Accies boss Billy Reid admits his side haven’t been good enough this season.

Apr 28 2011 by Andrew McGilvray, Hamilton Advertiser

HAMILTON boss Billy Reid this week admitted his relegation-haunted side simply haven’t been good enough this season.

A 1-1 draw against Aberdeen on Easter Monday means Accies go into the do-or-die clash at St Mirren on May 2 knowing that anything less than a win will see them relegated from the SPL.

After Tomas Cerny had saved a Chris Maguire penalty Accies winger Dougie Imrie capitalised by giving the hosts a precious lead, only for sub Nick Blackman to equalise.

That left the points difference between Hamilton and St Mirren at nine, meaning a draw in Paisley on Monday would send Accies down on goal difference.

Although he won’t concede relegation yet, Reid is realistic enough to know that Hamilton’s fate is almost sealed.

“I’d love to have gone into Monday’s game a bit closer so we could have a right shot at it,” he said, “but it’s up to us now to prove we can go there and take something from the game.

“If we play to our potential, I have no doubt we can take something, and we’ve got to win the game.

“We tried to win against Aberdeen on Monday but you need that wee bit of quality and a bit of luck, and we haven’t had either this season.

“We get into good areas but hit the first man with the ball and lacking that wee bit of quality has let us down this season.

“In terms of what the players give us, I don’t have any complaints because they couldn’t give us any more, but we just don’t have enough quality at times.

“When we get chances and breaks we’re not getting on the end of them – maybe we’re a bit unlucky at times but I think you’ve got to make your own luck and we haven’t managed to do that.

“The amount of times we’ve gone into the lead and not managed to hold onto it just sums up our season.”

On Monday’s result, Reid said: “I have no complaints at all, but we’ve just come up short again.

“We scored a good goal and it’s frustrating to lose such a simple equaliser, but that’s been the story of our season, really.

“I thought we were poor for the first 20 minutes – we weren’t in Aberdeen’s faces and didn’t pass the ball.

“It was up to me to change it, which I did, and I think we got an immediate reaction.”

Reid reserved special praise for defensive rock Mark McLaughlin, who was brought into the starting line up from the stand after midfielder Simon Mensing broke down during the pre-match warm-up.

Despite the fact it was McLaughlin’s first start since March 19, the stopper did well.

Reid said: “We opened right up for the last 30 minutes to go and try to win the game but Aberdeen always looked dangerous, with Chris Maguire a thorn in our side for most of the game.

“There was one moment when Aberdeen were going to score and how Mark got back to clear it I just don’t know.

“He had made a run up the park and chased Maguire all the way back. I knew I would have to get him off the park – Mark had signalled five minutes before that to tell me he had nothing left.

“Mark had run his race but his effort and endeavour to the cause was absolutely brilliant – what a stalwart he has been!”

Monday’s game at New St Mirren Park kicks off at 3pm and will be televised live on ESPN.