David Templeton turned on the style for Hamilton this weekend – and Brian Rice knows he is paramount to their efforts this season.
Accies came from behind to seal a much-needed three points against Livingston. A Shaun Want OG in the first minute had them up against it early on, but a spirited second half performance saw Templeton level things before youngster Kyle Munro headed home a memorable winner.
Brian Rice was pleased with the afternoon’s work (Photo by Andrew Milligan/Pool via Getty Images)
It’s a big boost for manager Rice’s side as they secured their second win of the season. Hamilton’s boss was delighted for his match-winner, hailing the influence of experienced attacker Templeton too.
“To come to Livingston at any time is very difficult, but we’ve stood up to it and in my opinion we’ve deserved to win the match,” said Rice. “I thought in the first five minutes it was Livingston. They had one other chance in the first half, we didn’t have many.
“I thought in the first half it was very equal but in the second half we were the better team. David Templeton is a match-winner. He changes games and we saw that today. We’ve got to try and keep him fit and on the pitch, because he’s a huge asset for us.
“You saw that with his goal and assist, but he needs other people working for him as well, because he’s not getting any younger. Fair play to the rest of them, the work-rate and the effort is just normal for a Hamilton team.
“Munro has done well. It’s his first full debut, he was on loan last year and great credit to Clydebank, they worked away with him. I know his character, he doesn’t say too much, and he has a cannon of a left foot and I know he can head the ball.
“When it’s coming in near the end I’m hoping it’s him coming in and it’s absolutely fantastic. For anybody to score a winning goal but to score a winning goal on your full league debut is something he will never forget.”