Hamilton Accies boss praises patched-up players after seeing off valiant Alloa to set up Inverness final

Hamilton boss John Rankin praised patched up players Lewis Smith and Akheem Rose for firing them to past valiant 10-man Alloa to reach the play-off final.

The tie was locked level at 2-2 after Tuesday's first leg at the Indodrill, but Rankin's men prevailed 5-4 on aggregate after another action-packed tussle saw Accies fall behind early on a Quinn Coulson strike, only for Reghan Tumilty and Smith to pull them level by half-time.

Alloa gave themselves a mountain to climb when Morgyn Neill picked up a double booking for dissent in the aftermath of Smith's goal, sarcastically clapping referee Steven Kirkland after his initial indiscretion, and substitute Conor Sammon gave them a lifeline when he pulled the visitors level after 57 minutes.

However super sub Rose, who missed the first leg through a pelvic injury, had the final say when he poked home after superb work by Smith in the 77th minute, seeing off a battling Alloa side who almost grabbed a last-gasp leveller when Taylor Steven's free-kick hit the post and trundled along the line.

Rankin said: "That is the first time we have come from behind this season and got something out of the game so I take my hat off to them. In a big game like that previously we've gone behind six times and lost all six so it was a case of being patient and making sure we took our chances when we got them.

"I am delighted for Smithy to get on the scoresheet. We had to make sure that he was right coming into the play-offs.

"Akheem has been struggling big time recently and that committment from the squad is what we need for where we want to get to - and it is going to need to be like that again on Wednesday night. Akheem is in a good bit of pain but he has that mentality where he just wants to help his team-mates.

"I'm just delighted to get ourselves into the final and give ourselves a chance to get back into the Championship."

Accies have set up a final with Inverness Caledonian Thistle after Duncan Ferguson's Championship side squeezed past Montrose 1-0 in the second leg and 1-0 on aggregate.

Rankin's side play host on Wednesday night before a trip north on Saturday and says the fans can play their part in helping them seal an immediate return to the second tier.

He added: "Going down 1-0 I thought the supporters were great. They got right behind us so that helped as well. You could feel the atmosphere in the stadium, even at the end when they clapped us off the pitch. We need to be all together in the next two games to make sure we get tmo where we want to get to."

Gutted Alloa gaffer Andy Graham said: "That is as proud as I've been in my short managerial career. I thought the players were different class. We were very brave and very unlucky not to draw the game with Taylor's strike. Most of us thought it was in, but it wasn't to be.

"'m gutted to go out because I fully believed we could get something out of the game, but there are a lot of positives for the club."

On Neill's sending off, he added: "Nobody will feel worse than him right now and it wouldn't help if I came out and slaughtered him. It's a crazy decision [from him] but that's football, we've all done things we regret."

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