Hamilton Accies Marvin Bartley Connor Smith Jordan county Douglas show performer sports Parke Hamilton Accies Marvin Bartley Connor Smith Jordan county Douglas

Hamilton Accies boss warns his side to play the game, not the occasion, in semi-final

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Hamilton Accies boss John admits the prospect of a Challenge Cup final is motivation enough for his players against Queen of the South this evening.But the New Douglas Park gaffer has urged them to put thoughts of a final out of their heads and focus on the 90 minutes in front of them.Rankin says that’s what his side did as they embarked on a five-game unbeaten streak that has given them hope of beating the drop from the Championship.For tonight, Accies' focus is entirely on League One side Queen of the South, which could then lead to a place in the final against either Raith Rovers or Dundee.Rankin said: “It’s an occasion where the players have to go and play the game, rather than think about what is at stake.“The main thing is to try and win the game, and we have to do that.“We know [new boss] Marvin Bartley has gone in there a couple of weeks ago and results have got better, so it’s going to be a tough game, but it’s one we’re looking forward to.“It’s a semi-final, it’s not very often that you get a chance to go and play in a final, so we’re looking forward to that opportunity.“But I don’t care what’s at the end of it, it’s the 90 minutes that are at stake.“Over the last four or five weeks that’s what we’ve been doing – worrying about the 90 minutes that’s in front of us and taking it from there.”Accies ended a run of four straight wins with a 1-1 draw at home to high-flying Dundee, with Connor Smith’s 25-yard screamer cancelled out by Jordan McGhee before half-time.Rankin wasn’t pleased with the performance but says his side showed a resilience that he was happy to see.He said: “I thought we forgot to play, to be honest.“After we scored the first goal we stopped playing and it was frustrating, but to be fair I think

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