The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Striker says winning ugly fine by him in key clash
Leitch-Smith ready to battle for vital three points in relegation scrap
Dundee have picked up plenty of plaudits for their easy-on-the-eye play this season – now A-Jay Leitch-Smith admits the players are determined to receive recognition for their battling qualities as well.
The Dark Blues face Hamilton at lunchtime at Dens with both sides desperate for a win as they try to ensure their Premiership safety.
The last time Neil McCann’s men faced Accies, at New Douglas Park in January, they secured a dramatic victory courtesy of a last-gasp winner from on-loan Shrewsbury Town striker Leitch-Smith.
His goal sparked wild celebrations both on and off the park, with the 28-yearold admitting it was the best moment of his time in Scotland so far.
Now, he is determined Dundee will display similar never-say-die qualities when they play Martin Canning’s men in front of the Sky Sports cameras today.
He said: “That goal has to be the highlight of my Dundee career so far.
“You can’t really beat scoring a late winner deep into the 98th minute.
“I just felt the goal was going to come in the end and thankfully it did. It is a great memory and you can’t really beat that. You just saw what it meant to everyone as we celebrated, especially after coming back from a goal down.
“We will take another win against Hamilton, however it comes.
“We will be ready to play, ready to fight and hopefully we can do enough to get the three points.
“All that matters at the moment is a win – not how you get it.
“If you have to rough it up, defend for your lives and fight, that’s what you have to do. The most important thing is, get the points to try to pull as far away from that drop zone as you can.”
Hamilton had lost six games on the bounce until their vital victory over struggling Ross County at home last week. And Leitch-Smith knows they will present a physical challenge that has to be matched at Dens.
He said: “They are tough to play against. They like the contact, the physical side of it but we will be ready for them and hopefully we can do what we need to do.”
Dundee could not match Hamilton’s achievement last Saturday, losing 2-1 to Motherwell at Fir Park.
Leitch-Smith started the game on the bench but was called into action in just the fourth minute when fellow striker Sofien Moussa had to go off with a calf injury.
The Tunisian is a big doubt for the Hamilton game and Leitch-Smith insists he is raring to go if he is recalled to the starting line-up.
He added: “It was a bit unexpected, having to come off the bench so soon after kick-off last week, and I was just straight on. So I was a little rusty when I first went on but I got to grips with the game after 10 or 15 minutes.
“It has been a little bit frustrating for me but you just have to keep yourself fit and when your chance comes, you have to be ready to take it.
“The likes of big Moussa have done very well recently, scoring important goals for us. His all-round play has been great as well. But I have been keeping myself ticking over and if you are not in the team, you have to do your own bits and pieces as well after training. So I have
kept myself in good nick and I will be ready again if called upon.”
Striker Rakish Bingham, meanwhile, has revealed Hamilton’s senior citizens have helped keep the dressing room positive amid the battle to avoid the drop.
Last week’s 2-0 win over Ross County was their first victory in eight games and Bingham admits Accies’ experienced players have come to the fore during the difficult spells.
The 24-year-old Londoner said: “The senior lads are the ones you look to when things aren’t going too good.
“Darian MacKinnon, Gary Woods, Dougie Imrie, Xavier Tomas, they are the ones you look towards when things are not going too great; they are the ones that say, ‘keep the heads up’ and ‘keep going, we can see ourselves out of this’ and it helps.
“They have been in this position before and have been in the game a lot longer. The squad is pretty young, we have a lot of young lads, so they share their experiences and lead us in the right direction.
“Everyone wants to be in the top flight. That’s the reason I came here. I presume that’s the reason most people who are at the club right now came here, to prove yourself at the best level. So it is vitally important we stay in the league for everybody associated with the football club.”
Dundee and Accies are five points ahead of Ross County and three ahead of Partick Thistle after the bottom two drew 1-1 at Firhill last night.
Bingham knows the significance of a victory on Tayside. “It gives us a great chance of surviving,” said the former Mansfield and Hartlepool striker. “We are just focused on taking the next game and taking three points. Victory over Dundee would help put us in a much better position than we are now.”
Xavier Tomas and Scott McMann return to the Accies squad. Both defenders were suspended for last week’s 2-0 win over Ross County.
Georgios Sarris is a doubt with an ankle injury and will be assessed, while Alex Gogic (knee) and Darren Jamieson (fractured cheekbone) are sidelined.