HAMILTON captain Darian MacKinnon believes that his side let Rangers off the hook as they eventually went down by four goals to one at the Hope CBD Stadium on Sunday.

Steven Boyd had dragged Hamilton level with just 10 minutes to go as his wonder-strike cancelled out Ryan Kent’s opener for the off-colour visitors.

MacKinnon felt at that point that Rangers were there for the taking, but two penalties conceded in three minutes by Alex Penny allowed James Tavernier to thump Rangers into an unassailable lead, before Alfredo Morelos added a fourth on the break in stoppage time.

The Hamilton skipper could hardly believe the scoreline at the end of what was a closely-contested match over the piece, and he has been left nursing a nagging feeling of what might have been.

“It was a hard one to take as we played quite well,” MacKinnon said.

“Rangers were there for the taking and we let them off the hook. It was a chance lost for us - absolutely.

“At 1-1, I knew Rangers would have to go and push on. I felt there would be space in behind for us to go and attack.

“It’s probably schoolboy from us, giving the chance away. After you score, you are always vulnerable. There wasn’t long between the goals.

“I was disappointed with the first Rangers penalty because Andrew Dallas had the same view as me.

“I wasn’t entirely sure where it hit him and I said to the ref, ‘Did you see it?’ He said it was him that called it - and not the linesman. But I don’t know how he could see it because I couldn’t - and I was standing in the same position as him.

“If it is the right decision, then fair enough.

“When you are playing against the better teams in the league and you aren’t at it, they will destroy you. But I thought we were bang at it against Rangers and 4-1 doesn’t reflect the game.

“This sounds strange, but I’d rather get beaten 4-1 trying to chase the game - rather than sitting back and taking a doing.”