HAMILTON have made a habit of bouncing back from adversity with admirable resilience.
They may be propping-up the Premiership, but history tells us that is meaningless at this stage of the season with those in the corridors of their home ground - currently known as the Fountain of Youth Stadium – adopting a “bring it on” attitude.
Brian Rice and his squad were clearly hurting in the immediate aftermath of their 1-0 defeat at Aberdeen, courtesy of a Sam Cosgrove strike, but the Hamilton manager’s message this week will centre-on the principal target of beating Hearts at home this coming weekend.
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The Jambos also sit at the bottom of the league table on 12 points, separated from Accies and their position improved only by goal difference.
However, Scott Martin, the industrious Hamilton midfielder, epitomises the spirit Rice will require in the fight for Premiership survival, insisting the pressure on Saturday will sit heavily over Hearts.
“It is a must-win game,” Martin said, “and I know it is only December and early in the season, but if we can win then it could kick-start our season.
“We are used to being written off a lot and being the underdogs. Again we are underdogs and that suits us.
“A lot of people want us to go down, but we will just use that as a motivation to show we can stay up. We have used it as motivation throughout the season and even last year when people were tipping us to go down.
“This season is the same, but if you look at our dressing room we have good players and why can’t we start looking up?
“There is more pressure on Hearts than us. It is massive for both teams but I am sure we will be up for the fight. That fighting spirit has been important to Accies in recent seasons.”
Niall McGinn’s creativity to produce the opening for Cosgrove’s goal, underlined his value to an Aberdeen side still to fire on all cylinders, yet managing to cling to contention for third place behind Celtic and Rangers.
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He conceded the game “wasn’t pretty” but was adamant that, with the pressures and chances he and his team-mates enjoyed, their victory could have been more emphatic.
It was his 300th appearance over two spells at Pittodrie, a place, he accepted, that was a good fit for him.
“Joining Aberdeen got my career back on track,” he said of his signing in 2012 by the then manager Craig Brown.
“The current manager has a lot of faith in me and I’m playing my most enjoyable football. It has also enhanced my international career.”
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