There was hardly a ten minute spell when our play looked comfortable. At best we managed to set up Humphrey for a run on the wing or send a long ball for Blackman to hold and await reinforcement.
We were unsettled by the energy and aggression of the Hamilton players. Although we worked hard and dominated the second half as time started to disappear we became more anxious and rarely looked like scoring. The move that finished with Gow’s header was our best.
Craig Thomson’s reluctance to produce a card after Cannng’s foul on Blackman remains a mystery. That the Hamilton man stayed on the park after bundling a striker almost on the goal line baffled everyone in the ground and only one man knows why no action, other than the awardof a penalty, was taken.
In stark contrast to the recent rants from some of his managerial colleagues, Craig Brown’s commendable restraint is noteworthy. Despite post match prompting from the press and broadcast media he choose not to give the easy criticism that most expected. Instead, he offered referees in general his support and pointed out that players and managers make more mistakes in a game than the officials. His is an example that others should follow.
After three games at Fir Park we hit the road next Saturday to take on Inverness. A return of Murphy and Lasley would make the trip much more comfortable.