Source: Team_Talk
Reid enthused by Accies effort
Hamilton clinched their highest-ever SPL finish with a 3-2 win at St Johnstone, prompting Billy Reid to declare: "What an effort this season."[LNB] Accies boss Reid lavished praise on his players after they overhauled today's opponents on the final day of the campaign to snatch seventh place in the table.[LNB]Having been forced to completely rebuild his squad following last term's first top-flight season for 19 years, Reid is praying he can keep as many of his current crop as possible for next term's SPL assault.[LNB]"I've got to look at my own squad and say what an effort this season," Reid enthused.[LNB]"I would love to keep this squad together, I think we've come a long, long way since the start of the season."[LNB]Reid, who is resigned to losing star midfielder James McArthur, added: "We went into the split and I think we were six points behind St Johnstone and five behind Aberdeen.[LNB]"Our motivation was always to look above us."[LNB]In-form Hamilton, who arrived at McDiarmid Park a point behind their hosts, raced into a 2-0 lead through goals from Mark McLaughlin and the livewire Dougie Imrie.[LNB]Comeback specialists Saints, who had taken something from five of their previous seven games after falling behind, repeated the trick after half-time thanks to Murray Davidson and a Liam Craig penalty.[LNB]But Accies were not to be denied and James Wesolowski snatched the winner with six minutes remaining.[LNB]Reid said: "Even at 2-0, I said to the players at half-time, 'This game's not finished. They'll keep coming at you, coming at you', and that's what they did.[LNB]"All credit to them, they've had a fantastic season. But I think you've seen the spirit of Hamilton Accies as well."[LNB]He added: "As a manager, I want to be organised and I want my players to give me everything.[LNB]"I played that way as a player and I'll back my players to the hilt as long as they give me everything.[LNB]"Everybody in that dressing room gives me 100% - I can't ask for any more."[LNB]Never mind losing their players, Hamilton are in real danger of losing their manager.[LNB]But Reid, who was linked with Sheffield Wednesday at the end of last year, said: "I've not any aspirations to move at the moment; I enjoy working at the football club."[LNB]"You never know what's round the corner but I've got a job to do next season."[LNB]Opposite number Derek McInnes accepts his side had been riding their luck since failing to make the top six.[LNB]"Naturally, we wanted to try to finish on a high because it would've been fitting for the season we had," said McInnes, who will lose the likes of Michael Duberry and Paul Sheerin this summer.[LNB]"There are one or two players finishing up today and it was a last send-off, and we wanted to make it a fitting send-off.[LNB]"We never really saw that determination within the team until the second half.[LNB]"Since we just felt short of the top six - although we'd been undefeated up until today in the last five, six games - we haven't been playing with the same style and the same confidence.[LNB]"But we had shown a determination not to lose games."[LNB]McInnes' frustration got the better of him when he was sent to the stands in stoppage time.[LNB]"All I was doing was trying to retrieve the ball and the fourth official tried to stop me doing that," he said.[LNB]"I reacted, which I shouldn't have, so I apologise for that."[LNB]
