Sean Murdoch reckons next two games will determine Accies' future

Apr 21 2011 by Andrew McGilvray, Hamilton Advertiser

HAMILTON’S next two games will determine their SPL fate, according to stand-in goalkeeper Sean Murdoch.

Murdoch (24) stepped in at the last minute at Easter Road on Sunday to take over from ill Tomas Cerny and played a blinder against Hibs.

A string of top saves, most notably from Francis Dickoh and Derek Riordan, helped relegation-haunted Accies record their first SPL win since October 30, cutting St Mirren’s lead on them to nine points with 15 to play for.

Murdoch knows it’s still a tall order to keep Accies in the top flight, but says their next two games – at home to Aberdeen and away to St Mirren on successive Mondays – will go a long way towards determining which league they’re playing in next season.

Murdoch said: “There have been a few times this season when we’ve let teams get back into games when we’ve been 1-0 or 2-0 up so it was good to hold out for the win.

“It’s especially good for the fans, who haven’t had much to shout about this season.

“It’s good for us too, as it gets the morale up a bit around the club.

“It’s still a big ask – we need to claw back nine points with 15 to play for and St Mirren have a far superior goal-difference to us as well, but we will give everything we’ve got to stay up.

“Our next two games will write the script – if Hibs can do us a favour against Saints on Sunday while we beat Aberdeen on Monday then that’s it down to six points.”

This was an excellent, if somewhat unexpected, win for Hamilton. Perhaps most importantly it’s the kind of game that, even a few weeks ago, they would probably have drawn or lost.

Playing like the pressure had been lifted, for spells in the first half they were streets ahead of their Edinburgh hosts and looked likely to add to their tally, while they defended brilliantly in the second period to establish those slim hopes of avoiding relegation.

And the fact that striker Nigel Hasselbaink received an ovation from the entire 8173 crowd when replaced by Tom Elliot in 81 minutes says all you need to know about his electrifying performance.

Hasselbaink nearly caught the home defence napping as early as the fourth minute when he pounced on a lapse in concentration to race through on goal, but Richie Towell recovered well to clear.

A minute later Hibs nearly scored at the other end when Akpo Sodje rounded Murdoch but was forced wide and couldn’t capitalise.

But in nine minutes Hasselbaink left Dickoh for dead down the left and cut the ball back for James Chambers to gleefully slam the ball into the bottom left corner from eight yards for his first Accies goal.

Accies should have doubled their lead in 17 minutes when Chambers linked well with Dougie Imrie to set up Hasselbaink and the Dutchman whipped a shot past outrushing Mark Brown and the right post.

Murdoch was called into serious action for the first time in 23 minutes when Dickoh met a David Wotherspoon corner with a powerful header, but the Accies keeper threw himself full length to parry before Simon Mensing hacked clear.

Hibs possibly should have levelled on 27 minutes when a great Liam Miller cross seemed perfect for Dickoh, but he headed over when it looked easier to hit the target.

This entertaining game then raged up the other end where Imrie’s corner on the right was headed off the crossbar by luckless Lee Kilday.

But Hamilton stretched their lead in bizarre fashion in 34 minutes when Ali Crawford curled a menacing free-kick in from the left, Sodje inexplicably opted for a downward clearance header and it cannoned off helpless Miller before flying into the back of his own net.

Hibs weren’t out of things and in 39 minutes Derek Riordan took possession almost on the left bye-line before sending an audacious lob over Murdoch, who was relieved to see it land on the roof of the net.

Callum Booth then sent a pinpoint delivery onto the head of Dickoh, who watched in horror as his header crashed off the crossbar.

The ball was played back out to Booth on the left, who whipped in a low cross that was just too far ahead of Riordan.

After a pulsating first 45 minutes in baking heat the second half was never going to live up to that pace or guile, and so it proved.

Hibs went close in 51 minutes when Riordan’s shot was well blocked by Murdoch, with Mensing clearing.

Hasselbaink had the ball in the net in 63 minutes, but Imrie had clearly taken the ball over the bye-line before cutting it back.

The impressive Booth was instrumental as Hibs pulled a goal back in 66 minutes when his simple ball over the top was perfect for Sodje to beat the offside trap, draw Murdoch and slip the ball under him before taking the acclaim.

Hibs were perilously close to levelling 60 seconds later when Mensing inexplicably played the ball across the box into the path of Riordan who attempted to round Murdoch, but the keeper threw himself at the striker’s feet to brilliantly claw the ball out for a corner.

Hamilton could have put the game beyond doubt in 74 minutes when Jim McAlister found Gary McDonald in acres of space, but his glancing header was well wide of the left post with just Brown to beat.

Hibs went close again with 10 minutes left when Miller’s cross was met by Paul Hanlon only to strike the right post, with the ball scrambled clear from Wotherspoon before he could force it over the line.

Booth tried his luck with a long-range effort that cannoned off Mensing’s arm in 89 minutes but there was nothing he could do about it and referee Brian Winter was, therefore, correct to dismiss Hibs’ hopeful claims.

Seconds later another Miller cross was met with a powerful header but Grant Gillespie was well positioned at the right post to head clear.

Hibs threw everything they had at Accies in search of an equaliser but the closest they came was when Miller’s long-range effort took a wicked deflection off Gillespie and crept just past the left post.

Earlier in the season that would probably have hit the back of the net – is Hamilton’s luck changing?

HAMILTON: Murdoch, Kilday, Mensing, Neil, Buchanan, Crawford (Gillespie, 54), McDonald, Chambers (Carrington, 56), Imrie, McAlister, Hasselbaink (Elliot, 81). Subs (not used): Cerny, Graham, Hopkirk, Skelton.

Booked: Imrie.

Referee: Brian Winter.

Attendance: 8173.

Advertiser Man of the Match: Nigel Hasselbaink – showed glimpses of the promise shown early season and tore Hibs’ defence to shreds.