Graham welcomes Buddies’ visit as chance for Hamilton to put recent drubbings behind them

Oct 16 2008 by Andrew McGilvray, Hamilton Advertiser

DAVID Graham hopes to get back on the goals trail against St Mirren on Saturday, but will happily miss out if it means Hamilton win.

Graham (25) admits Accies haven’t exactly been free-scoring this season, but hopes they can gun down Saints at New Douglas Park.

He said: “Both teams would have looked at this game at the start of the season and thought it’s one they have to take points from, especially having played Celtic in our last game and Rangers next week.

“St Mirren got a great result against Rangers, but I don’t think they would have expected to get points from that, and instead would have been looking at our game to get something, so it will be two teams going for the win.

“There are no easy games and every team is difficult opposition, but most pundits had ourselves and St Mirren as favourites to go down, so in their eyes at least we’re fighting against each other for points.

“We know what St Mirren are about, we know their players, and we know their strengths.

“It’s a big game, it gives us a chance to put the Celtic performance to bed, and St Mirren are at the bottom with us, so we’re looking forward to it.”

Former Gretna star Graham added: “I’m hoping to get a goal but it doesn’t matter where they come from as long as we’re getting them.

“I wouldn’t say we’ve exactly been high scoring so far but if I score, or if Richard Offiong, James McCarthy, Alex Neil or anybody else gets one that’s great – as long as we’re scoring, that’s the main thing.”

David admits he’s still disappointed with Hamilton’s performance in the 4-0 defeat at Celtic Park a fortnight ago, and hopes they can put that right on Saturday.

He said: “It was disappointing. They played some good stuff but we lost a goal at a bad time after starting quite well.

“When you concede a goal that you could maybe have cut out you lose a bit of heart, and think ‘here we go’.

“That said, we were never expected to take anything from Celtic Park, so it was one of those games for the young boys like myself, who have never played there before.

“The experience of playing in that kind of stadium, in that kind of atmosphere, is under our belts now, and that can only stand us in good stead for the next time we visit a place like that.”

That experience will be used sooner rather than later, as Saturday’s clash against Gus MacPherson’s side is swiftly followed by a home and away double-header against Rangers in the SPL and Co-operative Insurance Cup quarter-final, respectively.

Graham said: “There’s no rest in this league, you’ve got to be on your toes. That’s what you want.

“You want to have runs like that against the big teams.

“You’ve just got to put up with the demands and try your best.”