John Rankin has warned his Hamilton Accies side that they must turn their performances into points.
Rankin watched his side clock up a morale-boosting 4-0 Scottish Cup third round win over Lowland League side East Kilbride on Saturday, but says they need to take that lift into their Hampden showdown with Queen’s Park this weekend.
The Spiders host Accies in one of two games at the National Stadium while they prepare to enter their refurbished Lesser Hampden ground, and Rankin says they must seize that chance.
Accies are at the foot of the Championship, and need points to start climbing the table.
He said: “We need points. The performances over the past few weeks have been better and they’ve been picking up, but now we need points to go with it.
“It’s alright performing well but the main thing in senior football is getting points, and we need to grow up really quickly and get those points.
“I hope Saturday’s win over East Kilbride is a turning point. It gives the players confidence.
“You could see that on Saturday after the game in the dressing room with the noise, and when they were back at training there was a different vibe, a wee bit more camaraderie.”
Rankin added: “The players have worked really hard throughout the season and it’s just a case that we needed a result to turn it.
“Although you look at 4-0 and it looks like a convincing win, at times it was not that way, but to overcome that and get a clean sheet it should breed confidence.
“Queen’s Park at the weekend is a massive game and a chance for the players to go and play at Hampden, so we’re looking forward to it.
“Hampden is always a good place to go and play, it’s a great platform for players to express themselves.
“The younger players will be excited, the pitch will be in great condition, so it’s one we’re really looking forward to.”
Queen’s Park ran out 2-0 winners back in September in a game Rankin felt they should have taken more in, and feels there’s a score to settle.
He said: “They scored just before half-time in that game and goals change games.
“It was a tight affair the first game in the cup as well, and Queen’s are on the back of some good results recently.
“They’re obviously flying high, near the top of the league, but we go there on Saturday looking forward to it, but aware that the task in front of us is going to be really difficult.”
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