Hamilton Academical v Alloa Athletic

2 - 1
Full Time

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In a nervy game at New Douglas Park, Hamilton on Saturday, the home side eventually won 2-1 to put them top of the table with just two games to go, there was not much between the teams and in a frantic last ten minutes “The Wasps” had looked the most likely to score, in the end Barry Smith’s side gave everything but could not pick up an equalising goal and now go into another difficult game against Paul Hartley’s promotion seeking Dundee team. No games are easy at this stage of the season but the return of ex manager Paul Hartley to Recreation Park will make the game all the more exciting – The Dundee fans section is all ticket, which can only be purchased from Dens Park, while the home side of the ground is cash at turnstile or by season ticket.


 


barry smith at hamilton

I don’t think there was much between the teams but we made a couple of mistakes for their goals. At the end we looked the more likely to score and credit to my players who put Hamilton Accies under a lot of pressure. I just think a couple of mistakes cost us today, I always ask them to pass the ball but we took a couples of chances which I would probably have asked them not to do, but we did extremely well to get back into the game. The players response after going behind was great, they are a great set of boys who worked very hard, as they do in every game and by the end of the game it was us we looked the more likely of the teams to score and credit to the players for that. It was a nervy finish you could feel it in the stadium and it was credit to the players for going and putting that pressure on Hamilton – as I said I thought the players worked extremely hard but it was the case of a couple of mistakes, and we are disappointed today but I cannot ask more it terms of work rate. We are in a good position in the fact we are four points above Cowdenbeath – but the boys know they will need to work hard to maintain that. Next week will just be another game for Alloa, albeit the return of Paul Hartley with his Dundee side, it is an important game for both sides but it will be treated just as any other game. Next week we need to cut out the errors which cost us today and with that effort and commitment, which the players have shown since I’ve come in will take us through.

Ground

New Douglas Park
New Douglas Park, Cadzow Avenue, Bothwell, South Lanarkshire, Scotland, ML3 0FT, United Kingdom