Oli Shaw aims to fire Hamilton to first league win as sharpness returns

Oli Shaw says he feels stronger and fitter with each game, and hopes to fire the goals that will earn Hamilton their first Championship win.

Shaw bagged his first goal of the league season as he and Jamie Barjonas cancelled out Jamie Murphy’s early opener to give Accies a 2-1 interval lead at Somerset Park on Saturday.

But a Marco Rus cracker and a strike by former Hamilton striker George Oakley handed Ayr a 3-2 win and left the visitors still searching for three points after three games.

However, former Hibs and Barnsley hit man Shaw reckons he’s getting closer to full fitness.

He said: “I feel good. I was a wee bit behind, coming in, but did extra things with the gaffer and things like that and got myself up to pace.

“My first 90 minutes was last week against Morton, and I’m off the mark today, so I feel good and it’s about churning out the games, and the more games I get, the sharper I’ll become.

“I hope to hit the net regularly. I’m used to doing that in this league, that’s why the gaffer has brought me in, and I’m happy to get off the mark.

“We didn’t get the three points, but for me personally it’s something to build on for my first goal of the season, and we’ll go again.”

Shaw picked up a Barjonas pass and smashed a shot into the top right corner, via the underside of the bar, to get off the mark in the league, and had a second strike disallowed for offside late on that would have put Hamilton at 3-3.

He said: “Personally it’s always good to get off the mark in the league.

“It was a good finish, I’m happy to do it, but we didn’t get the result that we came here for.

“In the first half we started off slow, got ourselves in the game and controlled it from there on in.

“But we lost two sloppy goals in the second half and that’s ultimately what has killed us.

“We need to be better with that, but as a striker those are the games you want to be involved in.

“There were chances both ends. I thought we defended our box well in the first half, created a few chances in the first half as well, but the second half became a bit of a battle.

“I had the goal disallowed for offside as well, I’ve not seen it back yet.

“But as a striker you want to get chances, and I managed to get a goal, so I’m personally happy.”

Having lost the opening game of the season 2-0 at home to Ayr and drawn a blank with Morton the following Saturday, Shaw and Barjonas’ strikes were Hamilton’s first in the Championship, as they prepare to welcome Dunfermline Athletic to New Douglas Park this weekend.

Shaw said: “It’s good to get those goals. Those were our first in the league this season, which is always important, and with Barjo chipping in as well, so we need those from all areas.

“It will be another tough game [against Dunfernline], one we’ll get ready for.

“We’ll need to dust ourselves down quickly, the games come thick and fast in this league, and hopefully we’ll get the three points at home.”

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