Source: FOOTYMAD
Hamilton Give Falkirk Hope
The games are running out for the sides in the relegation battle and the pressure may be the deciding factor. Only time will tell who can handle it best. Steven Pressley still insists his Falkirk side will not be relegated despite losing yet another game, this time by the narrowest of margins to Hamilton. The 1-0 loss left Falkirk staring relegation in the face but the measured words of Accies boss Billy Reid may give Bairns supporters some hope that all is not lost. Falkirk missed out on the chance to get off the bottom of the table for the first time since February thanks to Marco Paixao's first-half header. However, the Bairns boss praised his players for their efforts after the break and insists they are already set for the crunch game against St Mirren next week. The Buddies are four points clear of Falkirk thanks to a 1-0 win over Kilmarnock on Saturday leaving the the Ayrshire men just one ahead of the Bairns. But while Pressley is hoping to draw Gus MacPherson's side back in to the relegation battle next week, he might also count on being done a turn by Accies who host the Buddies the following Wednesday. Despite being free from the worry of relegation and struggling to cope with injuries to key players, Reid's side battled ferociously in a hectic second half to hold on to their three points. The Hamilton boss insists that is the way his side will approach the rest of the season - which should hearten Pressley and the fearful Falkirk fans. Reid said: "It's not nice being down there and it's going to be a dogfight until the end of the season. But we have a job to do at Hamilton Accies, to look after ourselves. I guaranteed all the teams down at the bottom of the table that this team is not going to give in or lie down. I think we proved that against Falkirk. Tomas Cerny came off last week with a groin strain and he hasn't trained all week. We wanted to get Tomas back for the last three games of the season. I thought it would be a good opportunity for Sean Murdoch, who is an able deputy I may add, and he kept a clean sheet. He proved he is capable of coming in and all credit to him. James McArthur had a slight knock on his knee. He trained on Friday but was feeling it a wee bit. We thought we had the players to contend with his loss and also make sure he is ready for the final three games of the season." Marco Paixao, who scored his sixth goal of the season seconds before twin brother Flavio missed a good chance to make it a unique double, knows Reid will not let Accies cruise to the end of the season. He said: "I don't think anyone will relax. The coach will not allow that, he will say that we have to get to seventh place because we want to finish as high as possible. It was good to get the goal. It was a great cross from Dougie (Imrie) and I just had to get my head on it and when I saw it going in to the top corner it was unbelievable." Editor Ger Harley (ger@scottishfitba net)Admin Team (admin@scottishfitba net)This is ScottishFitba Net
