No grounds for County loss

County: Coyle says synthetic surface should be no impediment to victory at Accies

Ross County manager Owen Coyle says Hamilton Accies’ artificial pitch will not be used as an excuse should the Staggies fail to triumph at New Douglas Park today.

Ross County manager Owen Coyle says Hamilton Accies’ artificial pitch will not be used as an excuse should the Staggies fail to triumph at New Douglas Park today.

Hamilton’s surface has been widely criticised by opposing players and managers, however the Lanarkshire have struggled to take advantage with just one home win from nine home games so far this season.

Accies’ pitch is one of only two artificial surface in the Premiership, with County triumphing 2-0 at Kilmarnock in Coyle’s first game in charge in September, and the Staggies boss expects a strong performance from his men.

Coyle said: “We’ve just got to make sure we’re at our best on what people perceive to be a difficult surface.

“We went to Kilmarnock and won on the same type of surface though, and that’s what we need to do.

“We need to learn to replicate that type of performance.

“We’ve shown we can give big performances, but it is important outwith the big performances we get points to go with it.

“The more often you keep delivering performances, you’ll get your points.”

County have squandered the lead in their last two games, with last Saturday’s 2-1 loss against Rangers followed by a 2-2 draw against Kilmarnock on Tuesday.

Coyle is determined not to pass up more chances to get points on board, and he added: “We’ve had opportunities, we felt we should have had something at Ibrox and certainly a win on Tuesday. When we look at that, we’ve taken one point when we probably should have had four.

“That being said, the only way we address that is by going into the next one and make sure we are ready to go and get the points.

“Hamilton made one or two changes for the Celtic game on Wednesday night so they may look to freshen it up for Saturday.”

Winger Michael Gardyne has returned to training after suffering a dead leg against Rangers last weekend however defender Sean Kelly remains highly doubtful after limping off towards the end of the defeat.