MX23RW : Monday, November 18 14:48:06| >> :600:1582199:1582199:
[monks data]
Attendance: 2,553
Hamilton logo
Scottish Premiership | Gameweek 5
May 18, 2019 at 12.30pm UK
 
St Johnstone logo

2-0

Gordon (11'), Davies (57')
FT(HT: 1-0)

Brian Rice: 'We know how to approach make-or-break game'

Rice: 'We know how to approach make-or-break game'
© Reuters
Hamilton know victory over St Johnstone would guarantee another season in the top flight.

Hamilton head coach Brian Rice hopes his commitment to attacking football can help his players approach their decisive Ladbrokes Premiership fixture with vigour.

Accies will secure a sixth consecutive season in the top flight if they match St Mirren's result at Dundee when St Johnstone visit the Hope Stadium on Saturday.

Hamilton are a point ahead of Saints with a far inferior goal difference and Rice believes his players are comfortable with the pressure of going out and chasing the win they might need to avoid a play-off against Inverness or Dundee United.

Rice said: "I think the psychological side of it is not that difficult really, because we know the way we want to play, we know we are not going to sit in and defend and try and sneak a win or sneak a draw.

"Automatically if someone tells you that they want you to get on the front foot, then I think mentally you think, 'Great, let's get going'. That's half the battle, knowing the way you want to play and going out to win.

"And I do a lot of talking with the players, a lot of group chats, sit on the pitch and talk about training and talk about games.

"Then we have to get a wee bit light-hearted with them as well, have a laugh and a joke and try and get a good mix, get them relaxed, get them away from each other sometimes for a few days. Because all season you are sitting next to the same person, hearing the same voice and it can get draining.

"So it's trying to keep them fresh. I think it's a mindset game."

The former St Mirren assistant boss knows it will be impossible to avoid news about the Buddies' score filtering through.

Rice said: "We're trying not to look at the St Mirren result, but it will be very difficult.

"I don't like to know, I like to concentrate on our own game. It's about what we perform and what we do.

"Obviously this Saturday things will be getting through, but it's important we stick to our game plan and don't get affected by what's happening elsewhere.

"They will know if Dundee score, they will know if St Mirren score. But we just need to get on with the game."

ga('create', 'UA-72310761-1', 'auto', {'name': 'pacontentapi'});
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'referrer', location.origin);
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension1', 'By Gavin McCafferty, Press Association Sport');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension2', 'aabc7fb0-6f0e-4dde-b929-29818325c4fb');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension3', 'paservice:sport,paservice:sport:club-news,paservice:sport:football');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension6', 'story');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension7', 'composite');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension8', null);
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension9', 'sport:football');
ga('pacontentapi.send', 'pageview', { 'location': location.href, 'page': (location.pathname + location.search + location.hash), 'title': 'My players know I want them to go for it, says Hamilton boss Rice'});

ID:359466: cacheID:359466:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:4575:No Data Analysis info
Restore Data
Share this article now:
General view of St Mirren Park from 2009
Read Next:
Kearney hails "top notch" players as relegation battle goes to wire
>
Read more about Brian Rice Football
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1FalkirkFalkirk1410222791832
2Livingston148511910929
3Ayr UnitedAyr147432214825
4Partick ThistlePartick14653179823
5Queen's ParkQueen's Park146441615122
6Raith Rovers144371318-515
7Hamilton AcademicalHamilton144371925-615
8Greenock MortonMorton143561119-814
9Dunfermline AthleticDunfermline143381115-412
10AirdrieoniansAirdrieonians141211627-215


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!