Survivors Accies on a high despite their derby doing

May 20 2009 by Andrew Weston, Wishaw Press

Hamilton Accies 0 - 3 Motherwell

ONE of the peculiarities surrounding matches played at this time of year can best be exemplified by Saturday’s rather surreal conclusion.

Shortly before John Sutton had sealed derby-day glory for The Steelmen finishing off a superb move by the visitors four minutes from time, news had begun filtering through that Kevin Kyle had given Kilmarnock the lead at Rugby Park against Inverness Caledonian Thistle.

The significance was not lost on the home fans around the press box, desperately looking for confirmation that Kyle had indeed given Killie the lead; a goal that, if the winner, would secure top-flight status for the Ayrshire club and Hamilton.

It proved to be just that and surely for the first time in the history of this Lanarkshire derby the losing fans and their fellow foes stood as one in applauding both sets of players off the park.

It all added to the feelgood factor reverberating round the whole stadium as Hamilton secured their Premier league status and Motherwell consolidated their position at the top of the bottom six.

The visitors enjoyed more than 60 per cent of possession on Saturday and showed that their trouncing of St Mirren the week before was no fluke.

As Hibernian have proved by denting the title hopes of Rangers and Celtic in consecutive matches, the old adage that a side with all to play for should comfortably overcome a side with little to play for is a false one.

Motherwell’s recent displays away to St Mirren and now Hamilton have produced a brand of football not seen at any other SPL ground in the past fortnight.

In the main, attractive football has given way to wars of attrition but Motherwell have bucked the trend by means of their position of safety in the league.

At the weekend, on-loan Celtic striker Cillian Sheridan put in his most assured performance in a claret and amber jersey since joining Motherwell back in January.

Against Accies he set up goals for David Clarkson and John Sutton and bagged one himself.

It was no surprise when McGhee revealed after the match that he would be keen to retain the Irishman’s services if Gordon Strachan felt it was in Celtic’s interest to farm out the forward again.

This would appear unlikely and for McGhee it must be frustrating seeing strikers Ross McCormack, Chris Porter and almost certainly now Sheridan leave Fir Park.

The Motherwell gaffer is also resigned to losing star midfielder Stephen Hughes under freedom of contract this summer, which possibly explains why he believes his side will be scrapping for their lives next season as finances dictate that they cannot hold on to their best players.

As a player, McGhee was a ferociously competitive individual and there is no doubt he has ambitions in the management business to match.

If he believes he has taken Motherwell as far as he can, then it is unlikely the overtures of another Heart of Midlothian or a club of similar stature north or south of the border would be ignored again this summer.

As Paul Quinn told the Wishaw Press this week, there is a crop of promising youngsters capable of playing first-team football for Motherwell next season. None more so than Shaun Hutchinson who fitted in seamlessly at the heart of The ‘Well defence alongside skipper Stephen Craigan on Saturday.

Another youngster, Scotland Under-21 starlet Jamie Murphy, will need to step up to the plate next season and establish himself as a first-team regular that his undoubted talent demands.

If Jim O’Brien also continues his rapid improvement since the turn of the year and Motherwell hang onto fans’ favourite Maros Klimpl, this would somewhat offset the seemingly inevitable loss of Hughes.

Whether it would be enough to persuade McGhee to remain in charge of the Fir Parkers for a third season remains to be seen.

Hamilton: Cerny, Swailes (Deuchar 54), Canning, McLaughlin, Easton, Mensing, McCarthy, Neil, McArthur (Taylor 77), Lyle, Thomas (McGowan 61).

Subs Not Used: Murdoch, Corcoran, Gibson, Evans.

Booked: McArthur, Neil, McLaughlin.

Motherwell: Graeme Smith, Quinn, Craigan, McLean, Hutchinson, Klimpl, Hughes, O'Brien (Slane 86), Clarkson (Sutton 78), Murphy (McGarry 67), Sheridan.

Subs Not Used: Krysiak, Malcolm, Darren Smith, Meechan.

Booked: Clarkson, Klimpl.

Goals: Clarkson 22, Sheridan 58, Sutton 86.

Attendance: 3,383, Referee: A Muir