McGovern: Hamilton can improve
Hamilton goalkeeper Michael McGovern believes his team are well-placed to build on last season's impressive return to the Ladbrokes Premiership.
Accies made a stunning start to life back in the top flight, leading the table after a win at Celtic Park in early October, before securing a seventh-placed finish.
They initially struggled following the departure of player/manager Alex Neil in January, who was closely followed by top goalscorers Mickael Antoine-Curier and Tony Andreu, but they took 10 points after the split and have since strengthened.
McGovern, whose team host Partick Thistle, said: "I think we are in a better place. We did actually end the season well, the last five or six games the performances and the results were good.
"After Christmas we had a disappointing run but we finished the season strongly and I think that will stand us in good stead.
"Everybody was writing us off last season before we came up and a lot of people are writing us off again. We are used to that position. We responded well last season and hopefully we do the same again."
Partick Thistle's new full-time skipper Abdul Osman believes his side can achieve a top-six finish if they are able to stop shipping late goals.
There is no more appropriate place to start for the Jags than Hamilton on Saturday after the Lanarkshire side punished Alan Archibald's men three times in the latter stages of matches last season.
"To be honest, top-six should be our main priority," said the 28-year-old midfielder.
"We lost a lot of games or drew them through losing last-minute goals and for instance Hamilton away, when it was 3-3, was very disappointing."
The Ghanaian-born midfielder, who joined Thistle last summer after leaving Crewe, feels "privileged and honoured" to be named captain.
"The gaffer has showed a lot of courage to give me that and I am quite happy," he said.
"I will be a lead-by-example type of person
"I was captain for about 12 games last season, I felt good, the boys helped me out so hopefully I will take that into this season."
Source: PAR
