Hamilton Accies boss praises patched-up players after seeing off valiant Alloa to set up Inverness final

Hamilton boss John Rankin praised patched up players Lewis Smith and Akheem Rose for firing them to past valiant 10-man Alloa to reach the play-off final.

The tie was locked level at 2-2 after Tuesday's first leg at the Indodrill, but Rankin's men prevailed 5-4 on aggregate after another action-packed tussle saw Accies fall behind early on a Quinn Coulson strike, only for Reghan Tumilty and Smith to pull them level by half-time.

Alloa gave themselves a mountain to climb when Morgyn Neill picked up a double booking for dissent in the aftermath of Smith's goal, sarcastically clapping referee Steven Kirkland after his initial indiscretion, and substitute Conor Sammon gave them a lifeline when he pulled the visitors level after 57 minutes.

However super sub Rose, who missed the first leg through a pelvic injury, had the final say when he poked home after superb work by Smith in the 77th minute, seeing off a battling Alloa side who almost grabbed a last-gasp leveller when Taylor Steven's free-kick hit the post and trundled along the line.

Rankin said: "That is the first time we have come from behind this season and got something out of the game so I take my hat off to them. In a big game like that previously we've gone behind six times and lost all six so it was a case of being patient and making sure we took our chances when we got them.

"I am delighted for Smithy to get on the scoresheet. We had to make sure that he was right coming into the play-offs.

"Akheem has been struggling big time recently and that committment from the squad is what we need for where we want to get to - and it is going to need to be like that again on Wednesday night. Akheem is in a good bit of pain but he has that mentality where he just wants to