Hamilton 1 - 0 Kilmarnock: Offiong gives Accies good grounds for optimism

Published on Sunday 30 November 2008 22:43

HAMILTON Academical striker Richard Offiong believes his side can make real progress now they have fully adapted to the rigours of the top flight.

Offiong scored the only goal in Saturday's victory over Kilmarnock that lifted Accies off the foot of the Clydesdale Bank Premier League table.

The Englishman's third strike in as many games secured the hosts' first league victory since 13 September, while Offiong's recent scoring run also comes after the 24-year-old endured an 11-game drought.

He said: "We've definitely turned a corner. We're new to the league, but we've learned a lot and now we can kick on.

"You get punished for mistakes in this league and we needed to eradicate those, but we seem to be getting rid of those silly mistakes that were costing us earlier on this season.

"Apart from that, we've been playing football in the right way and we were never far away even when we weren't picking up results. We still weren't adrift at the bottom, but we're pleased to get off the bottom of the league.

"Hamilton travel to Ibrox to meet Rangers next week, buoyed by finally ending their lengthy wait for a win and by the knowledge they opened the scoring against both halves of the Old Firm on their respective visits to New Douglas Park this term.

Offiong added: "It would have been tough going to Ibrox if we hadn't got a result here; it's always difficult there and nobody expects us to get a result there, but this will give us some confidence.

"We ran Celtic close a couple of weeks ago and managed to score first against them and Rangers here; it shows that we can score against them, but we need to keep them out, which will be difficult as they have some quality players in their side."

Kilmarnock midfielder Willie Gibson admitted the visitors were disappointed to leave Lanarkshire empty-handed after dominating the limited attacking in the first half and then seeing Donovan Simmonds miss a clear chance and Simon Ford have an injury-time effort saved.

The Rugby Park side have won only one of their past seven league games, and Gibson said: "We knew it would be a hard game and we dominated for long periods, so we're disappointed we came away with nothing.

"It was a hard game and Hamilton had a lot of men behind the ball; the manager was quite happy with the way we played but not with the way we conceded the goal cheaply.

"We were on top for long periods and can take positives from that, work on things in training this week and take it from there for our game at home to Aberdeen next week."