JON ROUTLEDGE insists complacency is not the reason behind Hamilton's recent slump in form.

Accies head into their clash with Aberdeen this afternoon having tasted victory just once since their stunning 3-0 triumph over the Dons at New Douglas Park in October.

Defeat to Partick Thistle in the Scottish Cup last weekend came seven days after they had appeared to get back on track with a comfortable win at home to struggling St Mirren.

Alex Neil's squad wrote their name in the history books as they went top of the Premiership standings earlier in the campaign.

They have all but achieved their aim of ensuring they will play top-flight football next season, but Routledge knows they won't take their foot off the gas.

He said: "There was always going to be a dip. We were never going to carry on all the way through the season in the same way as we started it.

"It's only natural that we would hit a blip, but we need to get back to winning ways and get on a bit of a run again.

"The manager looks at the games to see areas we can improve upon. He doesn't go over the top or get carried away either way.

"He keeps everyone calm and is trying to get us back to winning ways.

"If we get back to doing the right things again then it will turn for us.

"There is no chance of us being complacent, not with our gaffer.

"There is enough experience in our dressing room and we have been in football long enough to know we need to keep at it until it's mathematically impossible to be in trouble.

"We don't want the blip to carry on for too long as we need to get the performances back to the level they were."

Despite their recent struggles, it has still been a season to remember for Hamilton.

They head to Pittodrie fourth in the standings and already a huge 19 points clear of the relegation zone.

There have been far more highs than lows for Neil and his players.

And Routledge is eager to get back to winning ways and keep proving the doubters wrong.

He said: "You would have to say we are the surprise team of the season so far.

"When you look at the first game of the season when we lost after we had come up there were people saying it would be a long, hard season for us.

"We knew we could have a good season, but looking from the outside, there will be people looking in and saying they have been surprised.

"We haven't been at our top level. We have been disappointed with our performances.

"Maybe we have been about 10 per cent short of where we usually are in terms of our tempo, passing and pressing.

"There have been a few mistakes and we have been punished for them.

"That's been the biggest difference and we need to tidy up on a few things and get back to doing what we have been doing. If we do that then we will be okay."