Accies play it cool to reach safety
BRIAN RICE claimed he felt not a pang of pressure operating in the thrust of a relegation battle. He wasn’t kidding.
The Hamilton head coach confirmed as much as he waved happily to his family in the crowd as the second half of this must-win, final-day showdown kicked off with his team holding a 1-0 lead.
If this was a display of the strength of faith he had invested in his game plan and his players, then none of it was misplaced.
Accies carried themselves with all the confidence Rice implored them to possess when he left St Mirren where he was assistant manager and, amid precious little pomp, was announced as a January replacement for Martin Canning as Hamilton boss,
Wins over St Johnstone, Aberdeen, Hearts and Dundee in addition to four precious points prised from draws against bottom-six rivals had given Accies the opportunity to keep St Mirren at arm’s length on Survival Saturday.
A second, wholly merited success over Tommy Wright’s St Johnstone completed the job thanks to Ziggy Gordon and Steve Davies both scoring their second goals for Hamilton this season.
Davies was signed by Canning two weeks before his dismissal. A goal against St Mirren last month followed by yesterday’s comforting second is business by the ousted boss to be proud of — as others took the plaudits while parading in front of a jubilant home crowd.
Sat among them, Robbie Neilson chose to watch Hamilton as opposed to crossing the road in Dundee to check on St Mirren.
The Dundee United manager might have called his play-off preparation wrong but will hope he was only making an early start on spying on two Ladbrokes Premiership opponents for next season.
Rice had promised front-foot performances on his arrival and, if ever there was a day made for that pledge coming good, this was it.
Accies started with ferocious intent, hell-bent on battering down the visiting defence.
Saints creaked to the direct assault with the might of Davies recalled up top with George Oakley.
A diving header from Aaron McGowan produced a class save from Zander Clark but they could not stem the flood for much longer.
From Tony Andreu’s corner, the ball dropped six yards out to Gordon, who swivelled and scuffed home a finish.
Andreu and Gordon were part of the Alex Neil squad that brought Hamilton back to the top flight, via a play-off with Hibernian in 2014.
They have been on their travels since but returned to great effect, helping extend Hamilton’s stay in the Premiership into a sixth season.
Davies, signed on a free following release from Blackpool in January, was ordered away by referee Steven McLean for treatment on a cut lip but the burly striker left his mark on the contest in more ways than one.
His physique was a wearing, bullying presence on Saints as Hamilton imposed their will from the off.
Accies’ attitude was encapsulated by Darian MacKinnon’s searing solo run from deep that ended with a 20-yard drive that soared just over.
St Johnstone are too honest and hard-working to entirely fade away even when the story of the day is on the other side of the ball.
David Wotherspoon’s drive was booted away by McGowan with Gary Woods beaten and the Accies keeper was grateful Chris Kane didn’t muster more power from eight yards out, allowing him to smother.
But a Hamilton defence without the suspended Alex Gogic was barely tested after that and Wright’s chief challenge for the close season is capturing a goalscorer.
Any danger of an edginess creeping into the home atmosphere washed away with a deadly swing of the right boot of Davies on 57 minutes.
There was criminal defending by Saints on the edge of their penalty box. Jason Kerr and, on his first outing for 17 months, Brian Easton left the clearing duties to each other, allowing Davies time and space to steer a powerful shot low to Clark’s right.
What a way to go out for Davies with his final touch as he was replaced by Marios Ogkmpoe.
And what a send-off for Dougie Imrie. The club skipper was brought on with safety assured to say his emotional farewells and move into retirement on a huge high.
The 35-year-old will assume full control of the Hamilton Under-18s from next season, meaning he could be working closer on a full-time basis with the likes of his fellow substitute Reegan Mimnaugh.
However, Rice may have other plans for the 17-year-old midfielder. Accies fully intend going back to their academy roots under Rice, and Mimnaugh is identified as one from a clutch of homegrown youngsters capable of playing a major role next term in the Premiership.