Hamilton Accies kept within one point of Championship leaders Dundee by defeating Raith Rovers with a last gasp 3-2 win on Tuesday night. They will continue their chase against Cowdenbeath this weekend and New Douglas Park goalkeeper Kevin Cuthbert is hoping that this game results in a win from an ordinary game.
Cuthbert said: “The last time we were at Cowdenbeath in November a gale force wind dictated the game. It kept the ball in our half in the first 45 minutes and then kept Cowdenbeath pinned back in the second.”
“The elements were certainly out that day as the rain was lashing as well, and it felt a lot worse when we were two goals down. Thankfully big Jesus Garcia Tena managed to score a goal from 65 yards to get us back into the game and we ended up winning 4-2.”
The next meeting in January was another high scoring affair with Cuthbert saying: “That was a bizarre game as well as Cowdenbeath played exceptionally well in the first half. They were three ahead at half time and went four goals up a minute into the second half.”
“We got it back to 4-3 and it is the closest I have ever been to being in a team that completed a four goal turnaround.”
Cuthbert added: “Central Park is a tough venue and the pitch is small as you have the race track surrounding it but hopefully we can get on top of them this weekend. I would settle for a quiet 1-0 win for us this time out.”
“They had a good win over Morton in midweek so have to be on our toes against them. They have good strikers but it is really important for us to go there win. We want to keep challenging at the top of the table and pushing for promotion.”
Talk of promotion never took place last summer with the 31-year-old former St. Johnstone, Morton and Ayr United number one started his second year with the Accies last summer. Cuthbert said: “Our approach at the start of the season was one of ‘let’s go out and see where it takes us’. The previous season we knew it would be a year of transition as it was a young squad that was re-grouping and the manager Billy Reid also left.”
“It was a case of just getting through it however we got to grips with things near the end and finished really strongly.”
“We never really talked about being close to the top at the start of the season but we are involved now.”
Cuthbert added: “We got a last minute goal to beat Raith Rovers in midweek to keep our push going. That could turn out to be a really important win especially as Dundee won against Queen of the South at the same time.”
During his career that began back in 1998 Cuthbert has not been involved in a title chase before as he explained: “I have never been promoted but I was relegated with St. Johnstone and then with Ayr via the Play-Offs. I had left the Saints before they had been promoted back to the top flight and I never came near it with Ayr or my other club Morton.”
“Despite never having been promoted I am not getting overly excited about things as that will just lead to problems.”
“At Hamilton we believe in just taking things as they come and seeing what happens. We go and see where we are after the game but if you look too far ahead and you can trip up. Hopefully we will continue being in a good position and you never know what may happen.”
One of Cuthbert’s former sides is at the other end of the table nowadays and the goalkeeper said: “I was back at Morton last weekend and I have a good record against them this season. I usually have a poor record against former sides, in fact I think Morton last season was the first time I had won a game against one. I was also delighted that we got a late winner last weekend in our 4-3 success.”
Cuthbert has his own thoughts on why Hamilton have prospered and the Greenock side struggled as he explained: “I am surprised to see them at the bottom of the table as I thought that after a good season last year they would be one of the teams challenging this time out. However they went for a big squad change and it has not really worked.”
“We kept a much more consistent squad over the summer with a lot of boys having been here for 2 or 3 years before that. That continuity of selection and lack of chopping and changing has helped us whereas Morton have probably suffered from going the other way.”
One player who left Hamilton in recent weeks was 13 year old goalkeeper Joshua Rae who recently played in an under-20 game. He was picked up by Celtic and Cuthbert said: “I have never seen Joshua play but good luck to him. Goalkeepers usually mature when they are a bit older but he seems ahead of schedule. You need a bit of luck to do well in your career as well.”
“I am sure he will do well at Celtic where he will be well coached by Stevie Woods and Colin Meldrum. Hamilton will be sorry to be losing a player of that potential however they will just look to continue developing players.”
Cuthbert is however looking over his shoulder at other goalkeepers at Hamilton as he explained: “Blair Currie has been pushing me since he came in and he got a couple of games earlier this season and did really well. I know he will be wanting more next season and that I will face a real challenge.”
“I have played 60 odd games in a row before having to miss out so I cannot grumble too much. In the early part of my career I missed a lot of football through injury but I have been playing consistently for years now.”
Playing in games means a lot to Cuthbert who added: “I have played in something like 130 games in 3 seasons. I have just missed 3 games through injury in that time so I am delighted to say that my injury problems I had early in my career are behind me and that there are lots of years left in me.”
“I still have targets to achieve in my career and one of them is playing in the top flight of football. You want to look back on your career and see what you have achieved. I also have a target of games that I want to play in and I keep that one to myself. All I will say is that I am glad to be racking games up.”
An ever cautions Cuthbert finished by saying: “There is a lot of football still to be played this season and we are not getting carried away. We will just see where we end up.”
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