Playerscan’t getanxious aboutgap
Hamilton Accies Women’s boss Robert Watson says his side can’t get anxious about their six-point gap at the bottom of SWPL1, as they prepare to travel to Aberdeen this weekend.
Watson’s women are joint-bottom of the table with Dundee United on 10 points and currently occupy the automatic relegation spot on goal difference from the Terrors, who would face a relegation play-off spot as things stand. After 24 games, Accies are six points from safety and have eight games left to secure SPFL1 survival.
The next opportunity for points comes on Sunday at Balmoral Stadium against a Dons side sitting seventh and all but safe.
And Watson, whose side were idle at the weekend due to the international break, says they will be focusing on the game at hand and not their position in the table.
He said:“if we focus on a six-point gap, we can get anxious about it.
“That is not what it is about. The most important game is the next one.
“We need to put points on the board but there is no sense in panicking about a gap because we can’t control games that other teams are playing.
“It is about us picking up points and seeing where it takes us.
“All of the staff believe the players still have it in them to stay up.
“Two results can change things very quickly. At one point we were seven points behind everyone, but we’ve got ourselves back to an even keel at the bottom.
“We’ve got everyone to play again twice, bar Montrose and Motherwell.
“The fixtures haven’t been kind to us, getting a derby game and then two long trips away to Montrose and Aberdeen. I think it is as tough a start we could have got in terms of the long journeys, but it is what it is.
“What is important is us putting points on the board and performing.”
Accies drew 1-1 with the Dons in December when the sides met at New Douglas Park, where Megan Quinn was sent off in the second half.
On the task facing them this weekend, Watson added:“aberdeen are probably safe so their season is in limbo a bit. They are probably going to finish seventh or eight so their motivation is going to be improving their form, which has been a little bit patchy, but they are a really dangerous team with some talented players.
“There is nothing to be taken for granted but we need to go up there and show how much more it should mean to us, being at the wrong end of the table, and really force that issue.
“We will look to be the team that scores first, hopefully play on the front foot and be the team that comes home with the points.”
Kick-off on Sunday is 4pm.