Smith says Accies are desperate to silence their critics after barrage of online abuse
Callum Smith says Hamilton are aiming to hush their social media critics when they take on Dundee United today.
The Accies squad have faced a barrage of flak in recent days after following up their humiliating 8- 0 hammering from Rangers with another mortifying loss to League 2 part- timers Stranraer as they crashed out of the Betfred Cup.
Boss Brian Rice was even confronted by angry supporters after their Ibrox massacre, with the footage shared online.
Striker Smith understands t he f a ns' f r ust r a t i ons but hopes to turn the social media abuse into adulation by firing Accies to victory at Tannadice.
He said: "You've got to expect criticism. The fans are not going to be happy after what we've gone t hrough l ately but the players are not happy either. We know what they're feeling, we know their pain.
We've just got to stick to what we're doing and not get to caught up in the social media side of it, because if we do then the confidence will drain away.
"We just need to stay as positive as we can and I'm sure results will turn.
"I am on social media but I don't post a lot but I do have a quick look at what's being said now and again. I try not to look at the negative comments but you can see why the fans aren't happy. Sometimes if you're getting tagged in messages then they just pop up on your phone. That's hard to avoid but I don't go looking for it.
"We take the criticism on board, we're not hiding away from it. We know it's not been good enough. A lot of the boys will look at Saturday's game as a chance to silence the critics and I would too if I'm getting stick. You want to change the narrative. I'd rather have good stuff written about me rather the bad stuff."
Unit e d, meanwhile, wil l assess the fitness of Lawrence
Shankland ahead of today’s game f ollowing his t ravels with Scotland.
Shankland only played a handful of minutes during the international break and United boss Micky Mellon fears the striker might not be ready to start.
Logan Chal mers ( a nkl e) remains out for United and winger Paul Mcmullan could be given the chance to unlock Accies after looking lively in last week's Betfred Cup tie with St Johnstone.