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Daily Record
Daily Record
Sport
Andy McGilvray

Hamilton boss John Rankin urges officials for consistency over phantom goal

Hamilton Accies boss John Rankin says John-Pierre Tiehi's first-half strike in their 3-2 defeat at home to Ayr United should have stood, and urged for consistency from officials.

Frenchman Tiehi's strike cannoned off the crossbar following good set-up play by Dario Zanatta, and appeared to bounce over the line, but wasn't given.

Rankin pointed to a similar goal in the 2-0 defeat against Queen's Park on September 17, and says he doesn't understand why one is given and not the other.

He said: "100 per cent. At the time you can see everybody's reaction in the stadium. You can see their defenders' reaction at the same time they're looking at the referee to see if it's going to be given.

"It's over the line. My gripe isn't with the referee and linesman's decision, because I know hard their job is, I get that.

"But I'm sitting here seven or eight weeks ago explaining how a goal against Queen's Park has been given from the exact same position, they're guessing, because they're 12 yards away, they can't give it.

"All I'm asking for is consistency and I don't think I'm wrong to do that. I don't know how you can give one and not the other.

Dipo Akinyemi scored a double in Ayr's win (SNS Group)

"But it was a great finish and for the players to respond in the way they did, I'm really pleased.

"The goal that was disallowed, or not given, didn't affect us at all, we just got on with our game, we kept our heads right, were calm and composed, and playing some really nice football.

"But ultimately we're not ruthless enough in our own box and that cost us."

Hamilton went 1-0 down inside four minutes when Dipo Akinyemi latched onto a poor pass-back and slammed the ball into the net.

Tiehi's 'goal' didn't stand, but Steve Lawson brought them level from the spot in 50 minutes, only for Akinyemi to thunder a finish into the net to bring his side back in front.

An own-goal by Finn Ecrepont again levelled for Accies in 80 minutes, but two minutes later Dan O'Reilly fouled Alex Kirk to concede a penalty, which Ben Dempsey scored.

Ben Dempsey scored Ayr's penalty winner (SNS Group)

Rankin said: "There's a huge element of pride in my players tonight. I thought they were absolutely brilliant. The chances they created, the energy they created, the endeavour, and the will to be better than the man they were playing against.

"But ultimately they came out of the game with nothing and as much as I'm proud of the way they played football - and [Ayr boss] Lee Bullen and his players said we were by far the better team.

"If we keep playing like that we'll be all right, but there can't keep being the gulf in good performances and poor performances that there has been recently."

Follow Lanarkshire Live Sport on Twitter via @LanLiveSport, like us on Facebook or find us on Instagram for the latest sports news, pictures and video.

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