Teamtalk teamtalk

Rae: Hamilton still SPL favourites

Sun 30 Mar, 03:15 PM


Dundee manager Alex Rae believes Hamilton are stil favourites for promotion to the SPL despite his side narrowing the gap on the leaders.Rae's side beat Clyde 2-0 at Dens Park as Hamilton were being held to a scoreless stalemate by Partick at New Douglas Park.

The two-point swing in Dundee's favour means they now trail Hamilton by four points, with a game in hand and a final-day home match against Accies to come.

Goals from David O'Brien and Scotland Under-21 star Kevin McDonald secured the points for Dundee as struggling Clyde were outclassed.

The First Division title race could go down to the final game, and Rae said: "I don't think us winning and them dropping points puts a lot more pressure on Accies.

"They are still four points ahead. I'd rather be in that situation than four behind."

Dundee should have striker Mickael Antoine-Curier back on duty after suspension for Tuesday's match at Partick, the game in hand which they must capitalise on to up the pressure on Hamilton.

Billy Reid's Hamilton side were unfortunate against Partick, whose goalkeeper Jon Tuffey produced a man-of-the-match display to repeatedly foil the leaders.

Reid said: "I don't think their goalkeeper will have a game like that again in his life."

Stirling Albion's relegation to the Second Division became an almost inevitable prospect after a 2-1 defeat at Livingston left them 11 points behind second-bottom Morton.

Second Division leaders Ross County were made to wait for the chance to secure promotion when their match against second-placed Airdrie was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.

Their lead remains 10 points and Derek Adams' side could clinch the title with a victory over Berwick next Saturday, if Airdrie slip up against Brechin.

Berwick were relegated from the Second Division after drawing 2-2 at home against Peterhead.

Fraser McLaren grabbed a late leveller on his Berwick debut after joining from Gretna. He scored from the spot after being brought down by the scorer of Peterhead's second goal, Bobby Mann, who was sent off.

But Berwick needed a miracle to survive before the game though and a draw was not enough to keep their fast-diminishing hopes alive.

Seventh-placed Ayr, meanwhile, won a fifth successive away game - 2-1 at Alloa.

Third Division champions East Fife came from behind twice to beat lowly Forfar 3-2, but Elgin claimed the most significant result by beating Arbroath 2-1 at Borough Briggs.

The Black and Whites put themselves in a position to challenge Arbroath for the final play-off place thanks to goals from Darren Shallicker and Craig Campbell.

The Red Lichties now stand just two points behind fourth-placed Arbroath, with four rounds of games remaining.

Bottom club East Stirlingshire ended a 12-game winless run by drubbing Albion Rovers 3-0, thanks to goals from defenders Michael Bolochoweckyj, Stephen Oates and Kevin McBride.

Boss Jim McInally believes the players he inherited earlier this month are a better bunch than their league status suggests.

He had no great worries about his strikers failing to get on the scoresheet after Rovers had Willie Martin and Alan Benton sent off.

McInally said: "I don't care who scores them as long as we win. My only disappointment was we didn't go on to make it six or seven.

"With Rovers down to nine men that was the chance to take advantage and for the players to get some payback for all the heavy defeats they have had to suffer."

More Football News from TEAMtalk