Hamilton: No need to panic

Nov 13 2008 by David Rinaldi, Paisley Daily Express

Jim Hamilton

ST MIRREN striker Jim Hamilton last night insisted there is no crisis of confidence among the Love Street hitmen – despite the fact the Buddies have failed to find the net in more than 400 minutes of football.

The Paisley side drew another blank in Tuesday night’s 2-0 defeat against Aberdeen at Pittodrie – their fourth successive match without a goal.

It has now been a total of 409 minutes since Saints last hit the back of the net.

Fans have to go all the way back to Billy Mehmet’s header that crept over the line against Hamilton Accies in the middle of October for a St Mirren goal.

Since then, Gus MacPherson’s men have failed to score against Dundee United, Hibernian, Hearts and Aberdeen and have taken just one point from the 12 available in those four SPL games.

And, with Rangers and then Celtic next up for the Paisley men, the task of rediscovering the way to goal will not be easy.

However, experienced striker Hamilton is convinced it won’t be long before the goals start to flow again.

He told Express Sports: “If we were worried about it, then it would be a problem, but the boys are strong characters and will keep going.

“We’ve not created a lot of chances in the last couple of games but it will turn and chances will come.

“It’s not down to confidence or a lack of belief. We have been playing well and controlling games, but we’ve not been getting that goal to get ourselves in front.”

Hamilton reckons Saints deserved to bring something back from Pittodrie on Tuesday night.

“We were all very disappointed because we were well in control and I don’t think Aberdeen had a shot on goal until they scored,” he said.

“We probably had more of the ball and got in better positions, which makes the end result even more disappointing.

“When they scored, we had to go and try to get something from the game, but they then went and got a second.

“We put a lot into the game and we deserved something from it.”

Saints must now regroup ahead of Saturday’s trip to Ibrox but ‘Hammy’ believes they are capable of stunning Rangers for the second time this season after last month’s 1-0 win at Love Street.

The 32-year-old added: “We have to stand up and be counted now.

“We did really well at Parkhead in the first game of the season and we then went on to beat Rangers at Love Street, so that shows the character we’ve got in the team.

“There are big games coming up and they’re the ones you want to play in. We’ll have to show that character again but there’s no point turning up for a game if you don’t think you can win it.”