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Daily Record
Daily Record
Sport
Andy McGilvray

Hamilton boss Brian Rice says players will give their all to reverse form slump

Hamilton Accies boss Brian Rice has assured fans that nothing will be left on the pitch as he tries to get the club out of their nightmare spell.

Rice takes his side to Dundee United on Saturday looking for a first Premiership win since September 12.

And after a disastrous week that saw them ship eight goals to Rangers and crash out of the Betfred Cup, they are desperate to turn the tide.

The New Douglas Park gaffer says a win at Tannadice would give everyone connected to the club a much-needed boost ahead of a heavy month in December.

Rangers rattled in eight goals without reply at Ibrox (Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

And while he says Covid-19, injuries and suspensions have hit Accies hard, Rice insists he doesn’t want to make any excuses.

He said: “I want to assure the fans that the boys will be going out and giving it everything they’ve got.

“We’ll give it everything we’ve got, there won’t be an ounce of sweat left in them.

“Everything will be out there and they will be giving it everything to try and win the game.

“The aim is to go and try to get the three points. That’s the sole aim.

“It would give everybody a lift, everybody connected with Hamilton Accies, and that is our sole aim.”

Since beating Livingston at the Tony Macaroni Arena, Accies have lost to Kilmarnock, Hibs, St Johnstone, Aberdeen and Rangers in the Premiership.

The Betfred Cup campaign was also disastrous as they lost to League Two sides Annan and Stranraer.

Only a narrow victory over Ayr United and a walkover win over Albion Rovers – who couldn’t field a team on Saturday due to Covid-19 – is all they have to show from their appearance in this year’s competition.

Aberdeen also ran riot to win 4-2 at Pittodrie in October (Ross Parker/SNS Group)

Rice refused to drawn on the cup campaign, but isn’t making excuses for their bad run.

He said: “It has been difficult with the Covid situation, we’ve been hit with injuries pretty bad, but you just need to get on with it.

“All the excuses are there if we want to use them but I don’t want to use any excuses – it’s just part and parcel of football. You get these set-backs, so it’s how we bounce back.

“It’s not how you come through it, it’s how you react to it, so I’m looking for a positive reaction from everybody.”

Rice says a win at Tannadice would be the tonic the club needs, but he knows it will be difficult on Tayside.

Accies drew 1-1 with United back in September and Rice expects a similar encounter.

He said: “It would be massive to get the win.

“Any win in the Premiership would be massive, and we’re under no illusions how difficult it will be, going to Dundee United, who have kept four clean sheets out of five games.

Hamilton's last league win came against Livingston on September 12 (Paul Devlin/SNS Group)

“We know it’s going to be a very difficult game, but we go there hoping to get the three points.

“They’ve had a good start to the season, and they’re looking compact.

“We know they’ve got a threat with their front players.

“It was a very open game last time, with chances for both sides.

“They started the game really well, and were on top, but I think in the second half we had a lot more possession and more chances.

“I think it will be an open game, but a difficult game, as is normal.”

Follow Lanarkshire Live Sport on Twitter via @LanLiveSport, like us on  Facebook or find us on  Instagram for the latest sports news, pictures and video.

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