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We are up against familiar foes this weekend with high-flying Hamilton making the trip to Balmoral Stadium.

Having never previously met Accies in a competitive fixture, this will be the seventh head-to-head in the past fourteen months, and the third already in the current campaign.

We emerged unbeaten against them in the Championship last season, and looked on course for a win in Lanarkshire at the end of the Viaplay Cup group stage, only to concede an equaliser in the fifth minute of stoppage time. The team secured the bonus point in the penalty shootout, but a week later lost on the opening day of the league thanks to an unlucky Josh Kerr own goal.

Hamilton have been unbeaten all season, and are vying with Falkirk for top spot, but we are also on a fine run right now, and manager Paul Hartley is eager to see that continue:

“The squad is in a good place at the moment, and we are playing some decent football.

“We had three draws in a row with Kelty, Edinburgh City and Stirling Albion but there were good signs in those games, we were dangerous going forward, and that positive approach has worked well for us.

“We played really well in the last home game against Annan and should have been even further ahead than the 3-0 lead we had built up, only to get caught out when they scored twice in little over a minute. The important thing was that we saw that one out, and despite the three week lay-off, we took the confidence we had gained into last week’s match in Dumfries.”

“I was delighted with how we played against Queen of the South, that was an excellent away performance, and exactly what we are going to need in what is a demanding league.

“The first half was pretty tight, but I thought we played well without creating too many chances. The boys stepped it up after the break, dominated possession and caused Queens plenty problems, and although the winning goal came late, it was what we deserved for our overall display.”

The manager added some experience to his back line this week with the capture of Michael Doyle, and the right-back, who knows the particular demands of this league well, says he is eager to play his part in the coming months:

“After so long out injured, it was a huge relief getting back out on the pitch again last weekend, especially given that we got the result we wanted.

“You want to do the best you can, you don’t want to be a hinderance and look as if you haven’t played for a long time, but I thought I did quite well, managed myself, and I know that as the weeks go by, I’ll get better and better.”

“I’ve been in this division before, I know what it takes having enjoyed success with both Alloa and Queen’s Park; I seem to be quite good at getting teams up the leagues and I’m hoping to do the same again this year!

“It’s always tight! At the moment, it looks as if Falkirk and Hamilton are running away with it, but if I know anything, it’s that things can change very quickly in this game. Teams can go on runs, they can fall away, and I’ve always said that it’s the last quarter, those nine games, which can really define your season.

“If you can stay within touching distance, then anything can happen. It’s all about how the team plays, how it copes with the pressure, and there are plenty sides which have lost out in the run-in.

“Look at Dumbarton last year. After the start they made they looked odds-on favourites in League Two but ended up losing in the play-offs, as did Queen’s Park who were so close to winning the Championship title, but missed out.

“Hamilton will know that, and they will be aware of how well we’ve been going too. It will be a tough one, but it’s one I’m really looking forward to, and so are the rest of the boys.”

Mitch Megginson is free from suspension and will return to the squad, but Luke Strachan and Josh Kerr will again be missing, although, having resumed training, Josh is expected to be available again within the next couple of weeks.

One or two players are carrying knocks, so a late decision will be taken on them.

Supporters can find ticket information HERE

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