Battling Devlin inspires crucial victory
He scores – then keeps Dons out
Hamilton ...................... 1 Aberdeen ...................... 0
Andy Mcgilvray
A rock, a colossus, a titan, a Mark Mclaughlin – however you measure your defenders, Michael Devlin more than matched that on Tuesday night.
The 22-year-old scored a collector’s item at one end and threw himself at everything he could inside his own box to help keep Aberdeen out.
Make no mistake, the Dons battered Accies, but the important point is that the hosts held out for what was an absolutely crucial win and one that lifted them off the foot of the SPFL Premiership table.
After nine minutes, Georgios Sarris was fouled on the right, just inside the Aberdeen half, Danny Redmond swung in an inviting free kick and Devlin popped up at the far post to volley past Joe Lewis.
Devlin said: “There was a bit of luck involved in the goal. I tried to get my foot on it and direct it towards the goal, sometimes you miss the ball, sometimes they go in, and luckily it went in.
“It was massive to win the game, it didn’t really matter how we did it, and to be perfectly honest I don’t think that was a great performance by any stretch of the imagination.
“I don’t think we played great football, I don’t think we passed the ball well and I don’t think we posed enough of a threat, attacking-wise, after we went 1-0 up.
“The most important thing was the three points and we managed to get them.
“In order to stay in this league you have to be capable of winning in all different