Pressure intensified on the Hoops' boss after the Parkhead side fell 10 points behind Rangers at the top of the Clydesdale Bank Premier League after losing 2-1 at home to Hibernian on Wednesday night.

But Mowbray, who is preparing his side for tomorrow's lunchtime kick-off against Hamilton at New Douglas Park, insists he is not far away from getting it right.

"I understand the negativity of sections of the press, but the reason I can be positive is that I see it with my own eyes," he told the Evening Times.

"I see the team that is on the pitch, and the team that will be on the pitch. And I don't think it is that far away.

"I am not interested in the negativity side of it. I'm trying to put a team together that will consistently win football matches - and I'm sure we will get there.

"The players have to stand up to it. Being a Celtic player, it's part and parcel of being at this club and has been for many, many years."

Meanwhile, Hamilton manager Billy Reid is hoping for an improvement after being held to a goalless draw by Kilmarnock in midweek.

"We were disappointed," he said. "We played okay in the first half without really creating anything.

"I thought we were by far the better side but we didn't work the goalkeeper enough and we ran out of gas in the second half.

"I couldn't argue about a point, it was a fair result.

"Tuesday's game wasn't like us.

"I look for reasons, I don't like to look for excuses, and I think the reason was that the number of games has caught up on us a wee bit."

Meanwhile, the Accies boss confirmed that defender Marvin Andrews has been released by the club.

Reid said: "He is a fantastic guy, a good professional, and was good to have about the place.

"But he just wasn't for us in the SPL and Marvin leaves with our best wishes."