Hamilton Accies boss hails 'mentality change' for league resurgence

Hamilton Accies boss John Rankin says bringing in better players has raised the standards and changed the mentality of his squad.

Accies are on a run of five league games without defeat – with four wins and a draw in that sequence – and just one defeat against Hearts in the Scottish Cup in their last nine in all competitions.

That has taken them off the foot of the Championship table as they welcome league leaders Queen’s Park to New Douglas Park tomorrow, and Rankin says it’s credit to the players, who have hit the ground running.

Connor Smith has come in on loan from Hearts, Dylan McGowan from Kilmarnock and Tom Sparrow from Stoke City.

Dylan Stephenson came in from Newcastle on loan, and Reghan Tumilty has signed a short-term contract after leaving Hartlepool United.

Rankin says midfielder Lucas De Bolle, who is also on loan from Newcastle, is included in that group of players having missed a large chunk of the season with concussion issues, while midfielder Steve Lawson returned from injury in the 2-1 win over Inverness on Tuesday.

Rankin said: “It was all about changing the mentality that we had, and players coming in and making an impact.

“The players that have come in and made an impact, and I add Lucas to that because he never played in the first part of the season, so it’s almost like six new signings.

“They’ve all made an impact, and hopefully that continues.

“Players take a wee while to get used to one another but I also think good players like to play with good players.

“When you bring in good ones like we have, that adds to players putting a wee bit more in, a standard lifting in training and there’s a competition for places.

“We’re now getting players back from injury. We got Steve Lawson back last week,