Hamilton's Ziggy Gordon: Dundee United win was just the tonic ahead of Celtic

Ziggy Gordon admits victory over Dundee United at Tannadice on Saturday was vital ahead of next week's clash with Premiership leaders Celtic.

After Gavin Gunning's own goal had cancelled out Billy Mckay's first-half opener for the home side, the Accies right-back's first goal of the season ended the Lanarkshire side's six-match winless streak.

Gordon was delighted to take his career goal tally to four and secure three important points ahead of next week's trip to Parkhead.

It is a monkey off our back, especially with us going to Celtic next week,'' the 22-year-old told Press Association Sport.

It was paramount that we got a result here. We didn't go there for a draw, that's for sure.

We went there to win the game and we did and everyone is delighted.''

Accies player-manager Martin Canning says they have played better in games and not won'', but Gordon believes that is to Hamilton's credit.

That's the sign of a good team,'' he said.Celtic are top of the league but they don't play well every single game but they get results.

The best teams in the world get results when they don't play well.

I am not saying we are a world-class team, far from it, but we are a team that when the chips are down won't give up.''

Canning shrugged off the unhappiness Dougie Imrie displayed when he was replaced by Alex D'Acol in the second half with Accies trailing 1-0 - a substitution which had a very small band of the travelling fans shouting 'you don't know what you're doing'.

It can be disappointing,'' the Hamilton player-manager said.

They expect high standards, they want to win and it is their team.

Dougie has got five goals and is our top scorer, but I am my own man, I have my own mind and I will always make decisions based on what I think is the right thing to do with the team.

I told Dougie it was nothing personal. He has been one of the outstanding players this season, but it was a difficult shape to play against, a 3-4-2-1, and I wanted to go two up and play two against their three.

I wanted to go with Alex D'Acol and Carlton Morris up top and give them more problems Everything I do will always be done with thought and thankfully it has come off.''

United counterpart Mixu Paatelainen, meanwhile, struggled to understand how Gunning had managed to head Ali Crawford's corner into his own net.

He attacks the ball but somehow directs the ball towards our goal,'' he said.

I don't know why. There was no real pressure there. It is so frustrating.''