Know the Ref - Hamilton home

Last updated : 20 May 2009 By Stuart Gillespie
The match in question was the disaster at Hampden a month ago, where we didn't turn up and lost 3-0 to Rangers after a going a goal behind within two minutes. A repeat of that on Saturday could spell disaster and wreck the confidence that is flowing through the team and support after the Falkirk win.

In truth, Mr Murray's record in our games this season is a bit of a disaster as there have also been 2-0 defeats to Dundee United and Dunfermline Athletic (the latter in the League Cup) and a 2-1 defeat to Hearts at Tynecastle. That was a strange day as we had Tonet sent off, while Hearts received a couple of soft penalties.

Last season, Mr Murray did just one Saints game - a 1-1 draw against Inverness Caley Thistle. His two games from our first season back in the SPL saw defeats to Kilmarnock and Rangers. The latter saw Rangers given a dodgy free-kick when we were a goal up and he also gave us a penalty after turning down numerous other claims.

Things finally begin to look up when you go back to our last season in the first division. Mr Murray was the man in the middle when we beat Dundee 2-1 to win the league that season and he also oversaw victories over Brechin and St. Johnstone. The season before saw another Saints win in his only game involving us, a thrilling 3-2 victory over Ross County at Love Street.

Our results in 2003/04 aren't too bad either. His first ever Saints game was an opening day draw at Raith Rovers - when we were given a penalty but also had Kirk Broadfoot sent off . There's also a Scottish Cup win over Airdrie United. However, there's also a defeat to Clyde in one of John Coughlin's final games in charge.

Mr Murray has taken charge of four Hamilton games this season that have resulted in a win, a draw and two defeats. The points came from games against Falkirk, while one defeat was to Dundee United. The other was a 7-1 hammering at Ibrox when they scored first! In typical style, they had a player sent off when it was still 2-1 and they could have caused Rangers a few problems.

This official's only Hamilton game last season was a 1-1 draw at Dunfermline.  There were no Accies games for him the season before and just one in 2005/06, a 1-1 draw with Dundee. There were two games in 2004/05, a defeat to Clyde and a draw with Queen of the South.

Mr Murray was involved in three Hamilton games when they won promotion in 2003/04. One saw a defeat to Berwick and another saw a win over Dumbarton. Another game saw a draw with Morton in which our friends down the road had Derek Collins sent off early on. Things aren't so good from the previous season, with defeats to Brechin and Stranraer showing up on the Soccerbase radar.

Aside from the Rangers disaster, Mr Murray hasn't been involved in any game we've lost by three goals. He also hasn't been involved in any game Hamilton have won by three goals, so lets hope Saturday isn't the first. Worryingly, he seems to be averaging a red card every four games this season - and he hasn't sent anyone off in his last three matches...