Reid had to abandon his gameplan at half-time against Hearts

Hamilton boss Billy Reid bemoaned his side's lack of consistency as they suffered a 2-0 defeat by Hearts at home in the Scottish Premier League.

Goals in either half by Stephen Elliott - the second just half a minute after the re-start - kept Reid's side looking for their first home win of the season.

"Elliott put two great headers in," said Reid. "It was a great finish from him, but not good enough from us.

"If we defend the way we did, we can't win a football match at this level."

Accies remain rooted to the foot of the Scottish Premier League table, five points behind St Mirren with one game in hand.

I just take it a game at a time. We don't think about not winning a game at home, we know every game is going to be difficult Hamilton manager Billy Reid

Reid had been confident of his plan to give Hearts more of the ball and try to catch them on the break, but patient build-up play from the visitors caused him to abandon his tactics in the second half.

"We had a game plan in the first half," said Reid.

"We sent the team out to frustrate Hearts and we didn't feel like they had a physical presence, with Kevin Kyle not playing.

"We sat back and gave them possession and tried to hit them on the break, but it didn't work. We didn't keep the ball enough, and with the first cross into the box.

"In the second half, we burst out and opened up, but before we had a kick of the ball, we gave a cheap ball away, and a cheap corner and they got a free header, then we were 2-0 down.

"I thought in the second half, we were a better side, but it's easy to do that when you're 2-0 down - we have to do it an 0-0."

Despite the defeat, Reid remains hopeful that their second half performance can be carried in to their forthcoming matches.

"Hopefully, if we can perform like that on Wednesday night against Dundee United, we'll be okay," said Reid.

"I just take it a game at a time. We don't think about not winning a game at home, we know every game is going to be difficult."

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