“We expected Hamilton to play in the manner they did. Hamilton came out of the traps quickly and I felt we needed to be a bit more aggressive in that early period. The goal helps them and galvanises their cause a bit.
“I thought we then finished the first half well, created a few chances and in the second period, whilst they broke away a couple of times when we had changed our shape to try and get something from the game, I felt we were far better and dominant and deserve something from our efforts.
“The players deserve credit for doing all they can to try and get something from that game. I thought they gave absolutely everything.
“We made changes to try and get something from the game and left ourselves a bit open but from the amount of territory we had in that second half I am disappointed that we have not managed to score. I am disappointed with one or two things that went against us tonight. Disappointed not to take something from a game which I thought we deserved to.
“I thought the penalty was very soft. Having watched it again I do not believe it is a penalty. I spoke to Willie about it after the game and he has obviously seen it differently which can happen. I felt there was no contact there. For me D’Acol has backed in and fell down and my player has done nothing wrong. I felt it was very harsh for a penalty to be given against us.
“If that is a penalty then I feel that Kenny McLean’s one when he got hauled down was even more a penalty. Sometimes they go for you. The referee sees it differently and he may well view it differently when he sees it again.
“However, we move on. Referee’s can make mistakes as well but the game is done now. I did feel though it helped their cause at the start of the game.
“The games at you quickly on this surface and the way Hamilton play, you have to be ready for it. I think we needed to take a more aggressive stance at times to go and see off that first pass.
“Hamilton condense the midfield, they are very quickly onto second balls, they can swamp teams at times. We had to try and get the ball out wide, we had to try and play with James to bring some quality and calmness to the proceedings. The game was all a bit quick. Hamilton did well in the game and worked extremely hard. But I still think we deserved to take something from the game.
“This was always going to be a tough game. It is a tough game for any team coming here. Hamilton did what we knew they would do but I thought we deserved something from the game. I am not going to get too hung up on it or disappointed. We were looking for our seventh win in a row but as I said pre-match, a slap in the face is always around the corner.
“The only way we will feel better about tonight is by going and getting a win on Saturday. Hopefully we can then go on another unbeaten run.
“A home game against Celtic is always a good game to be involved in. It is a tough game, it is the toughest fixture of the season when you play Celtic but we have beaten them twice at Pittodrie over the past year. Our levels of performance were good then and hopefully they can be good enough on Saturday.”
“A home game against Celtic is always a good game to be involved in. It is a tough game, it is the toughest fixture of the season when you play Celtic but we have beaten them twice at Pittodrie over the past year. Our levels of performance were good then and hopefully they can be good enough on Saturday.”
