Hamilton v Partick Thistle: Accies boss admits confidence in front of target is low after goals from open play stat

John Rankin admits his Hamilton Accies side need to find more confidence in front of goal when Partick Thistle come calling on Saturday after going nine games without scoring from open play.

Accies have netted five times in that spell, with penalties and set-pieces providing the goals, but his side have also missed some glaring opportunities in front of the target since Dario Zanatta's strike inside the box against Queen's Park in February's 4-1 defeat.

He admits a lack of confidence is playing its part and hopes they can put that right against a side they defeated 1-0 at Firhill last time out in January.

Accies desperately need the points to beat the drop after a 2-1 defeat from a winning position against Inverness on Tuesday night left them four points adrift of eighth place Arbroath and two ahead of bottom side Cove Rangers, having played a game more.

So his players will need to take their chances to sting Thistle in the final Championship home clash of the season and Rankin said: "Our thing just now is we are hesitant in front of goal. We create chances but we don't hit the target or we overthink things.

"When you are top of the league, you have confidence and you are free flowing so these things come naturally.

"Whereas we are second guessing ourselves in front of goal.

"We need to put that to the back of our mind.

"When we get into these positions, whether it be shooting earlier, taking an extra stride, taking an extra touch, we need to get these decisions right.

"We've scored goals from set plays and penalties and you get the same goals from that as you would from open play.

"But games are won in both boxes and we weren't ruthless enough on Tuesday night."

Accies go to the clash on a three-game losing streak,