Rice: Lacklustre Accies can have no complaints
Hamilton head coach Brian Rice refused to condemn referee Nick Walsh and insisted his side only had themselves to blame for not seeing off Queen’s Park.
League 2 outfit Queen’s Park got the better of their Premiership opponents in their Betfred Cup Group F opener as they triumphed 6-5 in a penalty shoot-out to clinch a bonus point after a disappointing 0-0 draw.
Hamilton thought they’d triumphed in the shoot-out when Owain Fon Williams saved Alfredo Agyman’s penalty in sudden death after misses from Accies Blair Alston and Queen’s Calvin Mcgrory.
But his celebrations were cut short when Walsh ordered a retake and booked the keeper for moving off his line too early.
At the second time of asking, Agyman kept his nerve to score and, when Darian Mackinnon stepped up and had his attempt saved by William Muir, Thomas Block scored to secure a shoot-out win for Queen’s Park.
And Rice insisted Hamilton, who were booed off, got what they deserved after a lacklustre display.
Rice said: “Was the penalty retake harsh? Not really, I think rules are rules. I was too far away to see, but I’m never one to complain about referee’s making decisions. I’ve learned you can’t win, so there is no point in complaining about it.
“If the goalie has broken the rules, he’s broken the rules. I’ve no complaints.
“Booing at any time doesn’t help any team, but I think they were entitled to boo as I thought we were really poor.
“We lacked energy, we lacked sharpness, I thought we looked a bit leggy all over.
“I thought we were further ahead than we are, but that’s set us back a little bit. I just felt we weren’t at it and I’m really disappointed. I expect a lot more. There’s no excuses for it and we’re not going to make excuses. I thought Queen’s Park deserved to win. They had more energy about them.”
Queen’s Park had the best chance of the first half as Salim Kouider-aissa raced through on goal, rounded Fon Williams, but saw his goalbound effort blocked by Brian Easton.
The League 2 outfit were not overawed by their Premiership opponents and looked the more likely to make the breakthrough.
After the interval, Hamilton posed more of a threat, but they could not find a way past Queen’s Park’s stubborn backline. Alston went close with a 25-yard free-kick that he expertly curled towards the top corner, but Muir got a fingertip to it to push it over the crossbar.
Then, deep in injury-time, sub Marios Ogkmpoe headed over from close range.
With neither side able to make the breakthrough both earned a point, but it would be Queen’s who emerged victorious.
Queen’s Park manager Mark Roberts admitted the penalty rule was harsh, but claimed Fon Williams was given a warning.
Roberts said: “Their keeper was warned twice before the referee punished for him. They know the rules, but it’s hard enough to score a penalty as it is without the new rules.
“We had seven new faces starting today and let 19 go over the summer, so there’s been a big change, but we were excellent.”