Positive approach

The Blues have won four of their six league games on the road so far this term – as many as they won in the entire of last season. This weekend they travel to Coleraine to take on a side who are without a win in three league games.

Nevertheless, Hamilton isn’t expecting an easy ride.

He said: “I was talking to Stephen Carson and he was saying they’ve been playing really well but just can’t get the win.

“If they get a win or two they could go on a good run. Oran Kearney has done a great job since he went to the club. They’re finding it hard to get a win at the minute but that’s never an easy place to go and they’re never an easy team to play. It’s a game that, if we work hard enough, we have enough ability to win, even away from home.

“Our away record has been brilliant. We’ve already won as many games as we did last season away from home.

“We’ve got that mentality now that we can go away from home and win matches. Hopefully we can continue that on Saturday and get a good positive result.”

Hamilton says having players in his squad with that ‘right mentality’ has been instrumental in their upturn in away form.

He said: “Too many players in previous seasons weren’t mentally strong enough.

“We’ve got players in now that are mentally strong and who are confident of winning games. We have a lot of players now who have played for the top teams and played in big games. They’re used to going away and having to grind out results. It’s nothing to do with the way you play or the way you approach the games. It’s all about mentalities and attitudes.”