I TRUST MY PLAYERS
Rice reckons Accies can climb out of trouble
New Hamilton Accies head coach Brian Rice says he has faith in his side fighting their way out of relegation trouble – because he trusts them.
Rice says it took one training session for him to come to that conclusion. But he warned that the players need to improve if they are to succeed. The new gaffer took over the hot seat on Thursday which was vacated by Martin Canning – and on Saturday he steered Accies to a 1-1 draw with dropthreat rivals Dundee. After the game at the HOPECBD Stadium, Rice said: “My job is to try and improve these players. I’m a coach, first and foremost, so I have to try and improve these players as much as I can. “I said to them before the game that I wasn’t worried about the result on Saturday and I didn’t mean that in a blasé way about winning the game. It’s because I trust them. After what I saw in one training session I told them I trust them. I saw enough to think that if we can improve – because we need to improve at both ends of the field – we’ve got a chance of being OK.
“I would have liked a bit more time to work with them before the next game against St Johnstone [last night, Wednesday] but it’s not to be and we’ll get the sleeves rolled up again.”
Rice was pleased with the result and performance from Saturday and now wants to build on it.
He said: “That point was massive. It was my first game as a head coach and I didn’t want to lose. If we were to lose I’d have thought, ‘Oh well, at least we did it being positive’. But for the club it’s a massive point.
“It was touch and go until late in the game. We started really well, we were on the front-foot with crosses and shots, looked very lively but didn’t get the goal. Dundee came into it, my goalkeeper Gary Woods had two fantastic saves to keep us in it, then it swayed back and forward. Dundee took the lead, but we didn’t panic.
“We made positive substitutions, we kept playing on the front foot, and I think a goal was deserved. In the end, I think a draw was probably a fair result.”
Rice was pleased for captain Darian Mackinnon getting a goal, and for the new signings George Oakley and David Mcmillan, who made positive starts.
He said: “I’m absolutely delighted for Darian. He’s a better footballer than a lot of people give him credit for, he’s a driving force and the captain. I’m delighted for everybody associated with the club, especially the fans. They stuck with us, I just hope they saw a performance that they’re proud of.
“They saw energy, enthusiasm, positivity and a will to try to win.”