John Rankin insists the media sniffing another Scottish Cup upset for Hamilton Accies was the motivation for his side's emphatic third round win over East Kilbride.
Accies were dumped out of the competition at the same stage last season by West of Scotland League side Auchinleck Talbot and Lowland League East Kilbride fancied their chances of inflicting more misery.
However, Championship side Accies made sure their name went into the hat for Monday's fourth round draw as a stunning Andy Ryan hat-trick - the club's first in the competition since Neilly Hood in January 1973 during a 4-0 win over Brora - and a Ryan One strike delivered a 4-0 victory at New Douglas Park.
Ryan, who played under EK gaffer Kevin Rutkiewicz when he was boss at Stirling Albion, haunted his old boss with three fine strikes, the last of which was the pick of the bunch as he lobbed Kilby keeper Curtis Lyle from 30-yards.
And Rankin said their display was inspired by some in the media looking for his side to come a cropper.
He said: "The press were looking for an upset and I'm glad - because that was part of the motivation.
"Ten of our players here were at Auchinleck last season so we were determined that wasn't going to happen again.
"To begin with, it [the way Accies played] wasn't what we set out to do and I think you've got to give credit to East Kilbride for that. They made it difficult for us.
"We had two good chances right at the beginning of the game through Dario [Zanatta] and [Lewis] Smith. If we make it 1-0 within a few minutes it makes it a different game.
"East Kilbride had two really good chances as well which we were fortunate they didn't take.
"After that we played some really good stuff at times.
"East Kilbride had a period in the game, about 15 minutes into the second half, where it was a bit squeaky bum time for us.
"We could feel that and we needed to relieve a bit of pressure and the goal obviously changed it.
"Chucky [Ryan] popped up with a great goal. His first one is a great finish, his second goal is cheeky and there is personality within that finish, while the third goal comes from Ryan One's enthusiasm that forces the goalkeeper into an error.
"And for Chucky to have that calmness and state of mind to attempt that is great.
"He was the difference between the two teams today."
The result is a morale-boosting one for an Accies side struggling at the bottom of the Championship.
They now face a high-flying Queen's Park side next weekend at Hampden, where the Spiders are playing two games in December while they await entry to Lesser Hampden, and Rankin says his team need to show the same desire to get their give their survival hopes a shot in the arm.
He addeD: "It is pleasing to win 4-0, but it doesn't help us in the league.
"We don't get any points from today so the determination now needs to be coming back in on Monday, ready to go again next weekend."
The draw for round four will be made on Monday evening at Hampden and Rankin insists he is not fussed who his side are paired with when the Premiership sides enter the competition.
He said: "I honestly don't care who we get.
"To get a name in the next round, that's fine. We are more than capable of enjoying a game at a big ground and we are more than capable of getting to the next round.
"I love the cup.
"The next round brings different challenges and it is one we are looking forward to."
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