HAMILTON ACCIES 0
AYR UNITED 2 Bradley (64), Adeloye (78)
Hamilton Accies’ concerning start to Championship continued yesterday with a 2-0 defeat to Ayr United with Jim Duffy putting himself in prime position to take the Ayr job on a permanent basis.
Accies have just one league win so far this term after their exit from the top flight last term.
They enjoyed the bulk of possession and had ample chances in this encounter but their lack of a clinical edge in front of goal always put them at risk.
Second-half goals from Hibs on-loan teenager Steven Bradley and Toni Adeloye gave Duffy his third successive win since assuming the interim post after the departure of David Hopkin.
Not that he is counting his chickens just yet.
“I have been asked to take the team,” said Duffy.
“It is up to the chairman and the board to decide what they want to do.
“Football is much more enjoyable when you are winning, but nothing is guaranteed.
“I haven’t asked any questions and I don’t expect any great change in the situation.
“I am sure there will be some conversations over the next few days and we will see what happens. I was asked to do a job and I have done it as best I can.”
After an opening period in which Hamilton started well and looked to be in control of the game, Ayr tweaked their tactics in the second period with the changes soon paying dividends.
Bradley netted the opener in the 64th minute after Adeloye and Andy Murdoch combined before the 19-year-old converted from inside the six-yard box.
The sense of deflation was palpable from the Accies players and there was an inevitability about the second.
It came 12 minutes from time when Adeloye collected a clever pass from Bradley and rifled an effort from the edge of the box into the top corner.
“We had so much possession but maybe switched off as the ball over the top caught us out and they hit us on the counter,” lamented Hamilton manager Stuart Taylor.
“We had a bad week at the office last week but we reacted well to that. I thought we showed the hard work, the hunger, the desire, the commitment and the effort.
“It was a good reaction. If we had won that game 2-0 no one would say we didn’t deserve it.”