IT’S TAKING SHAPE NOW
Rice is digging deep to build strong foundations
Brian Rice says he can see his plans to build a solid team at Hamilton starting to take shape.
The Accies head coach says a foundation is being built piece by piece as he tries to develop a squad that is capable of competing and thriving in the Ladbrokes Premiership.
Rice said he saw signs of that during the 1-0 Betfred Cup defeat at Kilmarnock on Saturday, and said the performances against the Ayrshire side over the last two weeks were a marked improvement from the opening day showing against Ross County in Dingwall.
He said: “It was a good, solid, team performance. It’s easy to pick out the new lads, but I think everybody on Saturday deserves a pat on the back. We’re obviously very disappointed that we didn’t get through to the next round, but as I keep saying to them, it’s little bits at a time for building the foundations, and we’ve started to build that.
“We don’t like losing games and it’s not a habit that we want to get into, but I think the fans can appreciate that it was a solid performance and we did create chances, and the team is taking shape a little bit now. That’s us played Kilmarnock – who are or were the thirdbest team in Scotland last season – two weeks in a row, and we’ve had two clean sheets over 90 minutes, so that’s pleasing.
“The performances are also a long way ahead of what we saw at Dingwall.
“I thought everybody played their part and we tried to win the game. We had a game-plan to try and frustrate Kilmarnock for a spell and then take the game to them, and I think that’s how it panned out.
“We looked dangerous on the counterattack four or five times and had the best chance of the match, but unfortunately it didn’t go in.
“Great credit to Kilmarnock, they took their opportunity when it came, but I was absolutely delighted with the application and the performance.”
Rice says going from Rugby Park straight into a derby at home to Motherwell is the perfect fixture to get his side fired up.
He added: “You don’t need to motivate the players for it. You shouldn’t need to motivate the players for any game, but derby matches are special for everybody.
“I’ve seen Motherwell on numerous occasions this season and they’re a good football team, but it’s our job to get in about them and try to make it as uncomfortable as possible for them.
“It’s another 90 minutes in the Premiership, where there are three points at stake, and that’s the most important thing.”