Martin reckons little lift goes long way for Accies
HAMILTON players could be forgiven for constantly looking at the Premiership table this week, just to delight in the reality that it is Kilmarnock and not them sitting at the bottom. Their goalless draw at Aberdeen may not resemble anything like a panacea as they bid once more to retain their place in Scottish football’s top tier, but they can take heart from the way they achieved their point to lift them above Killie.
There were chances at both ends for goals to be scored, though not many. Yet, from the outset Accies manager Brian Rice adopted a more aggressive approach than was expected for a fixture that rarely delivers victory for the away team.
There was, however, a togetherness about the visitors that underlined their willingness to work for each other. A “Hamiltontype spirit” was how midfielder Scott Martin categorised it.
“Mentally, it has given us all a lift,” he said of moving off the foot of the table. “We aren’t disappointed we didn’t win, but we maybe could have at the end. In the grand scheme of things it was a good point. Now, we need to keep looking upwards.”
The 23-year-old former Celtic youth pointed to a more positive attitude, admitting that in past years, with survival in mind, the shutters were put up in games like the one at Pittodrie.
“We are now trying to have a go,” he said. “I think we put a wee stamp on the game at Pittodrie. Since I have been here we have been fighting relegation every season. We need to use that experience. For other teams who haven’t been there it is maybe a bit of a shock. If we keep playing like that our performances will bring us wins.”
WHEN St Johnstone took the lead against Hibs in the 16th minute in Perth on Saturday, it was a rare moment of quality. Within moments of kick-off, it became apparent that it would be a long 90 minutes for romantics of the beautiful game.
The visitors tried to lob the ball over makeshift wing-back Michael O’Halloran at every opportunity they got, sending Martin Boyle scurrying after it with mixed results.
For their part, Saints would funnel the ball out wide, look to get crosses in the box where possible and were not exactly shy of shelling it either.
But there was only one occasion where they seriously threatened Ofir Marciano’s goal – and it proved to be fruitful.
Callum Booth’s looping delivery from the left was almost met by Ali McCann at the back post, only for
Hibs left-back Josh Doig to intervene and throw himself in the way. The immediate threat was repelled but the teenager’s mis-cued clearance fell kindly to the feet of Liam Craig at the edge of the area.
He had enough space to take a touch to steady himself before curling a delightful shot past Marciano, and it was enough as his side ran out 1-0 winners.
A late aerial bombardment from the Easter Road side provided a stern examination of the hosts’ defensive capabilities but they passed with flying marks.
With Aberdeen also coming up short against Accies – Derek McInnes’ men were held to a goalless draw at Pittodrie – Hibs’ slip-up should not prove too costly in the grand scheme of things in the race for third. But according to Hibs defender Paul McGinn, there was another obstacle at play at McDiarmid Park that proved too great a hurdle.
“Given the pitch, I think the first goal was always going to be vital,” he said. “I thought it was pretty sloppy from us but I think that was St Johnstone’s only chance. As soon as they got ahead they realised the conditions and thought, ‘right, we’ll sit in’.
“I thought we had enough in the second half but it didn’t really fall for us. We just have to take it on the chin. Thankfully, Aberdeen didn’t really take advantage.
“We’d won four in a row and then we’ve had two bad results. But what we’re dealing with out there just isn’t conducive to any sort of football. It’s pretty disgusting to be honest. It just bounces the whole game – I can’t imagine anyone enjoyed watching that.
“But look, what are we going to do? We live in Scotland. We work to have the best pitches we can, given the budgets. I felt once [centre-forward Christian] Doidge came on and we decided to go, ‘right, let’s launch it’, we were a bit better. It’s not really what we are, but you need to play the hand your given.
“I think if you watch the second half back – even St Johnstone were just hitting it anywhere. I can’t really blame them. It got them the result and it’s been a great week for them.
“Maybe we adapted a bit late but they only had one chance. There wasn’t a lot in it first half and I thought it was all us in the second half, so I can’t really be too harsh on us.”
McGinn does not know why the pitch was in such a state of disrepair, but the 30-yearold was keen to point out that the surface was not entirely to blame.
He added: “I don’t want to make this just all about the pitch! I don’t think I’d have mentioned it if we won, so…”
I can’t imagine anyone enjoyed watching that
STEVEN GERRARD Rangers manager
“It is very difficult to put into words right now. I’m on a real, emotional high and it has been a journey that is not finished.
“There is more to come and the next thing for me, when you win, it is always about what is next, and I am so proud of the players first and foremost – they are the most important people inside the club.
“But they are not as important as the supporters – they are what makes this club and it is for them and we have been down at times, really low at times, but this is an incredible high.
“It has been an incredible journey we have been on and we deserve it. I would just like to thank the board for the support they have given me – each and every one of them – and everyone who has given me the backing to go and do the job I needed to do and everyone connected to the club who is here now deserve to enjoy this.
“And even the people that have been here and represented it that aren’t here anymore, people that have been and gone deserve to enjoy the part that they have played. This has been a team effort and a collective effort – it is a monumental achievement and I am just so proud to be the manager of that.
“I couldn’t have done it without everyone who has given me that support so I’d like to thank everyone.
“We are in March and I need them to keep delivering until the end of the season.
“We need to enjoy this and get ourselves ready for the next challenge. Glasgow Rangers is about winning and we all live under that pressure, and that responsibility, but it is about what is next and it is about me getting these players ready for what is next.
“I want to get into the last eight of the Europa League and that is the next challenge and the focus is very much on that.”
GARY McALLISTER
Assistant manager
“The emotions are racing around my head here. It has been unbelievable.
“I think for the long suffering fans, from where the club was and where it is now.
“We came from a long way back and to be crowned champions for the 55th time is very special.”
JAMES TAVERNIER
Club captain
“I’ve experienced such a roller coaster since I first came here.
“To do it this year, with everything surrounding this season, it’s monumental to not just the boys that have contributed, to the fans as well.
“Because they’ve been with us from day one. As for them and everyone who’s been involved, this is a terrific day for the club.
“And I hope everyone just enjoys it and soaks it in.”
DOUGLAS PARK
Chairman
“Absolutely unbelievable. We’ve achieved 55, we’ve won the league.
“I couldn’t be more happy for the club, the supporters and everyone.
“It’s been a hard, hard road getting there, but we’ve got there and obviously we want this to be the start of many.
“Steven Gerrard has done a magnificent job.
“He’s brought standards back to the club – standards inside the club, standards outside the club.
“Every thanks I’ve got goes to him for the job he’s done, and the players.”
STEWART ROBERTSON
Managing director
“The ups and downs we’ve endured over the last six years have been something else.
“We always had a plan, we always knew where we wanted to get and how we thought we could get there.
“A few twists and turns but days like today make it all worthwhile.
“You can see the progress we’ve made. The key thing now is not to stop, we need to keep progressing.
“Actually this is just a staging post for pushing on further.”
CONNOR GOLDSON Centre-half
“Emotional, happy, I don’t really know what to say.
“Since I’ve been here it has been three years of hard work and to this point it is probably the best time of my career.
“The new boys who are here don’t understand the pain that we have been through over the past three years, James Tavernier the past four or five years.
“It has been painful, cups, leagues everything. It has been horrible.
“The focus for this season we called it the last dance and it has lived up to it.
“I would like nothing more than to be at Ibrox with all our fans out celebrating with them.”
JOE ARIBO
Midfielder
“It is an amazing feeling. The boys are buzzing and it still doesn’t actually feel real.
“It feels crazy. I am just ecstatic that we were able to do it.
“My aim was to come here and win trophies, titles and that is what we’ve done.
“I’ve achieved what I wanted to achieve but there’s obviously more to come.”
GLEN KAMARA
Midfielder
“It is a surreal moment. I don’t even know how to feel right now. We are all excited and we are all buzzing.
“Hopefully there will be many more to come. We are all looking forward to the Champions League.
“Everyone is just trying to live the moment right now. We will just enjoy the day and go from there.”
Alfredo Morelos Striker
“I am very happy today for the team.
“It is good for the fans, for me, for the team, for the manager I am very happy. I am enjoying today.”
Steven Gerrard dismisses exit talks
May 7 2020
“If people think I am going to leave Rangers in the near future because it is my decision, and I don’t want to be there, then that opinion is wrong.
“In terms of me being proud and happy to be the manager, and wanting to move the club forward and improve it, then I am all in. It was always going to be a job where I had to learn on the go.
“Now, I never for one moment thought I was going to get everything right and everything was going to be positive. I knew the team and squad situation when I took over. I knew the pressure and the demands of the fans.”
Gerrard hails the board
“In terms of the club, the board has been fantastic during lockdown. The backing of our supporters has been fantastic – we’ve sold close to 35,000 season tickets, which is unreal.
“So things are okay from a Rangers point of view, I think we’re in a good place. We’re in a position to strike (in the transfer window) but might have to be patient because of what’s happening at other clubs and in other leagues.”
Alfredo Morelos transfer talks July 31 2020
“I think this will work itself out if there is a bid that’s big enough, that the board want to accept, we’ll make that decision when it comes,” Gerrard said. “At the moment we’re nowhere near that so Alfredo is still a Rangers player.”
Opening-day win at Aberdeen August 1 2020
“When the fixtures came out, everyone was saying: ‘Oh, it’s Aberdeen away, will they drop points?’,” said Gerrard. “There were questions on us today so we’ll go away pleased at picking up three points and getting a clean sheet. But no one will get carried away.
“Aberdeen ran us all the way to the end and we’ll dust ourselves down for Europe. We have to build on this now.
“I wanted us to kill the game off and take the points away from Aberdeen. I’m pleased, it’s a big win, a good start and we’re up and running.”
Gerrard admits Morelos has had head turned
August 6 2020
“Everyone knows he’s had his head turned. If a bid comes that the board like, and if the player tells me face-toface he wants to go, we’ll see what happens.”
Rangers reject Ryan Kent bid from Leeds
August 21 2020
“Ryan [Kent] is a player we admire very much here and we have seen him develop,” said Gerrard. “He is progressing very quickly and is a player we want to keep hold off. We very quickly rejected an opening bid that was nowhere near his valuation.”
First Old Firm victory
October 18 2020
“Celtic threw everything at us today,” Gerrard said. “You talk about people being missing, but we had Kemar