DARIAN MacKinnon, the Hamilton Accies captain, has revealed that he relishes the annual predictions that put the Lanarkshire side as favourites for the drop.

This season has seen a slight

deviation from that given the woeful start to the season by St Mirren while Livingston’s loss of significant names has also put them in the mix to go down. MacKinnon, though, wants to see Hamilton tipped for relegation as the Accies squad have become so used to using it as their motivation.

“We like to be the underdogs,” said MacKinnon. “Of course we do [put it on the wall]. It gets you playing better.

“We will say ourselves that we are favourites to go down. We were there for five years before [the six years we have had in the top flight] and we have still been the ones tipped to go down. Nothing much will change. We don’t spend a lot of money signing players. Everything we do is about trying to get the youth players through and stay in the top league.”

While being written off has become part of the preparation for the season, MacKinnon has admitted it would be nice to be in a position where Accies avoid the tension of the play-offs.

“We have only been comfortable one season since I have been here and that was when Alex Neil was here and then Martin Canning took over but by then we were basically safe,” he reflected. “It would be nice to be in that position again.

“It would be good for my household. It is your family who worry more than us. It is football and you get used to it but it would also be nice to have a run in the Cups.”

Accies have forged a reputation for giving youngsters their chance with MacKinnon telling some of the up-and-coming players that they ought to have dislodged him by now.

“I coach the academy so I see the squad every day,” he said. “There is big talent there. I had a conversation with Jack Breen last year and I told him he should have overtaken me.

I should be on the bench and just coming on to shore games up.

“They need to kick on and have that drive to be better. They can’t accept being on the bench and being happy being a sub. You can’t be happy just to tell your pals that you are in the first-team at Hamilton. You want to be the one who is out there playing well every week and getting a move. I am on my way down in my career so if they come and take my place, then great.”