Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Daily Record
Daily Record
Sport
Andy McGilvray

Hamilton Accies boss John Rankin: It's points dropped and it's not good enough

Hamilton Accies boss John Rankin says it's two points dropped as they were held to a 1-1 draw at Ayr United.

Accies looked to be heading for their first three points of the Championship season when Dan O'Reilly put them 2-1 ahead in 73 minutes, only for Andy Murdoch to level with a rocket shot 12 minutes later.

It was a game with spectacular goals, as Andy Winter levelled Dipo Akinyemi's early opener with a dipping shot into the right corner 14 minutes into the game.

But Rankin felt they should have held out for all three points, and is looking to make sure Hamilton can see games out.

And he says not taking the win isn't good enough for Accies.

He said: "It's points dropped, without a doubt.

"We didn't make the best start to the game; finding yourself 1-0 down away from home after three minutes isn't good enough, but character was never in question, they came back.

"They do everything we ask of them, and in the first half I thought some of our play in the middle area to final third was really good, you could see what we were trying to do.

Dan O'Reilly celebrates after putting Accies 2-1 ahead (SNS Group)

"Andy then scores a goal that you expect from Andy Winter, to be honest with you.

"When we scored [the second] we put the brakes on again and allowed Ayr to get back into it."

Rankin was pleased with O'Reilly's header, which is his first goal of the season.

He said: "In the second half, if I'm being brutally honest, the way we started the second half I thought there was only ever going to be one team that scored next, and sure enough we got it.

"It never came the way I thought it would have, but it came from Dan being aggressive at a set-play.

"I thought some of the attacking play and the chances we created was really pleasing.

"But we're looking to how we can do it, to try and get through the last wee bit and try to get a help, and we conceded with five minutes to go, which is hugely disappointing.

Andy Winter levelled for Hamilton in 14 minutes (SNS Group)

"We then didn't want to settle for a point, neither did Ayr, and it becomes a case that there are a few disappointed faces in the dressing room.

"But that's the standards we're driving, the mentality needs to change, and we need to get three points."

Follow Lanarkshire Live Sport on Twitter via @LanLiveSport, like us on Facebook or find us on Instagram for the latest sports news, pictures and video.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.