Imrie: It was always going to be a big ask against the champions

Captain insists loss to Celtic is no reflection on current form

Dougie Imrie says Hamilton will bounce back from their battering against Celtic – because it has still been a good start to the season.

Friday’s 4-1 defeat at the Superseal was Hamilton’s first in the league since an opening day 2-0 loss up at Aberdeen.

In the intervening period, they’ve beaten Dundee and Hibs and drew with Kilmarnock after being 2-0 down, scoring eight goals and conceding just three.

Alex Gogic added another strike on Friday night while Celtic helped themselves to four – but Imrie says the defeat won’t affect morale at Accies.

Captain Imrie said: “It’s horrible when you’re in that situation – the game was done by half-time.

“We know ourselves that we didn’t compete in the first half, gave them too much space and respect, I think, and when you make one mistake against them they punish you and that’s what they did.

“All four goals were mistakes, it’s not as if they’ve cut us open or somebody has hit a shot from 40 yards into the top corner – it’s individual errors that have cost us.

“We won’t get too downheartened, these aren’t the games we’re expected to win, albeit we would have liked to have put up a better performance.

“We’ll be judged by teams we think will be round about us this season, wherever we may be. We’re disappointed for everyone the – fans, players staff – everyone’s disappointed, but I think we all know Celtic are miles ahead of everyone and they have been for the last season, season and a half.

“We know it will be very difficult for anyone to beat them this season or even get close. But I’m just disappointed with the result.

“In the second half I thought we did OK but the game was probably done by then. Celtic were just cruising through the game and I think we gave them too much of the ball.

“We didn’t keep it long enough to get up the park and have opportunities, although Alex scored a great goal from a corner after a great ball by Ali Crawford.

“Over the piece in the five games we’ve done well. We’ve lost to first and second in the league, came back from 2-0 against Kilmarnock to pick up a point, and we beat Dundee and Hibs in the other two games.

“For me, although Friday night was disappointing, over the first five games of the season we’ve done pretty well.

“We’re disappointed with the defeat but we move on – any team playing against Celtic when they’re in that form will be up against it. “So we can’t judge ourselves on that. We’re disappointed with the performance – but we move on to

Hearts.”