Accies lose Easton in bid to beat the drop
HAMILTON head coach Brian Rice admits he is ‘down to the bare bones’ ahead of tomorrow’s crunch relegation clash with Hearts — with captain Brian Easton now set to miss the rest of the season. The veteran defender will be sidelined for up to 12 weeks after dislocating his shoulder in the 3-1 home defeat to Aberdeen on Tuesday night. His absence adds to Accies’ already crippling injury list before they travel to Edinburgh to take on Daniel Stendel’s rock-bottom Tynecastle team. Former Burnley and St Johnstone star Easton will now visit a specialist to determine whether he requires surgery, but Rice does not expect him to feature again during this campaign as the Lanarkshire club strive to preserve their Premiership status. Dogged by injury problems all season, the manager admits it is a hammer blow to lose his on-field leader for an extended period at such a crucial period in the campaign. ‘Brian has dislocated his shoulder, so he will be out for eight to 12 weeks and that is another massive blow for us,’ said Rice. ‘It looks like he could be out for the rest of the season and I am gutted for him. ‘I made him captain and he has been a leader on and off the pitch for us. ‘It wasn’t a bad tackle or anything and I can’t blame Curtis Main for it, it was just an accident. It was the way Brian landed and, sod’s law, it is another experienced player it has happened to. ‘He will see a specialist and then we will see whether he needs an operation or not. Brian will still be involved with the lads as we need to keep his spirits up. ‘He is so disappointed as he has had a lot of injuries in his career. ‘We got him back playing and he was our captain. ‘I was looking at the team who played against Edinburgh City in the Scottish Cup in our first game after the break, we have lost Easton, Markus Fjortoft, Andy Dales, Mickel Miller and George Oakley. That is five first-team players for us. ‘I have never seen anything like
this in my time in football — especially long-term injuries.’ Easton’s injury could not have happened at a worse time with Hamilton facing Hearts, the side immediately below them in the league by just one point, at Tynecastle tomorrow. Rice knows his young side will have to stand up and be counted in Gorgie, albeit they will take belief from their 2-1 home win over Stendel’s side in December. ‘It is a very important game for both teams, it is the bottom two against each other with 12 games to go,’ he added. ‘We know we will play them again before the end of the season but it is always difficult going to Tynecastle with your strongest team, never mind having so many key players missing. I want to take the pressure off my boys. It’s going to be a young team. ‘It’s what I have left through no fault of the boys. because injuries are injuries. Just go and play with a freedom, energy and enthusiasm. And a bit of pride about the jersey they are wearing.’ Hamilton will open a four-point lead over Hearts with a win but Rice does not believe they are the only two sides involved in the relegation battle. St Mirren are three points above Accies while Ross County are three ahead of the Paisley men. ‘There’s at least another two clubs, possibly three,’ added Rice. ‘So I don’t want to get carried away and say that it’s just between us and Hearts.’