Hamilton Accies boss John Rankin says fans were right to boo players as he blasts unacceptable performance

Angry Accies boss John Rankin says fans were right to boo the team off the pitch after their defeat to Raith Rovers and slammed his side for not being brave enough.

And the former Hibs midfielder warned the current squad that players will be coming in to push them and get them out of their comfort zone.

Hamilton slumped to their first league defeat of the season after a dismal display at New Douglas Park, where they fell behind to a Dylan Easton goal after just 65 seconds before Jamie Gullan's 74th minute strike sealed their fate.

Furious fans gave players an earful at either end of the half and Rankin was raging with the performance after a run of three games unbeaten.

He blasted: "They booed us off at half time and they booed us off at full-time.

"Quite rightly so, because that's not good enough.

"There was a good crowd here today and the fans have been good to us because the effort levels have been there.

"But that wasn't acceptable.

"We weren't brave enough.

"We were quite comfortable in our positions, we didn't get far enough up the pitch and we weren't willing to get forward - and that really annoyed me.

"If you don't commit bodies forward, how are you going to score goals?

"It became a case of can we run harder and faster than the opposition, and I don't think we were prepared to do that today.

"It's not often I can say that about the players, but we had an honest conversation in the dressing room and that is not good enough.

"Too many out there are feeling comfortable.

"They think their place is guaranteed - listen, there's nothing guaranteed in football and if we can't get people in the starting 11 to run on the pitch, we'll bring others in who can.

"It's as simple as that.

"We need guys out there fighting tooth