into the top corner.”

Hamilton created the first chance in 12 minutes when Imrie raced down the left before whipping in a cross for Gary McDonald, but the midfielder sliced his shot wide.

Sixty seconds later, Jelavic was sent through on goal but Cerny blocked well.

A good run by Imrie took him into the box only to be upended by Steven Davis in 16 minutes, with referee Alan Muir pointing to the spot.

After McGregor twice complained that the ball wasn’t quite placed on the spot, Imrie was finally allowed to step up but the Rangers keeper threw himself to the left to save.

Rangers threatened when Steven Naismith chipped over the Accies defence for Kyle Lafferty to meet the ball on the half-volley but Cerny comfortably saved his shot in 21 minutes.

Accies passed up another good chance in 35 minutes when Ali Crawford darted down the left before picking out McDonald, but his way to goal was blocked by some desperate defending and the chance was lost.

Rangers nearly went ahead in 39 minutes when Lafferty set up Maurice Edu, but his piledriver was punched clear by Cerny.

A clumsy trip on Jelavic by Simon Mensing just before half-time gave the Croatian striker an opportunity to curl a shot over the wall and into the top right corner.

The second half produced few chances of note but sub James Chambers got into a good position only to blast over in 59 minutes before fellow sub Jim McAlister tested McGregor with a stinging shot in 75 minutes.

Jelavic had the ball in the net in 89 minutes following good set-up play by Davis but the striker was correctly judged to be offside.

Accies wrap up their pre-split league programme with a visit to Easter Road to tackle Hibs on Sunday, and Imrie hopes the tide will finally turn.

He said: “Easter Road is always a good place to go and, if we can play like we did on Sunday, then we’ll be in with a great chance of winning it, but we’ve got to take our chances when we get them.”

HAMILTON: Cerny, Buchanan, Elebert (Carrington, 33), Mensing, Gillespie (McAlister, 68), McDonald, Wildig (Chambers, 52), Neil, Crawford, Imrie, Hasselbaink. Subs: Murdoch, Skelton, Graham, Elliot.

Booked: Neil.

RANGERS: McGregor, Weir, Papac, Foster, Whittaker, Wylde (Ness, 46), Edu (Diouf, 70), Davis, Lafferty (Fleck, 80), Naismith, Jelavic. Subs (not used): Alexander, Healy, Kerkar, Hutton.

Booked: Naismith, Edu, Weir.

Referee: Alan Muir.

Attendance: 4526.

Advertiser Man of the Match: Alex Neil – was a touch of class throughout and held Hamilton together on the occasions when Rangers threatened.