Hamilton Accies must learn to kill teams off when they have a chance, says boss

Hamilton Accies boss John Rankin has urged his side to become more ruthless, but says they’re making progress.

Rankin takes his side to Ayr United on Saturday, following two 1-1 draws against Morton and Partick Thistle, with Accies having been in front in both games.

He says Hamilton must make more of their chances, and give themselves more of a chance of taking wins.

Rankin said: “I don’t think there was an awful lot wrong with our performance [against Thistle], although I would love us to be more of an attacking threat in the second half.

“But we’ll take a draw in one of the hardest places to go to in the league.

“If you’re asking about progression, I look at the Dundee game three weeks ago when we lost 3-0, and when you go to Thistle on Saturday and come away with a 1-1 draw, that’s progression – but for me it needs to be that way for the full season.

“I think it is a work in progress.

“We are seeing signs of improvement in different areas, but it needs to continue.

“The culture we’re trying to create here is that we’re not happy with draws. We want to pick up more victories, but we need to be more ruthless.

“We’ve been in front in games and not killed the opponent off.

“I think on Saturday there were about eight mistakes rolled into one, or eight decisions we could maybe have done better, which causes the goal against us.

“Improvements need to be made on that part, but if those mistakes are made, at least it gives us a cushion if we’re another goal in front, because we all know what a 1-0 lead does.”

Rankin knows Saturday’s trip to Somerset Park will be a difficult one, but says they’re all looking forward to it.

“They got a good result [3-2 win against Queen’s Park] on Friday night, I was at the game myself.

“I saw