Rice in Covid-19 warning
Brassed- off Brian Rice bemoaned the latest Covid blow to hit Hamilton, then predicted the worst was still to come with the virus.
Defender Aaron Martin was a late call- off after being informed he needed to self-isolate.
Rice, who had named his team, was forced into a last-gasp rethink as rookie George Stanger came in for his first start of the season.
The manager said: “There really wasn’t a great deal in the game.
“A bit of inexperience cost us at the second goal. Young Jamie Hamilton did something rash which he wouldn’t normally do.
“But we were missing our two main centre-halves from the last two clean sheets. Brian Easton was injured last week and came off then Aaron got caught up in a track- and- trace situation at 11.30am.
“It’s not just us who have problems but we have got it severe. We just can’t get that wee run with the same team and people available.
“Everything was done [on Saturday morning].
“We’d worked out the team, worked out the setplays and when my phone rang at 11.30am and it’s the physio, your heart sinks.
“Aaron is a big player for me. He’s been fantastic for me since he came in.
“Him and Easton have held the back three together. To lose both was a big loss and we saw that at the second goal.”
Asked if he thought the worst of the virus was still to come Rice added: “It’s going to get worse, there’s nothing surer. It affects your team selection and everything at the club.
“That’s why you need numbers and we’re actively trying to get people in.
“I thought I’d signed two players last Friday but the Covid situation changed and they chose to stay in England. It’s frustrating.”