Hamilton Accies boss fumes at defending in Ayr Utd defeat

Hamilton Accies boss John Rankin says his side should never be leaving Ayr United pointless after they scored twice - and their defending left a lot to be desired.

Accies took a 2-1 lead into the game at Somerset Park, with strikes from Oli Shaw and Jamie Barjonas cancelling out Jamie Murphy's early opener.

But goals from Marco Rus and George Oakley saw the Honest Men go top of the Championship with a 100 per cent record after three games - with two wins against Accies in that sequence.

Rankin said: "I'm disappointed not to take anything from the game. I don't think there was a lot in the game but when you come to Ayr and score two goals you expect to get something out of it.

"To lose 3-2 we're really disappointed.

"In the first half Ayr started the game well, they were on the front foot, which you expect after you win 5-0 at home.

"But the chances we created, the saves we made their goalkeeper make, and then we go in at half-time 2-1 up.

"I'm bitterly disappointed with the start to the second half, the second phase of a throw-in sees it going through, I think Charlie Albinson sees it late, and after that we huffed and puffed, but switched off and got done by a ball across and why we drop off, I don't know.

"They're in front, they've got their tails up and near the end we go down to 10 men, not through a sending off but through an injury [to Daire O'Connor] and we're still trying to create an opportunity.

"On another day, ultimately maybe one goes in but at that stage the quality needs to be better in the final third."

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