Altered Accies tougher for Dons

Aberdeen manager Jimmy Calderwood insists Hamilton are a far tougher proposition now that they have tempered their attacking ethos.

The Dons travel to New Douglas Park today and Calderwood is looking for the perfect start to 2009 after a sparkling end to last year.

Hamilton made a bright start to the SPL but have slumped to the foot of the table, having won just twice in the 15 matches since they shocked the Dons with victory at Pittodrie.

Accies enjoyed praise for their positive approach earlier in the season but manager Billy Reid has been forced to tighten up. That brought valuable victories at home to Kilmarnock and fellow strugglers Motherwell.

Dundee United manager Craig Levein criticised Hamilton’s negative tactics after Accies held the Arabs to a draw – labelling their formation as a 3-6-1. But Calderwood has no such objections. He said: “We all want to play total football but the results are the most important thing. Billy Reid is trying to find a happy medium. It is very difficult when you first get promoted and he has a lot of young players.

“If they are losing every week it can affect the confidence. They have gone back to a more solid formation.”

But Calderwood is more concerned about maintaining his side’s charge on third spot in the SPL. Third-placed Dundee United are at Celtic, while Hearts take on Hibs. Calderwood said: “We would be disappointed if they both dropped points and we did not do anything about it.” Injury and illness have hampered preparations for today’s game at Hamilton.

Derek Young, Charlie Mulgrew and Jamie Smith join Bertrand Bossu, Sammy Stewart, Tommy Wright and Stuart Duff on the sidelines.

Scott Severin and defender Andrew Considine are the other major doubts.