Hamilton Accies fans vent fury after Queen's Park defeat as boss John Rankin says players haven't 'downed tools'

Hamilton boss John Rankin says he is big enough to withstand the verbal abuse from fans and focus on getting the club out of the relegation mire in their final three games.

And the New Douglas Park boss insisted his players haven't "downed tools" after suffering three defeats - including a 7-0 hammering at Dundee at the start of the month - in their last five outings.

Grant Savoury's second half strike inflicted a 1-0 defeat on Accies at Ochilview last night and angry fans aimed cries of "Rankin get to ****", while others displayed a banner aimed at board member Colin McGowan.

Their frustrations come with the club sitting in the relegation play-off spot in the Championship and the prospect of a second relegation in three seasons, having been in the Premiership in 2021.

Asked about the chants following last night's defeat, Rankin said: “Listen, I can handle that. My shoulders are big enough and it won’t affect me.

"The main thing is that it doesn’t affect the players and they start turning on one another. They have to stay together.

“I’ll take them having a go because I realise there is nothing in that game. I also realise we have lost and that performances don’t count but I am still confident we will stay up.

“I know these players and I know what they are giving. They have not downed tools.”

On the game itself, which also saw No.2 Darian Mackinnon sent off for comments towards the assistant referee, Rankin added: "I am gutted but there was nothing in that game.

"We actually have had the better chances of the game. We need to be hungrier than that to get the goal."

Focus now turns to a huge Tuesday night clash with Inverness Caledonian Thistle at New Douglas Park.

Accies will hope between now and then, rivals Cove Rangers