Hamilton Accies Women boss Gary Doctor wants his side to be able to avoid the play-off when they travel to Dundee United on the final day of the SWPL1 season.
And Doctor has targeted a derby win over Motherwell at Airdrie’s New Broomfield this evening as a point of pride for this season.
Accies sit second-bottom of Group B, five points behind United and in the play-off slot, following Sunday’s 1-1 draw at New Douglas Park, with a Fiona McNicoll own-goal cancelling out Dannielle McGinley’s ninth-minute opener for the visitors.
Following tonight’s game, Accies travel to basement side Glasgow Girls’s Budhill Park for what is simply a must-win game.
Doctor said: “They’re massive games. We’re going into the final five games still sitting five points behind, so we’ve got a bit of work to do.
“All we can do is try to get results, starting tonight, to give ourselves a chance, and see how the other results go.
“Our target is to give ourselves something to play for on that final day away to Dundee United, and potentially be in a position, come that game, to get that place away from the play-off.”
With three defeats against Motherwell this season, Doctor is hoping for a morale-boosting win this evening.
He said: “There’s a point of pride at stake.
“Last time out it was a poor day for us [4-1 defeat in March] but the last time we played against them away from home [2-1 defeat] it was definitely a result we threw away that we had in our hands, were leading, and had big chances to win the game.
“We then lost it at the death to a penalty, so from that point of view we are capable, but we just need to have everything coming together on the day.
“We haven’t been ab;e to do that consistently, and that’s the challenge, the players know that.”
Doctor says Sunday’s result was disappointing, given the chances that Accies created.
He said: “It’s got to be seen as two points dropped, in the circumstances – a win there would have really put us on their tail, and given us a boost.
“Over the last two games the players’ performance levels have been actually pretty good, but we’re just not finishing chances, and that’s why you find yourself where you are in the league table.
“We’re frustrated, because we feel we made enough clear-cut chances to have won, but getting a point gets us something and doesn’t kill us completely, as if we had lost the game.
“The spirits aren’t as low as one might expect, and I think they know they’re capable,, but we need everyone to perform, we can’t afford to carry anyone, and we need everyone to be ready to perform tonight.
“We have five games to try and turn things around, we have to treat this game like a cup final.
“Since the split the players have generally treated it like that, and given everything, and we’ll do the same tonight.”
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