Groundhog Day (again) for weary Canning
THERE is a red doubledecker bus parked off to the side of the main stand at New Douglas Park. It seems possible that it will be repositioned in front of goal by the time Hamilton Academical return for the next home match, against Aberdeen towards the end of this month.
The Lanarkshire side spent most of their game against Inverness Caledonian Thistle yesterday convinced that they would record only their second league win of the campaign. The home side scored early but Hamilton conceded an equaliser three minutes into stoppage time.
More than a few members of the home support might have claimed that they had seen it coming. Indeed, it was the seventh time this season that Hamilton have surrendered a lead, and the second occasion within a week after St Johnstone rescued a draw at New Douglas Park last Sunday. Yesterday it was Inverness midfielder Liam Polworth who struck late on, cancelling out an opening goal from Alex D’Acol.
“Yet again we go a goal up, put ourselves in a good position – it’s like Groundhog Day,” said Hamilton manager Martin Canning. “We have got to see games out, it is as simple as that.”
That came as a short rebuke of his players, and at the end of a week during which Canning had spoke buoyantly about his team after Hamilton midfielder Greg Docherty earned his inaugural call-up to the Scotland Under-21 squad. Docherty gave another mature performance yesterday – he was the youngest player to start the match at New Douglas Park – but this new star was still eclipsed by team-mate Ali Crawford.
This may be difficult to imagine given how insubstantial the 25-year-old is, and yet he remains a big player at Hamilton. One wonderful pass behind the Inverness defence midway through the first half allowed Louis Longridge to cross for D’Acol, whose header was saved, while Crawford troubled the visitors again just minutes later when his clipped shot had to be pushed over the crossbar.
Crawford found prominence as his side took the lead after 18 minutes, too. The midfielder flicked the ball at goal after Grant Gillespie lifted a cross into the penalty area and, when goalkeeper Owain Fon Williams blocked with a foot, D’Acol held his ground to hook the rebound into the net.
An early goal was greeted warmly by a home support which has so often been given the chills by results this season. The only league victory delivered by their side so far came in August – at home to Ross County – and fans have also witnessed an ignominious defeat to SPFL Championship side Morton in the Betfred Cup. Hamilton have kept just two clean sheets this season.
In football parlance, Hamilton are a team who can be got at, and Inverness made opportunities to exploit such vulnerabilities. An early cross from Lonsana Doumbouya was tipped over by Hamilton goalkeeper Remi Matthews, with the ball then hooked off the line when Josh Meekings connected with the resulting corner.
Gary Warren later had an overhead kick held by Matthews; and the Hamilton keeper had to rescue the ball after Georgios Sarris sliced a clearance inside his own penalty area.
The home side relented finally in stoppage time. Polworth was allowed to march the ball towards the penalty area and scud a shot past Thomson.
Our spirit got us that goal. A weaker team would have lost,” said Inverness manager Richie Foran.