Hamilton boss John Rankin hailed the impact of his new signings after they helped deliver a vital victory over Partick Thistle.
Newcastle loanee Dylan Stephenson netted the only goal of the game nine minutes after climbing off the bench at the start of the second half, while Rankin was also impressed by the display from Hearts loanee Connor Smith as he made his debut just hour after completing his switch.
After a poor first half by his own admission, Rankin made a triple change at the break with Stephenson and Smith joined by Dario Zanatta in replacing Lewis Smith, Andy Winter and Fergus Owens.
And Rankin admitted that was the turning point as they stayed within four points of Arbroath at the bottom of the Championship table, with a game in hand.
He told Lanarkshire Live Sport: "The changes at half-time helped.
"Dylan came on and did what we've seen footage of him doing. He affected the game very well and he brought out the best in John Pierre Tiehi, as did Connor Smith and Dario Zanatta by getting near him.
"That influenced the second half and we were much more of a threat because we weren't at all in the second half.
"I was delighted with Dylan and also Connor. I know what Connor brings. I know the enthusiasm he has for the game - he just wants to play football.
"He's got that bit of quality, composure and calmness that we need. Whether that be off the side, as a striker. He can play a number of positions.
"Having that bit of variety in his play will help us and it will help the likes of Lucas de Bolle in the midfield as well.
"He obviously strengthens us and it gives the rest of the players a lift because there are fresh faces there.
"It's a case now of we have players who can go out there, knock their pan in and know we have quality players who can come on and replace them.
"Dylan takes his goal very well and that changes the game.
More sports news from across Lanarkshire
"The second half performance is the standard we need to get ourselves to.
"We have to take the positives that when things were maybe going against us, we didn't crumble. We stood up strong and even in the first half when we were poor, we defended really well.
"I'm delighted to get the result but I'm not happy with the first half.
"It was two different teams I watched."
Accies have now won four games on the bounce in all competitions and kept three clean sheets.
It is now back-to-back wins in the division and yesterday's win was made all the more important after Arbroath beat Morton 2-1 at Cappielow to ensure the gap stayed at four points.
Rankin added: "We just need to take care of ourselves and look at our own results, don't get carried away by anything going on around us.
"The fresh players coming in have a different mentality.
"We have been in a bad run of form at the end of 2022. We had to turn that around as quickly as we could and the players who have come in have got a different mentality entirely.
"They have a real positivity about them but also a real willingness to work. That breeds confidence and so does momentum.
"There is a togetherness there and that will get us through."
Accies are back in action on Saturday when they host high-flying Dundee, who defeated league leaders Queen's Park 3-0 yesterday.
All the latest sport news in Lanarkshire
Follow Lanarkshire Live Sport onTwitter via@LanLiveSport, like us onFacebookor find us onInstagramfor the latest sports news, pictures and video.
