BRIAN RICE has called for Hamilton to be braver after seeing his side slump to a 5-0 defeat to Rangers at the Hope Stadium.

Accies were four goals down at the break and could have suffered a heavier loss against the Light Blues.

It was a frustrating afternoon for new boss Rice and the 55-year-old had a clear message for his players as attentions turn to the midweek clash with Aberdeen.

He said: "The biggest thing for me today was Rangers’ ball retention, the way they moved the ball around, moved us all across the pitch, was fantastic.

"Could we have made it more difficult? Yeah. Could we have stopped them? Maybe not.

"We might have done but maybe not because it was that good. We’re not going to get like that in a very, very short space of time. I’ve only been in three weeks, and that’s no excuse whatsoever.

"What disappoints me most of all is when we had the ball, not being able to look after it. I’ve just told them in there, being brave isn’t going and smashing someone or going and fouling someone.

"Being brave is saying ‘give me the ball with someone on me and I’ll look after it and I’ll make a proper pass’. We never had that today.

"Rangers got the ball back far, far too easily. It’s something we’ve got to really work at and work at and work at.

"And any who can’t do it will probably find themselves not in the team. I want people in my side who can look after the ball.”