Hamilton Accies boss John Rankin says his side must get into good habits and fast, after losing 3-1 in a pre-season friendly against Cumbernauld Colts at Broadwood.
Rankin sent a strong side to face the Lowland League club, starting with stars such as Reghan Tumilty, Lee Kilday, Jamie Barjonas, Euan Henderson, Dario Zanatta, Dylan Tait, Connor Murray and Stephen Hendrie.
Andy Winter got Accies off the mark in four minutes, slotting home after Reghan Tumilty’s header from a Hendrie cross had been parried by Colts keeper Ryan Adamson.
But Colts came roaring back and in 18 minutes a neat through-ball from Luke McCarvel released Cole McIntyre and he slotted through outrushing Jamie Smith’s legs and into the net.
Five minutes later McIntyre sent a flashing half-volley into the top right corner from about 25 yards out, and completed his hat-trick three minutes into the second half, smashing the ball into the bottom left corner from another McCarvel set-up.
Colts should have added a fourth when sub Graeme Holmes sliced past the post with the goal gaping in 75 minutes, and Connor McLaren fired narrowly wide in stoppage time.
There was also some concern that Connor Murray was forced off with an injury before the interval, but Rankin hopes he will be ready for Clyde.
Rankin says Colts got in behind Accies too often, which is a warning ahead of their Viaplay Cup Group C opener against ‘hosts’ Clyde at New Douglas Park next Saturday.
He said: “I think this is what we’re going to come up against a lot this season, in regards to having to be patient, having to get back behind the ball quickly, having to try and press quickly.
“It’s all about fitness, we’ve had a tough two days building into this and I was expecting a bigger outcome and more energy from within the game.
“I get that they’re going to be tired, I get that it’s at that stage of the season.
“Ultimately we’re building up for the game next weekend, but there has to be bits from within.
“There were good bits of attacking play, good chances created and not taking them and not getting back behind the ball quick enough.
“These are habits we need to get into very quickly, with regards to how we want to play and the style we want to play, and we’ve seen it for the last two and a half weeks – it has been going well.
“But when you’re challenged and you’re tired mentally, you still need to be able to meet those demands.
“Today we didn’t meet those demands, defensively and it cost us the result.”
Accies follow up their ‘visit’ to Clyde with a home game against Brechin City, and that is the pattern for their group games, with a trip to Livingston and a New Douglas Park clash with Cove Rangers to come.
Rankin said: “The games are coming thick and fast, and that’s an important part of preparing, being ready to go and getting everybody minutes – not just your starting XI but the full squad.
“We saw that today with everybody playing at least 45, and it’s important that we get everybody minutes all through pre-season with a clean bill of health.
“Obviously Connor is disappointing, that he had to come off with a wee niggle, but hopefully we can get that through and be ready to go again next Saturday.
“He touched on it yesterday (Friday) that he had an injury behind his calf and we were trying to be cautious with it, and give him 45, but he felt the niggle as the game was going on, it was getting worse and we had to take him off, which was not ideal.
“But we got him off as early as we could.
“Games like today will stand us in good stead throughout the season. I wanted to take this game, because Cumbernauld Colts are a good outfit – they’re well-organised and well drilled.
“And we’ll come up against teams like this throughout the season.”
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