Imrie: I won’t get involved in any flare-ups

Dougie Imrie admits tempersmayflareduringhamilton’s Ladbrokes Premiership opener with Hearts today – but this time the veteran midfielder will be keeping his cool.

Since Hearts made their top-flight return in 2015, their showdowns with Accies have regularly been hot-headed affairs.

It started in August 2015 when former Tynecastle defender Callum Paterson was sent off after sparking a brawl with a wild lunge on Hamilton’s Darian Mackinnon.

Six months later the red cards were out again as Accies’ Jesus Garcia Tena and Gorgie defender Igor Rossi both received their marching orders during another bad-tempered clash. And events again boiled over last term when Hearts boss Craig Levein and his No 2 Austin Macphee were sent to the stands following separate stand-offs with referee Bobby Madden and Mackinnon.

Imrie admits in days gone by he would have been right in the thick of the action. But the Accies club captain, who celebrated his 35th birthday yesterday, insists he is now a reformed character.

He said: “For some reason, the last few games against Hearts have been a wee bit manic. I think it just comes down to passion. Teams want to win and that’s all it is.

“Hopefully that doesn’t happen on Saturday, but if it does I won’t be getting involved. Maybe I would have seven or eight years ago, but these days I try to stay out of trouble.

“If the red mist does descend, generally I try to keep a calm head and get everyone out the road.”