Falkirk's Hughes happy with point in survival battle at Hamilton

Published on Monday 10 November 2008 08:59

FALKIRK extended their unbeaten run to four games with a hard-fought 1-1 draw against SPL basement club Hamilton Accies at New Douglas Park.

And, despite having indicated beforehand that he had been hoping to take all three points against Billy Reid's men, Bairns boss John Hughes was happy to acknowledge that the result amounted to a point gained in the survival battle, the draw keeping his team two points clear of the Lanarkshire side in the table.

"We've kept the unbeaten run going," said Yogi, who takes his team north to face Inverness Caley Thistle on Wednesday night, "and that's important. A draw was a fair result and I'm looking at it as a point gained as we move into the second quarter of the season. Hamilton were undoubtedly the better team in the first half and it looked at that stage like they wanted it more than we did but we improved in the second half, hit a quick equaliser and could have gone on to win with the chances we created.

"They are a hard side to play against and, bearing in mind we were away from home, a draw isn't too bad."

Accies' teenage sensation James McCarthy, on the verge of a call up to the full Republic of Ireland squad, volleyed home the opener in the 36th minute but Michael Higdon, who came on at half-time for Patrick Cregg headed the equaliser early in the second half.

"I brought on Michael because I felt Steve Lovell needed more support up front," explained Hughes, "and the change seemed to give us the impetus we needed."