Hamilton boss heaps praise on players as club climb off bottom of the table

Hamilton Accies boss John Rankin hailed his charges after they climbed of the bottom of the Championship table - and revealed three of his stars played through the pain barrier to help them sink Inverness.

The New Douglas Park side defeated the Caley Jags for the second time in three days, as a Dan O'Reilly header and a Connor Smith penalty either side of a Stuart Allardice strike for the visitors earned a 2-1 win off the back of a 3-0 success in the Highlands.

Rankin was thrilled for his stars as they made it five games unbeaten in the league to move two points clear of Arbroath at the foot of the table.

He wouldn't reveal which of his players went the extra mile for the cause, but he didn't reserve special praise for midfielder Scott Martin.

He said: "There was three players not ready who weren't ready to play tonight and they went on that pitch for me knowing that they were struggling - and they got through 90 minutes.

"That says all I need to know about my players and I am absolutely delighted with that.

"I am not going to name names but I am over the moon for the players.

"The togetherness in the squad is coming together at the right time but we need to keep working, we need to keep grafting.

"That togetherness will see us through.

"I thought Scotty Martin was brilliant tonight. He epitomised what I think of a Hamilton player.

"Having played against Hamilton and now being a Hamilton manager, he epitomises a Hamilton player."

Asked how it felt to be off the bottom, he said: "I don't know because I've not looked at the table and that's me being brutally honest.

"I'm not interested in looking at the table.

"All I'm interested in is three points and the next game. Caley Thistle is done so now we need to focus on Queen's