Hamilton Accies boss John Rankin says their support can play a major role, and urged them to back them this season like they did in the win over Partick Thistle.

Lee Kilday’s 56th-minute header earned Accies all three points at New Douglas Park and moved them above their visitors into fifth place in the Championship.

Rankin says the backing they received from the 1677 crowd made a big difference, and said: “Being back here, the supporters make a difference.

“When the stadium’s quiet you can hear everything in it, but when we are playing the way we were on Saturday and we have the supporters’ backing, it’s a different animal there.

“I’m delighted for them, and you could see the togetherness between players and supporters at the end.

“We had players running through brick walls to try and get three points, and that’s what it takes from Saturday to Saturday.

“If we play like we did on Saturday we’ll be fine, but we need to continue to do the things that we’re good at, and eradicate the things that we’re bad at.

Hamilton Accies players celebrate Lee Kilday's winner against Partick Thistle
Hamilton Accies players celebrate Lee Kilday’s winner against Partick Thistle (Image: Adam Law)

“There were lots of positives to take, but the biggest positive for me is that we eradicated the mistakes, and made sure we were solid and hard to beat.”

Hamilton again started with Dean Lyness in goal, and Neil Stafford on the bench, as Charlie Albinson attempts to recover from a thigh injury sustained in the 3-0 defeat at Livingston.

While not providing a time-scale on Albinson, Rankin was pleased with Lyness, and the last-gasp save he made from Robbie Muirhead which kept hold of all three points.

Rankin said: “We don’t have Gordon Marshall here just now, he moved on to St Johnstone, so Deano has been taking up the coaching aspect of that.

“Charlie is injured, Deano’s load has been a wee bit higher than it would normally be, in regards to kicking, because he’s having to do different things.

“He looked like he picked up a knock but managed to get through the last wee bit and he will be all right, but at that point we were worried, I’ll be honest.

Rankin says his players were prepared to run through brick walls for the three points
Rankin says his players were prepared to run through brick walls for the three points (Image: Adam Law)

“He made a great save at the end. Last season when Dean Lyness became available it was a no-brainer to bring him to the club.

“He did great at the end of last season, Dean is at that stage now in his career of ‘what’s he doing when he finishes playing’.

“We thought in the summer, because he was so good for us last season and made such an impact, that we could help him with the next stage of his career, put him through his coaching badges, but also play at the same time, and he’s taken to it really well.

“Charlie started the season in goals, and Deano has been working in coaching in the academy, and first-team stuff, and I thought he was great on Saturday.”

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