Templeton vows to help youngsters find voice
McKenna has Jags chance
DAVID TEMPLETON admits he would like to hear a lot more from his Hamilton team-mates. The 31-year-old returned to Accies from Burton for a second spell at the start of the year and now finds himself, along with 32-year-old injured club captain Brian Easton, one of the veterans of the side which has started the season with three straight defeats.
Ahead of the Lanarkshire derby against Motherwell at Fir Park today, the former Hearts and Rangers winger was asked if Hamilton as a team were as vocal as he would like them to be.
Templeton said: “No, it is something I’m trying get across in training. Because it is quite a young squad, I think some boys are maybe quite shy.
“I try to tell them to demand the ball more, make sure they are speaking and letting their team-mates know that they are on [to take a pass], or maybe if it is me giving the ball away, not to be scared to have a go at me.
“We just need everyone to be at it and speaking to each other. It is massively important.
“You need it in every aspect: organisation, on the ball, off the ball, it is something that you need to do coming into the professional game and it is something we are trying to get across to the kids here.”
Templeton believes a win against Motherwell could bolster confidence in the Hamilton dressing room.
He said: “It is still early in the season so it is not the be all and end all but you do want to get points as soon as possible, you don’t want to be down to the last few games and fighting relegation.
“You want to get safe as soon as possible and especially with a young squad, if you are losing games constantly confidence can take a hit.
“We need to pick up points sooner rather than later so we can try and build that confidence. Any derby has an edge – it’s always a bit more hectic and in your face – but while I have been here we have always done quite well in them so I am hoping Saturday will be the same.”
Meanwhile, Motherwell manager Stephen Robinson is reading nothing into Hamilton’s wretched start to the season ahead of today’s clash.
Brian Rice’s side have started the Premiership campaign with three straight defeats and sit bottom of the table ahead of their trip to Fir Park. Well, with two defeats and two draws so far, are looking for their first three points but Robinson knows they will have to work hard to get them against their neighbours.
He said: “We’ve had scouts at every game and they’ve been unlucky, they’ve been unfortunate.
“We won’t underestimate Brian or his team in any shape or form. We will have to be at our best to win the game.
“It is going to be a tough game. Any time you play Hamilton, nothing is easy. They don’t give you anything.”
CIARAN McKenna hopes to follow in the footsteps of Michael Rose and Daniel Harvie after leaving Hamilton to join Partick Thistle.
The 22-year-old was allowed to seek a new club after finding himself frozen out at Accies following the return of football earlier this month.
The defender was a second-half substitute in the 5-1 defeat at Parkhead on the opening weekend of the season. But that proved to be his only first-team outing since the 5-0 loss to Rangers in October last year and he decided a fresh start was needed. He told Jagzone: “The gaffer [McCall] being here was a big attraction and [I admire] the work he did with Ayr United, taking them up from League One and doing brilliantly in the Championship.
“He’s worked with players who are similar to my profile – Michael Rose, Daniel Harvie – who got a lot of games under them and moved on.”