Hearts loan star admits Hamilton Accies are making life difficult for themselves

Hamilton defender Mihai Popescu says his side made it difficult for themselves against Kilmarnock yesterday - and it's now harder for them to grab a play-off slot.

The 28-year-old Romanian - who is on loan from Hearts for this season - says Hamilton started the game sloppily and it just didn't go for them, but they can look ahead to their remaining games as they try to climb the Championship table.

Fraser Murray put Killie ahead on the stroke of half-time with an unorthodox finish, and former Accies midfielder Blair Alston added a second 10 minutes into the second half.

That dropped Accies down to eighth in the table, and Popescu says it might be an uphill struggle over their remaining eight games.

Popescu said: "We made it a difficult game for ourselves. We came with some thoughts here, but started a little bit sloppily, conceded a goal right at the end of the first half.

"At the break we went in and were asked to have a reaction, but obviously we didn't have one. They scored the second, and we were just trying to bounce back from the goal, but it didn't happen.

Kilmarnock were the better team throughout the game yesterday and could have scored more (SNS Group)

"It is a little bit harder to reach the play-offs, because we just dropped points, but if you go and win the next game we will still have chances.

"We will go and try to get the three points next week, and see where we are."

Hamilton now face a colossal clash next Saturday as they welcome basement side Dunfermline to New Douglas Park, who are only seven points behind, with a win potentially taking Accies back up to sixth.

'Pops' said: "We have to go forward, I think it's another eight games left, so we have to go back in on Monday and try to look forward to those games.

"We're looking for a reaction from today's game. We need to win, so we'll work hard for that, and hopefully next week we get the three points.

Fraser Murray scored Killie's opener by bundling the ball into the net with his chest (SNS Group)

"We have to move forward. You lose this week, you have the chance to go again next weekend, and you want to make sure everybody doesn't think about the last game.

"We'll work hard in the next couple of days and go for the next game.

"We lost today, but we have to think about winning, winning every time. Sometimes you lose, other times it's a draw, but we just have to look forward to the next game."

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