It’s not as if the Hamilton Accies players need any extra motivation ahead of today’s crucial match against Kilmarnock.

After all, if they lose at Rugby Park they will slide into the relegation play-off place.

Striker Alex D’Acol though has experienced the pain of relegation before, making him doubly determined that such a fate will not befall Hamilton this season.

He said: “In Greece I was on-loan to Kerkyra and we were relegated. It was a really difficult situation because we had a manager that didn’t hold us together.

“We went down and there were many problems with money and players leaving.

“We felt defeated. The atmosphere was horrible.

“When we went on vacation I went to Brazil but it wasn’t a vacation, all I felt was sadness.

“I’m sure that won’t happen to us here though, and we’ll get back up the table.

“I never want to experience a situation like that again.

“We aren’t thinking like that. We have enough games in front of us and we have a good team with a good atmosphere, so we’re only thinking positively.

“Here, the gaffer is doing a really good job inside the dressing room and that has helped us, especially after the bad defeats recently like the Celtic game.

“We got back on our feet against Hearts and managed to grind out a good result.

“Kilmarnock is a big game if you look at the table, a real six-pointer.

“It’s a really important game and we have to treat it like a cup final. We also have to play with our heads and not risk anything because it’s a crucial moment in our season.

“The lads all know they’re job and we will be going all-out for the win.”

D’Acol also threw his weight behind manager Martin Canning, who has come under pressure during their recent poor run.

If Accies do indeed stay up, he says that it will be Canning who will deserve the credit.

“The manager has been 100% the most important factor in keeping spirits up in the dressing room,” he said.

“He speaks to every player individually and gives the entire team confidence. I believe confidence is the biggest factor for a player to perform well, and that’s what he gives to us.

“I think that publicly criticising players is the worst thing a manager can do, but the gaffer has played the game and he knows exactly what is going on in our minds.

“He’s doing a really great job.”