Accies defender says the better team lost at Stark's Park

Dec 1 2011 by Andrew McGilvray, Hamilton Advertiser

HAMILTON defender Mark McLaughlin was left shaking his head in disbelief after Saturday’s 3-2 defeat against Raith Rovers, and insists the better team lost.

The defender, who turns 36 tomorrow (Friday), bagged his sixth goal of the season with a late consolation strike, but says he’d gladly swap them all if it meant Hamilton were higher up the First Division.

He said: “Six goals for the season is a good return but to be honest it means nothing – I’d rather have three points and not score any goals.

“I thought we were the better side but we’ve come away and lost 3-2, which is disappointing.

“Being the better side usually guarantees you three points, so we need to tighten up defensively as a team – not just the goalkeeper and defenders.

“The goals we conceded as a team were poor. Raith created a lot of problems but to have conceded three goals was very disappointing.

“We need to keep working hard in training, bounce back, and hopefully start getting results.”

Having lost against Raith and Livingston in their last two games, McLaughlin is well aware of the importance of taking three points from Saturday’s visitors Dundee.

He said: “It’s a big game on Saturday. We went up there and beat them 1-0, but if you look back at that game Dundee were by far the better side, so they’ll be looking for revenge.

“We need to bounce back. We’ve lost two on the bounce and we need to make sure it’s not three.”