John Rankin reckons Hamilton's disappointing second half display against Queen's Park that cost them a place in the knockout stages of the Premier Sports Cup is clear evidence they need to strengthen.
But the New Douglas Park boss is still buoyed by their first half showing and says that must now be the standard for the squad this season.
Accies came firing out of the blocks in their Group H clash and scored after four minutes through Andy Winter.
They passed up a succession of chances after that in an impressive opening 45 minutes that had Owen Coyle's Spiders on the backfoot, and that came back to bite them when Jake Davidson equalised for the Spiders 12 minutes from time.
A bonus point in the 5-3 penalty shootout win that followed proved futile as Accies finished second in the table, but out-with the best three runners-up placings needed to progress.
And ahead of the Championship campaign kicking off at home to Morton next week, Rankin said: "Today was an example that we need players to help the ones that are here, so hopefully we can do that.
"We need to add quality to the group, people that are going to push for starting positions.
"I've always said quantity isn't as important as quality.
"I don't know if we'll get anything over the line for next Saturday, but we are trying.
"I think everyone is looking for the same thing so right now I'm not too keen on saying [which positions] but I'd quite like to strengthen in a few areas.
"The huge disappointment today is we haven't got into the next round of the cup, but we've got to look at the positives of the first 45 minutes, the chances we created - that was really pleasing.
"Then we go and win the penalty shootout so that keeps the momentum going.
"But at the same time it's disappointing because we knew if we won the game we would be in the next round of the cup.
"The players are disappointed with the second half performance - as am I - and that's actually pleasing because we are setting standards.
"We need to live to those standards and if we can do that and raise the bar then I think we can be successful.
"The feel-good factor is great to have but we need to make sure we have the feel-good factor at 5pm coming off the pitch, knowing we've rolled our sleeves up and worked hard together."
Accies had three attempts cleared off the line - including two headers from Dan O'Reilly - in their clash and Rankin is frustrated his side didn't make the most of their opportunities.
He added: "Not getting the second goal was massive. I think when you are in the position we were in so early in the game, a goal up in the first five minutes, a second goal kills it.
"To be fair to Queen's Park, they've defended really well and cleared three headers off the goal line, which is impressive in itself but disappointing from our point of view.
"When you look at it, we've had other chances to be more ruthless and we haven't taken them and it gave them the opportunity to come into the game.
"In the second half they had us on the back foot for a good period of time and that was disappointing. We never got out, we never squeezed, we tried to feel safe in the game and protect the 1-0 lead, whereas if we'd went for the second goal I think it would have made it a better afternoon.
"We need to kill the game when we are on top.
"I thought the first 15 minutes we were relentless, we were trying to create chances.
"If we can get the players to believe that the first 45 minutes is how we want to play [for the full game] then hopefully it leads to a successful season."
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