Gillespie hoping for derby joy
Grant Gillespie is aiming to help Hamilton continue their recent Lanarkshire derby dominance - even if it means upsetting his own family.
Gillespie revealed relations with his brother Gary were decidedly frosty after the midfielder helped Accies to a 4-0 win at Fir Park in September - days after his shoot-out penalty had helped knock Motherwell out of the League Cup.
The 23-year-old has spent his entire career at New Douglas Park and made more than 100 appearances but his brother's support for his career stops short of cheering him on against his beloved Motherwell.
The Hamilton player, who hails from New Stevenston near Motherwell, said: "My brother and other family are Motherwell fans. He is going to be sitting in the Motherwell end but hopefully he won't be shouting too much abuse at us.
"When I scored the penalty against them in the cup, he wasn't too happy. He couldn't celebrate. So I don't think he would be too happy if I scored, but I'm not too bothered anyway.
"I don't think I spoke to him for about a week (after the 4-0 game). He didn't take it too well, but it was all in good spirits."
Gillespie has given up trying to convert his brother into a Hamilton fan.
"He says that will never happen so I'm not going to keep trying," he said.
"When he gets the chance he will come over and watch. He was up watching us at Ross County as well a few weeks ago."
Accies have not recorded a higher league placing than Motherwell since 1954 and that season saw them finish bottom of the top flight while their neighbours clinched the Second Division title.
But Alex Neil's men are 16 points ahead of their rivals and victory in the New Douglas Park clash would go a long way to turning the tables on Motherwell this season.
"For the fans it would be a good thing to achieve, especially in our first season back in the top flight," Gillespie said. "If we can do that for our fans, then we have done our job."
Hamilton forward Andy Ryan (groin) and defender Ziggy Gordon (knee) remain on the sidelines. Jesus Garcia Tena returned to the bench on Saturday following a thigh injury.
Motherwell's Stuart Carswell is still struggling with the illness that forced him out of Saturday's victory over Partick Thistle while Steven Hammell, who returned following groin surgery, and Mark O'Brien (head) will both be assessed.
Zaine Francis-Angol, Craig Moore, Iain Vigurs, Paul Lawson and Bob McHugh are set to remain sidelined along with long-term absentee Jack Leitch.
Fit-again Hammell is looking to put a frustrating first half of the campaign behind him and continue Motherwell's revival.
Hammell has missed the vast majority of the season with a groin tear which needed surgery following an aborted comeback in October, and made his second return from the injury in a 1-0 win over Partick Thistle on Saturday.
That win made it six points from two games for new manager Ian Baraclough and Hammell is looking to further banish Motherwell's poor start to the campaign when they take on Hamilton on New Year's Day.
Hammell said: "It's been a frustrating one, picking up the injury in the European game and not being able to shake it off.
"It's something I have not been used to, watching games from the sidelines is not nice, especially when you are not doing well.
"It affects me twice as hard because you want to be out there doing well."
One of the most painful of those experiences was a 4-0 home defeat by Accies in late September.
"There were a few to be honest but that was a really tough one," Hammell said. "That's about as poor as we have been and it makes it even more painful because it's a derby.
"It just shows what they can do when you are not on your game but we are looking to make a massive improvement since then and we go into this game quietly confident."
Source: PA
