Performance at Partick Thistle in August gives Hamilton Accies boss belief they can stun leaders

Hamilton Accies boss John Rankin believes his struggling side can shock Partick Thistle this afternoon and atone for last week's mauling by Morton.

The New Douglas Park side almost grabbed a win at Firhill in August when the Jags needed a late Brian Graham goal to salvage a point from their first league encounter.

Partick come calling with both sides looking to make up for defeats after 10-man Jags lost 1-0 at Inverness in their last outing, while Accies were hammered 5-0 at Cappielow.

But Rankin reckons their display against the Jags last time out should give them hope they can get a result.

He said: "The last game [against Partick] gives us belief. The way we played that day was really pleasing.

"We had good discipline, good shape, we were determined - completely different to what we were on Saturday at Morton.

"So we need to see that spirit amongst the players against Thistle.

"Thistle are coming into it off a bad result but they are still top of the league, so we know how difficult it is going to be.

"But we've already shown this season that we can compete with them so it is a chance for the players to put right what went wrong on Saturday."

Meanwhile, midfielder Steve Lawson says Accies have to rediscover the "fighting mentality" they showed early on in the season, which saw them lose just once in their first six games.

The club are now bottom of the Championship on goal difference following Arbroath's draw with Queen's Park last night with one win from nine outings, and currently on a run of three straight defeats without scoring.

Lawson said: "We drew the first few games where we were a goal up and we conceded late on.

"We felt we were unlucky on that run and it kind of killed us a bit, that we weren't getting the