Hamilton v Hearts: Pressure is on Tynecastle club for Scottish Cup tie, says Accies boss

dailyrecord.co.uk:

Hamilton Accies boss John Rankin says all the pressure is on Hearts in their Scottish Cup fifth round tie on Friday night, and told his players to play with a freedom.Former Tynecastle youth coach Rankin locks horns with Robbie Neilson and a side he labels the “third-best” in Scotland, and recognises that the New Douglas Park clash is huge.But Rankin says the expectation is on Hearts and he wants his side to go out and show how good they are.Hamilton go into the clash, which is broadcast by BBC, on the back of a 2-1 SPFL Trust Trophy semi-final win over Queen of the South on Tuesday that stretched their unbeaten run to six games.Rankin said: “It’s a huge game on Friday night and it’s one we can go and enjoy – there’s no pressure on us.“It’s one where we can go and test ourselves against, for me, the third-best team in the country.“It’s a huge club, and we look forward to Hearts coming here and us testing ourselves against some international players.“We weren’t expected to beat Ross County in the fourth round, and I said to the players at the time to go out, play freely, express yourselves, and enjoy yourself, and they did that.“It’s the same on Friday night.

Go out and enjoy yourself, be laid back.“Play with a smile on your face and go and show the Premiership team and everybody that’s here how good you are.“There’s a freedom.

We had young players on that pitch on Tuesday night and I’m proud of every one of them.”Rankin was delighted with the win over Marvin Bartley’s Queens, who made it difficult on the night, though Accies had enough chances to have killed the game off much earlier.On-loan Hibs goalkeeper Kevin Dabrowski made a string of top saves, and Rankin said: “I’m absolutely over the moon for all the boys,