Kyle MacDonald scored his first career hat-trick as Hamilton Accies thrashed Airdrieonians 4-0 in the Lanarkshire derby at New Douglas Park, keeping Accies top of League One with a perfect record.
The midfielder, who returned to haunt his old club and former manager John Rankin, revealed that coach Ryan McGowan's advice from the sidelines played a part in his stunning second goal in the 49th minute. MacDonald chipped Airdrie goalkeeper Jamie Sneddon from the edge of the box after McGowan pointed out the keeper was off his line.
MacDonald's delight and the 'assist'
Speaking to club media, MacDonald said: "I am so happy. It is one of those things you want to achieve when you become a footballer and to achieve this, back home in Hamilton, I'm delighted."
"Gowzer pointed out that the goalie was quite high off his line. I know he wasn't talking about from the edge of the box, but I had it in the back of my head and when the ball came into me I secured it, managed to turn and in the position I was in I felt the only option I had was to dink the goalie."
"I have executed it well and it is another three points for us. Hopefully we can take that momentum into next week. We enjoy the win and hopefully we can keep this consistency going against East Fife."
Team performance praised
Reflecting on the third league win in a row, MacDonald added: "I thought we played really well. We had a tough later stage of the first half when we were conceding a lot of corners, but we stood up to it, we were clinical and got the three points."
"This is the sign of a good team. You are not going to have everything your own way and when things aren't going your way, you need to stand up to it and we did that. It's a really positive result."
Accies manager Darian MacKinnon, who was assistant to Rankin at Accies and won the Challenge Cup under him in 2023, insisted the scoreline did not reflect the contest. He said: "The boys were fine. Like I touched on after the Montrose game [a 5-0 win], I don't think it was a 4-0 game in terms of domination and things like that. It was a tight game up to a certain spell and we scored the goals at the right times."
MacKinnon's focus on the next game
MacKinnon added: "There were a lot of corners and they were a threat from set-plays and forward runs because they are a good side, but we stood up to it and we got the goals at the right time."
"I am delighted [for Kyle] but it is about us getting the three points, first and foremost, and it is good for him on the personal side of it, but we move on to the next one."
"You prepare all week for the game and you hope for a positive result but after that it is dead, it is on to the next game. That's not disrespecting anyone, that's just the way we need to work. When the defeats come, for example, you can't dwell on it and get down about it. You just need to bury the game and your full focus must be on the next one."
