We shot burnout claims down in flames
HAMILTON v DUNDEE Neil hits back at derby sniper DEE KEY TO SURVIVAL
MASSIMO DONATI insists winning their battles against fellow basement sides is key to Accies surviving in the top flight.
Hamilton lost twice to Aberdeen in quick succession in the league and Betfred Cup but Donati knows the Dons are on a different level.
Aberdeen finished second in all three domestic competitions last season but today’s opponents Dundee finished just two points and a place above them.
And Donati said: “Our target is to stay in the Premiership and we will have to battle teams such as Dundee to do that.
“Dundee are in a good moment because when you win a derby you feel NEIL McCANN has hit back at pundit Chris Sutton and insisted there was no chance of his team running out of gas in the midweek Tayside derby because they’re as fit as any team in the league. BT Sport analyst Sutton claimed the Dark Blues risked burnout because of their whirlwind start in front of the live cameras at Dens Park. Dundee won the Betfred Cup clash thanks to Paul McGowan’s second-half winner. And McCann, who takes his troops to Hamilton today in search of their first Premiership win, said: “I had a talk with them before they went out to get them fired up. “But they knew the importance of the game as well which gave us a bit of extra edge. It’s funny because a certain pundit on television was thinking we’d burn out at half-time because of the intensity of our play.
“I didn’t hear it at the time so it didn’t bother me. Afterwards I just laughed.
“Whether he had a change of opinion, I don’t know. But everyone I’ve spoken to and every comment I’ve heard has been about the workrate of the players, saying it was brilliant.
“We train at such a high intensity all week and it’s all timed so we can sustain it. We just kept going. Every manager would probably back their side but I do think we’re really fit.”
Faissal El Bakhtaoui, who hit a stunning opener in the derby, is undergoing a new gym regime to ensure he’s equipped to cope with the Scottish top flight.
The former Dunfermline striker, 24, said: “I go to the gym every day after training with Sofien Moussa, Glen Kamara and Roarie Deacon.
“I don’t feel bigger physically but I do feel stronger. It makes a big impact for me in the games.” good but we are in good spirits too. We know in this game we have to win our battles and have to try to win it because it’s very important.”
Ex-Celtic midfielder Donati, 36, came off the bench in both games against Aberdeen but added: “It’s not important how long you play, it’s about the quality you put into the game.
“The team comes first. If I play five minutes or 90 then I always try to show my best on the pitch.” TODAY, 3PM SUPERSEAL STADIUM
GAVIN BERRY