Morton 2 Hamilton 0: Accies boss rues missed opportunity to close gap on Arbroath

Hamilton Accies boss John Rankin admits they blew a good opportunity to close the gap on rivals Arbroath after a poor second half showing at Morton cost them dear last night.

Rankin felt his side failed to capitalise on a positive first 45 minutes at Cappielow and looked on in horror as ex-Accie Grant Gillespie was allowed the easiest of finishes at the back post 10 minutes into the second half to fire Morton in front.

The hosts doubled their advantage in 66 minutes when Alex King struck to make sure of the points, which leaves Accies in the relegation play-off spot two points clear of bottom side Cove Rangers and three adrift of Arbroath in the safety of eighth spot.

Arbroath lost 2-0 away to Inverness and Rankin believes not taking anything from Dougie Imrie's side was a big chance missed.

Rankin, whose side had won all seven of their previous games on Tuesday nights this season, said: "In the first half we had some good chances and, if anything, we were probably the better team at that point, albeit Morton had a very good chance that Tom [Sparrow] did well to clear.

"But we had some really good opportunities, we were on the front foot and were very much an attacking threat.

"When we came in at half-time we knew it was going to be a different game because the wind was playing a massive part and the conditions weren't great, but the boys were confident going back out.

"Then we lose a cheap goal from a set play and Gillespie taps in at the back post.

"It's come in over bodies and that can't happen, someone being able to just pass the ball into the net from six yards.

"Somebody has got to be aggressive there and get a head on it. We need to be braver.

"That changes the game because it was fairly even up until that point.