Hamilton Accies captain admits play-offs may now be best shot at Championship spot

Dylan McGowan says promotion is still Hamilton’s aim, even if they need to do it via the play-offs.

Accies captain McGowan conceded his side have given themselves a mountain to climb after back-to-back defeats to Annan and Falkirk saw the Bairns stretch their lead at the top to 11 points – with a game in hand looming at home to Montrose on Tuesday.

Goals from Calumn Morrison, Ross Maciver and Calvin Miller in the opening 27 minutes ultimately won the game for Falkirk, though Akheem Rose scored his first two goals for the club in 32 and 57 minutes.

Australian stopper McGowan says it isn’t over till it’s over, and Accies must be ready to capitalise if Falkirk slip up.

He said: “It’s tough to say at this point of the season how big and damaging a defeat like that is.

“We find ourselves a fair few points behind, but it’s more that it’s disappointing to come here and lose the game in that manner, rather than the bigger picture.

“The aim is to still get promoted in whatever way we can, whether that’s winning the league or through the play-offs, the objective is still the same.

“That’s what we have to focus on, getting back to winning ways, and putting this behind us.

“It is a mountain to climb, now. It isn’t over until it’s over and we’ve just got to start stringing wins together, and what will be on the other side of that will be.

“If Falkirk keep winning then fair play to them, but if they do slip up we need to be there and ready to capitalise.”

McGowan added: “The play-off is a good thing to fall back on.

“We saw last season how difficult they can be for a team that’s low on confidence and on a losing run.

“But we’re not even focusing on play-offs or winning the league at the moment, it’s just about getting back to winning