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McARTHUR BEATS NERVES IN SPL BOW
Hamilton midfielder James McArthur admitted to apprehension over the step up to the Clydesdale Bank Premier League - but the 20-year-old need not have worried.
Accies manager Billy Reid branded the Scotland Under-21 player's performance "absolutely sensational" after he helped the SPL newcomers to a 3-1 victory over Dundee United at New Douglas Park.
McArthur scored a controversial goal to put Hamilton in front after Tony Stevenson's free-kick had cancelled out an own goal from Mark McLaughlin.
The midfielder diverted McLaughlin's header into the net with his hand as he tried to chest the ball home but United can have no complaints about the result.
David Graham drilled home from 20 yards in the 63rd minute as Hamilton controlled the game until the final 15 minutes when Tomas Cerny repelled some belated pressure from United.
Reid admitted the game could not have gone any better and McArthur was delighted to finally test himself in the top flight.
"I was a wee bit nervous about how we were going to do as a team but as you saw we did well," he said. "We had belief obviously, but we didn't know what we were coming into. We played last year against a few SPL teams and we did okay but it was brilliant to finally get into the campaign. "As I said, we were a wee bit apprehensive but we were keen to enjoy the occasion. We have got a lot of belief and character in our dressing room, as it showed out there. "It was great character coming back. We were very unfortunate to lose the goal but we came back well and got the result we were looking for."
The skilful McArthur showed he could side-step just as well off the park when he conveniently lost his memory over his goal.
"I can't remember anything about it," he joked. "I just remember Marko playing it across and then I went blank. I'm claiming it though, definitely."
United boss Craig Levein praised the First Division champions but could not ignore the fact his team had produced the worst performance of his reign.
"Our goalkeeper had to make three or four saves early on, every single one from a situation that was easily preventable," he said. "It was like we pressed the self-destruct button and it is very, very difficult for me to take any positives out the game. "The goalkeeper (Lukasz Zaluska) maybe, he has made two or three fantastic saves. "I thought (Danny) Swanson made a difference when he came on, particularly the last half hour. Scott Robertson second half did all right and (Francisco) Sandaza made a difference when he came on. "So that's four and two of them were only on for a half so that equals three."
