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John Rankin insists Hamilton’s 4-0 win at Montrose flattered them, and the focus is now on Queen of the South under the Friday night lights. But the Accies boss praised his side’s character for overcoming obstacles at Links Park to return with a commanding win, which keeps them top of League One on goal difference over Stenhousemuir. Kyle MacDonald got Accies on their way with a long-range effort in 21 minutes, with Oli Shaw’s 10th goal of the season doubling that lead just after the hour-mark. Steven Bradley added a third in 70 minutes, eight minutes before Montrose were reduced to 10 when Ross Clark saw red, and Lee Kilday wrapped up the win in 81 minutes. Rankin said: “I told the players how difficult the game at Montrose was going to be, we knew that, and I still maintain that the scoreline flatters us – I don’t think it was a 4-0 fixture. “We took our chances when they came about, and we were ruthless in the final third when we had to be, so I’m really pleased with that. “But when I look at the game against Montrose, there are certain fixtures in the league you look at, and Montrose away is one of those that you’re least looking forward to, because you know how tough it’s going to be. “You know the conditions are going to be hard, you need to be at your best and everything’s going to come at you – credit to the players, I thought they dealt great with that on Saturday. “We had sticky patches and difficult moments in the game, but they came through it. “In the second half I was particularly pleased with their character and how they adapted to it. I knew for the first 15 or 20 minutes they’d throw everything at us, they had the home crowd behind them, but fair play to the players, they overcame those difficult moments and we got the three points.” On Friday night’s clash at Broadwood, Rankin said: “We need to take each game as it comes, take on the opponent that’s in front of us, and make sure we’re at our best. “The players’ attitude throughout this time has been great, and we need to make sure that continues, so my only focus right now is on Queen of the South. “I don’t know if it gives players a lift, but I certainly enjoyed playing under the floodlights. It’s a different atmosphere, a different environment you’re playing in, and it certainly added to the buzz for me, but I don’t know if it gives you any advantage or not, playing at that time. “But when I played, it was something that I thoroughly enjoyed and rose to the challenge, so hopefully the players can as well. “We know it will be a difficult game and difficult opposition against Queen of the South, but one that I’ll maintain we need to be at our best levels to try and get anything from it.” Oli Shaw bagged 16 goals last season and is six off that total already. Rankin said: “Oli’s one of those strikers where he’s always in a dangerous area, he’s always in space in the middle of the box, and that in itself is a talent, being able to find space in the box when it’s so congested, so if you’ve got somebody like Oli through the middle, we have to continually feed him.”
