Brian Rice insists Hamilton Accies will be just as disappointed as Celtic to play in an empty stadium on Sunday – because a full-house at Parkhead would have given his players a boost as well.
The Lanarkshire outfit head to Celtic Park on Sunday in the midst of society trying to get to grips with the ‘new normal’ enforced by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Face coverings, social distancing and hand sanitiser have become a part of daily life and for Scottish football to make a safe return, current restrictions mean no supporters inside stadiums for the next few months.
Gone will be the cauldron of noise and anticipation that normally greets the players when they step out at Celtic Park in front of 60,000 fans.
A carnival atmosphere would have been expected with Neil Lennon’s side celebrating nine-in-a-row and embarking on their bid for an historic tenth consecutive title.
Instead, there will be an eerie atmosphere in the East End of Glasgow when the whistle blows to kick-off the new season.
And while some will argue it could hamper the hosts as they unfurl the league flag, Rice believes his players will feel the effects as well.
He said: “I think it works both ways.
“It can help us in the sense that if Celtic are having an off-day, the fans would normally get behind them and rouse the team.
“But I also feel for my players as well because we want to play at the big venues and we want to play in front of crowds.
“It lifts my players as well.
“People think when you go to Parkhead and Ibrox it is intimidating, but it’s the opposite.
“It lifts you and it inspires you, so we’ll miss it as well.
“It was looking at one stage like we might not play football for a very long time, so I’m just glad we are back and we can play again.
“I know there’s no fans in, which is really disappointing for us, but more so for the supporters because football is all about the fans.
“Football has got to start some place and we need to see how we progress from here.”
It’s been almost six years since Hamilton last tasted success against Celtic.
In 2014 Ali Crawford silenced the home support with the only goal in a 1-0 win that actually sent Accies top of the table after nine games.
They haven’t fared well at Parkhead since, but last season they came close in a narrow 2-1 defeat, losing out to Scott Brown’s 92nd minute winner just seconds after an injury time equaliser from Marios Ogmkpoe.
Results towards the end of last season, including a shock 1-0 win on the other side of Glasgow when they beat Rangers, showed Accies can cause any team in Scotland problems on their day.
They face a daunting start to the season with trips to Celtic, Motherwell and Aberdeen, as well as a visit from Rangers, all coming up this month.
But Rice insists his players won’t be short on confidence.
“I’m a great believer that when you play the so-called bigger teams, it’s your mindset and the belief you have in your own self that matters,” he said.
“Too many times I’ve been there myself as a player when I’m beaten on the Friday night, lying in my bed thinking about the game. Or I was beat in the tunnel looking at a player across from me wearing a Celtic or a Rangers strip.
“But I’m getting players past that. I’m saying we are there on merit and we go and do what we do. We just do the best we can.
“As long as we are organised and we stick to our game plan, then you’ve got half a chance, as we showed last season.
“We’ve been given a very tough start. Out of the first six games, we’ve been given four of the top six last season, so it’s going to be a real test for us.
“But it’s always a real test for Hamilton because nobody – except from myself, the players and the supporters – expects Hamilton to win games.
“We are under no illusions how difficult it is going to be, but it won’t be through a lack of effort if we don’t achieve what we want to achieve. Players will run through a brick wall for the club and there’s good players in here. People tend to forget that.
“I’m hoping they can flourish and we can surprise a lot of teams.”
It’s been a tough summer in more ways than one for Hamilton with key players Alex Gogic and Aaron McGowan moving to pastures new and Accies hunting for replacements.
Midfielders Ross Callachan and Charlie Trafford have come in alongside strikers Callum Smith and Tunde Owolabi, while Accies also hope to sign trialists Justin Johnson and Hakeem Odoffin.
“The players we’ve brought have done really well in the games we’ve had and I’m delighted with them,” said Rice.
“I would have liked to keep one or two that we didn’t hold on to, but Covid has affected every business financially and we are no different. I’m just grateful that the club allowed us to bring players in.
“The most important thing is we’ve still got Hamilton Accies.”
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