DOUGIE IMRIE might not be welcomed back at Celtic Park.

A year ago, he scored the only goal of the game as Morton knocked Neil Lennon's side out of the League Cup. On Sunday, he was back at the same venue causing further mischief, part of the Hamilton Academical team that recorded their first competitive win there since 1938.

He did not score this time - Ali Crawford was the hero on this occasion - but the Hamilton forward savoured the moment just the same. "That's two in a row [for me], two 1-0 victories after Morton did the same last season," said Imrie. "But I'd have to say this one is better because it puts us top of the league and we've beaten the champions."

If someone had sat down back in January and scribbled predictions for Hamilton for 2014 that included beating a team 10-2, securing promotion to the SPFL Premiership by defeating Hibernian at Easter Road, going on a 10-game unbeaten run which included a 4-0 derby win away to Motherwell and a victory at Celtic Park, and that the side would top the table after nine games, they would likely have been carted away by men in white coats.

That it has all transpired with a squad comprised of academy graduates aided by a few senior professionals makes it even more spectacular. Alex Neil, the Hamilton player-manager, has delivered something just short of a miracle with a squad many expected to be relegated this term but Imrie insists there is nothing particularly innovative about how they have gone about it.

"There's no secret, it's just hard work," he added. "Everyone gets on with everyone else, we work hard for each other. The manager has his philosophy on how he wants us to play and from Monday to Friday his work on the team and the opposition is second to none.

"It's the best I've seen - of all the clubs I've been at; the detail he goes into regarding the opposition is fantastic. I think that's given us an edge this season. He's brought that from last season and every game this season has got better and better. Other clubs have done it but the detail here is far in excess of anywhere else I've been."

Teams used to travel to Celtic Park and Ibrox and were beaten before they had even walked out of the tunnel. The atmosphere, the occasion, the noise and the strength of the opposition would intimidate all but the boldest and render any pre-match team-talk effectively useless. No more, says Imrie, a statement confirmed by the confidence of Hamilton's play on Sunday. They had to survive spells of sustained Celtic pressure - and were fortunate that their hosts were extraordinarily profligate in front of goal - but they clearly were not cowering in fear of what Ronny Deila's side might do to them.

"Teams no longer fear going to Celtic Park and Ibrox any more," added Imrie. "Teams are going there and are actually having a go. Before teams might have tried to put 11 men behind the ball and if they had got a draw then that would have been viewed as a great result. Now teams are taking the game to them trying to pick up points.

"Teams of the past might have come here and tried to defend but there is no point in doing that. If you do that Celtic will just keep coming at you and eventually they will get their goal. Once that happens then it ends up being attack, attack, attack.

"For us, the most important thing was to get the ball down and to play through them and to show them we had come to play. We did that in spells. Celtic were dominant for large spells of the game but we showed at times what we are capable of and why we have done so well this season.

"We gave Celtic the upmost respect and then we took our game to them. Thankfully, we then got the first goal and held out for the three points."

They did so thanks largely to a defensive unit who have become almost impossible to break down. "That is the last four games where we have kept a clean sheet," added Imrie. "If we can keep the team together without getting injuries then everyone knows their job and the confidence will continue to grow.

"The manager and backroom staff have us sorted and organised down to a tee. If we can keep that solid foundation for the season then we could do well but it all depends if we pick up those little niggling injuries and we are trying to mix and match with players. It has been so far so good and we know we will have a sticky patch but we will be ready for that when it comes along."

They are not getting carried away, however, despite their sparkling start. "That is now nine [league] games played and we are top of the league with 20 points out of 27. For us, the prerogative is still to stay in the league and anything better than that would be a bonus. We will see where this season takes us."