For Accies it is all about getting that tenth spot
PERFORMANCE ReVieW
Two victories in their last three matches have taken Hamilton Accies to one place below where they want to be.
They’re currently sitting second-bottom and in the relegation play-off spot.
Hauling themselves above St Mirren would remove any worries of the drop, and ensure they move on to a seventh consecutive season in the top flight.
Forget pre-season talk of aiming to finish higher up the table. Anything better than survival is a huge bonus for Accies.
A run of 11 games without a win had nerves jangling around the Fountain of Youth stadium.
But history tells us that Accies have an uncanny ability to bounce back when all seems lost.
Manager Brian Rice was coming under severe pressure when his men conjured up wins against Hearts and Motherwell.
The club with the smallest budget in the Premiership is still hanging on in there, and that’s about as much as anyone can ask.
There has been a concerted effort to give youth a chance, and midfielder Lewis Smith looks a real prospect.
Whether or not he turns out to be the next James McCarthy or James McArthur to emerge from Hamilton remains to be seen.
He will, however, prove valuable to the club in the short term if he recaptures the form that was so impressive during the early part of the campaign.
Star man
Sam Stubbs has proved to be a superb signing for Hamilton.
The 21-year-old arrived on loan from Middlesbrough, and slotted seamlessly into central defence.
He looks remarkably similar to his father – former Celtic and Everton centre-back Alan – and plays with an assurance that belies his previous lack of first-team football.
Accies had looked particularly vulnerable at the back during their early Betfred Cup group matches, and it was clear they needed a dominant defender.
Finding one just before the league season kickedoff was a masterstroke by Rice.
It was a smart move to ensure Stubbs stays in Lanarkshire until the end of the season, and Hamilton fans will be keeping everything crossed that he can stay injury-free.
Prospects
There won’t be much business done during the current transfer window at Hamilton, and that means work on the training pitch takes top priority.
Sneaking the odd draw is fine, but Accies really need to win more matches by showing a bit more creativity going forward.
Other than that, it’s very much a case of the players gritting their teeth and showing the critics that Hamilton can again defy the yearly predictions that make them favourites for relegation.
The second half of this season will be a huge test of character for everyone at the club.