Hamilton Accies players having a "set-to" on pitch shows we have desire to get out of the mire, says John Rankin

Hamilton Accies boss John Rankin says seeing his players have a "set-to" on the pitch during their defeat to Partick Thistle shows they have the fighting spirit to get out of the relegation mire.

The New Douglas Park side responded to last week's 5-0 thrashing at Morton by producing a battling display against the league leaders and deserved to take something from the game.

But, as it was, goals from Brian Graham and Scott Tiffoney either side of an Andy Ryan strike for Accies gave Thistle the victory and kept Accies rock bottom on goal difference from Arbroath.

After conceding what proved to be the winning goal, Accies duo Ryan and Scott Martin almost came to blows as the recriminations among the hosts' defence flew.

But Rankin, who replaced Martin with Lewis Smith shortly after the incident, said: "I love that.

"I don't like conceding the goal, that's the bit I hate, but the desire and commitment from the two of them sees the two of them come together like that.

"It's a case of showing a bit of responsibility for doing your own job and the two of them were having a set-to about it.

"It turns out they weren't the ones responsible for it but they were the two closest to it and that's why they had that.

"I love that desire and that will get us out of the situation we are in just now."

Accies gave Ian McCall's men a real run for their money and spurned some big chances, with Jonny Ngandu denied one-on-one and a Ryan lob narrowly missing the target in the first half.

Right at the death, Ryan looked to have salvaged a point but his point-blank header was superbly saved by Jags keeper Jamie Sneddon to inflict a fourth defeat on the spin for Accies.

Rankin is clearly delighted to have Ryan return from a two month absence due to