Bottom line is we’re up for a fight
Martin warns Hearts perennial relegation favourites won’t back down in battle to survive the drop
SCOTT MARTIN has no sense of apprehension over what looks like being a stone-cold relegation battle with Hearts at the Fountain of Youth Stadium on Saturday.
Biting and scratching their way to survival has become second nature to Hamilton since their return to the top flight five-and-a-half years ago. As far as midfielder Martin is concerned, it is the Tynecastle outfit who will be the ones feeling the significance of the occasion weighing heavily on their shoulders when hostilities commence.
The only reason Hearts are not bottom of the table is because of the three-goal advantage they enjoy over Accies. That could well change, mind you, following champions Celtic’s visit to Gorgie on Wednesday evening.
Lose that, and the trip to South Lanarkshire will only heighten in importance as new manager Daniel Stendel gets his feet under the table and attempts to prevent the Maroons becoming marooned at the bottom of the Premiership.
‘There is more pressure on Hearts than us,’ said Martin.
‘It is massive for both teams, but I am sure we will be up for the fight. Fighting spirit has been important to Accies in recent seasons.
‘It’s a must win. I know it’s December and it’s early in the season, but, if we can win, it could kickstart our season.
‘We are used to being written off a lot and being the underdogs. That suits us. A lot of people want us to go down, but we will just use that as motivation. We have used it as motivation throughout the season — and the same last year when people were tipping us to go down.
‘We have good players. Why can’t we start looking up?’
To be honest, this defeat to Aberdeen, which took Hamilton’s recent run to 11 games without a win, didn’t offer a heck of a lot to hang on to. Yes, they only lost by a solitary goal, conceded rather cheaply early in the second half when Sam Cosgrove was allowed space at the back post to convert a Niall McGinn cross for his 19th goal of the season.
However, they were dominated completely in the opening 45, with goalkeeper Luke Southwood producing four fine saves from James Wilson, Ryan Hedges, McGinn and Shay Logan, and failed to register an effort on target.
Accies did take Celtic all the way to the 92nd minute just under two weeks ago, though, before going down 2-1 to a stoppage-time Scott Brown goal. Their recent 3-1 home defeat to Rangers saw Mickel Miller squander a golden chance to make it 2-2 midway through the second half when missing an open goal from a couple of yards.
‘I don’t think there is too much we need to change,’ said Martin. ‘Aberdeen are classed as the third-best team in Scotland, but we are not a million miles away from them.
‘It is not as if we are playing terrible. We are either that wee edge off or it comes down to a lack of concentration.
‘The good thing is that we have been in this situation before and we are confident we will turn around. We can’t mope and go into our shell.
‘You hear the other results on the tannoy after games like Saturday’s and it is just another kick when you are down, but we need to be positive.’
Aberdeen boss Derek McInnes likened Cosgrove to former striker Adam Rooney following his matchwinning contribution. Scoring in 1-0 victories became his trademark. McGinn, though, sees differences in their styles and stages of development.
‘The similarity is obviously goals,’ said the Northern Irishman. ‘Rooney was one of the best strikers I’d played with in the six-yard box.
‘He always came up with good moments and was always involved in those 1-0 wins. He was a joy for me and Jonny Hayes to play with. We knew if we got the ball in the right areas, he’d get the goals more often than not.
‘Sam is a bit more physical and is still learning the game, but, over the last year and a half, he’s been excellent. He’s kicked on this season and long may his form continue.’
McGinn, of course, will meet up with former Pittodrie team-mate Hayes at the weekend when the Dons go to Celtic Park eager to make up for a 4-0 home defeat at the hands of Neil
A lot of people want us to go down but we will just use that as motivation
Lennon’s side earlier in the campaign.
McGinn was delighted to see the 32-year-old earn a start at left-back in the Betfred Cup final win over Rangers and would love to come up against him, adding: ‘I’m delighted for Jonny. It’s been frustrating for him at times. He got injured and came back for the cup final and it was pleasing how well he did.
‘It will be nice to come up against him as I’ve not really had that opportunity. It’s a difficult game but we’re coming off the back of a win.
‘We’ll have to take our chances and ride our luck, given how dominant they’ve been at home. The game here was disappointing, so we have to give a better account of ourselves.’
ABERDEEN (4-2-3-1): Lewis 7; Logan 7, Taylor 7, McKenna 7, Leigh 6 (Considine 45); Ojo 6 (Gallagher 46), Ferguson 6; Wilson 7, McGinn 7, Hedges 7 (Campbell 72); Cosgrove 7. Subs not used: Cerny, McLennan, Anderson, Main. Booked: None. HAMILTON (4-5-1): Southwood 8; McGowan 6, Stubbs 6, Hamilton 7, McMann 6; Cunningham 6 (Beck 70), Collar 6, Hunt 6, Martin 6 (Ogkmpoe 81), Miller 6; Oakley 6 (Moyo 81). Subs not used: Fon Williams, Fjortoft, Davies, Mimnaugh. Booked: Stubbs. Man of the match: Luke Southwood. Referee: Willie Collum. Attendance: 12,325.