Accies right-back McAlister desperate for cup boost

Oct 6 2011 by Andrew McGilvray, Hamilton Advertiser

JIM McAlister reckons Sunday’s Ramsdens Cup semi-final is coming at a good time for Hamilton as they bid to kick-start their season.

And the talented right-back says Saturday’s 1-0 defeat at home to Falkirk might be the boot up the backside that his stuttering side needs.

While the rest of the First Division is on an international break, Accies face Livingston in Sunday’s New Douglas Park clash with a place in the final up for grabs.

And the 25-year-old hopes they grab it with both hands.

He said: “It was drummed into us before the Falkirk game that if we won, we would have gone top of the league, because we knew Morton had lost 5-0 on Friday. It was a fantastic opportunity for us and we had enough of the ball, but didn’t create enough – it has been like that for the last month.

“We haven’t been playing well enough but we’ve been grinding out results, so, hopefully, Saturday’s defeat will be the kick up the backside that we need.

“Our last three home games have been two draws and a defeat, so New Douglas Park has not quite been the fortress that we’d like it to be. Our home form was poor last season as well.

“In this league you have to pick points up at home – that’s massive. We started off well enough here but in the last few games we haven’t been good enough.”

However, this weekend’s cup clash offers Accies a break from league action McAlister is hoping the prospect of reaching a final can inspire his side to bounce back to top form.

The former Morton star said: “The cup game takes the focus away from the league, so hopefully we can pick up a good result.

“It’s a good chance to get to a final and that doesn’t happen very often in your career, so we’ll work hard this week, regroup again, look forward to the game, and hopefully, get to a final.”

ANDY MCGILVRAY