Mikey Devlin to make amends for Fir Park loss

Hamilton's Mikey Devlin. Picture: SNS Group

Martin Canning has not won in 13 games since taking over as player/manager from Alex Neil in January, and missed out on a top-six spot in the Scottish Premiership with a frustrating 1-0 defeat at Dundee United in their last outing.

Amid that run came a thrashing at Fir Park on 20 March which Motherwell-born Devlin admits has been the lowest point of the sorry streak.

Accies get the chance for revenge in their first post-split fixture against the Steelmen at New Douglas Park tonight, and the 21-year-old said: “The last time we played them it was an embarrassing day for all of us at the club. That’s when everyone had to go home and have a hard look at themselves and what they were doing. So we will try to put that right on Friday night.

“It was a boot up the backside that everybody needed and maybe opened up their eyes a little bit and we have tried to turn a corner. Obviously we have not managed to win but performances have been better so we will try to take that into the split and make sure we get five good results.”

Devlin felt the four-goal defeat all the more given that Accies knocked Motherwell out of the League Cup earlier in the season before beating them 4-0 and 5-0 in the league.

“We managed to get positive results at the start of the season against Motherwell,” he said. “However, it was the exact opposite at Fir Park. We all know that it was a poor result for everyone associated with the club so we will try to put that right on Friday night. I grew up in Motherwell and a lot of people I know from school and in the area are all Motherwell fans and will all be at the game.

“So it adds a wee bit of spice. You want to show what you can do and prove that you are a good player and you want to win for your club as well.

“If you add the circumstances on top of that, Hamilton haven’t won in 13 games and Motherwell are fighting for their life, it is a massive game.

“We still have a point to prove. We are very disappointed that we missed out on the top six but when you are on a run like we are on, you probably don’t deserve to be in the top six.”

Accies defender Ziggy Gordon is a doubt because of a knee injury. Player/manager Canning serves the second of a two-game ban, while Andy Ryan remains out with a long-term injury.