Hamilton Accies boss John Rankin says he won’t just accept being written off as relegation favourites in the Championship, and demands a siege mentality at the club.
And he says Arbroath’s surprise 4-2 win at Dundee proves that any team can beat anybody else in the league.
That, coupled with Hamilton’s 1-0 defeat at home to Raith Rovers, left them six points behind their rivals, with a game in hand, as they head to Ayr United on Saturday, and on a run of six straight league defeats.
When asked about being written off, Rankin said: “We can’t accept that. We have to keep going, keep fighting and be ready for the next challenge.
“We’re in January, we can revamp things, we can bring new energy, new blood, and that bit of quality that we’re needing in.
“It is difficult, I know how difficult the window is, but we have to be positive about it, we have to make sure that we go and pick up points as quickly as possible, and put pressure on the ones above us.
“It’s still within distance. Sometimes when people start to write you off, it helps you, because it causes that mentality, and that’s what we’re looking to build on.”
Rankin added: “The game in hand always helps, because it’s another opportunity for us to grab points, and get closer to the teams above us, but you have to go and win those games.
“That’s ultimately what we have to do, now.
“I say this all the time that anybody can beat anybody in this league, that’s the thing with it.
“We came off the pitch on the back of a poor result, losing at home, and then you find out the team you’re closest to has won, so it’s a sore one to take.
“But we dust ourselves down and get ready to go again.
“We have to be ready for Saturday, and to go to Ayr, and we know how difficult it’s going to be.”
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