Rice backs Anderson to bring Accies net gains

HAMILTON Accies manager Brian Rice is confident that Bruce Anderson will bring goals to the club after agreeing loan deal from Aberdeen on the final day of the transfer window.

Anderson is available to go into the squad for tonight’s bottom of the table clash against Ross County, the proverbial six-pointer given that there is one point separating the teams.

And Rice was delighted to finally get Anderson after trying last summer to get him into the club.

“I tried to get him in the first window but we were too late,” said Rice of the 22-year-old forward. “It took to the last minute but we got him in. I hope he brings us goals.

“I want him to work hard and I am sure if he does that he will be a success. He is ready to be involved against Ross County as he is fit.

This might be the place that Bruce comes in and does well and then you never know what could happen. I would imagine Derek McInnes will take great interest in what he does here.

“But my concern is that he comes in and enjoys his football and I told him that. If you enjoy it then you will get the best out of yourself. He was desperate to come here and he told me he was hungry to play. That’s what I wanted to hear. He isn’t scared of hard work and the good thing is he wanted to come to us.”

It will be an old pals act in the tomorrow night with John Hughes and Rice, the two former colleagues. Rice was assistant to Hughes at Falkirk, Hibs and Inverness before heading to Accies but the weight of the fixture means there will be little joviality between the dugouts.

“I have known John a long time and I owe him everything,” said Rice. “It will be interesting and strange on the touchline but he is fighting for his club and I am for mine.

“We will have a chat after the game but there are three points up for grabs. We have had our arguments over the years, usually on the golf course when he is my partner.

“The years working with him were the best of my life. I can’t speak highly enough of him.”

Meanwhile, Ross County captain Iain Vigurs insists the Ross County squad are in fine fettle. After a 2-1 home defeat by Motherwell on Saturday, the Highland side go in to the match with one win in five.

However, the 32-year-old midfielder and his team-mates remain positive.

The former Motherwell and Inverness player said: “It is becoming the old cliche of every game against teams around you being a six-pointer.

“It was a real sore one [Motherwell] for me personally.

“First half we did not play particularly well but we got the goal and were in a position where we could go and win the game. The second half did not go the way we wanted.

“But we have another game against a team around us and we have to win it.

“I have been at a couple of clubs where it starts to play on the boys when they are not winning games, that hasn’t happened here.”