Brian Rice insists Hamilton's shock win over Rangers didn't come as a surprise to him, as he hailed his Ibrox heroes.
The Accies gaffer watched his side take the lead through David Moyo's strike after a howler from Connor Goldson.
But the Lanarkshire men, who were bottom of the table at the start of the night, put their bodies on the line to ensure a priceless clean sheet and move two points clear of rock bottom Hearts.
After the club's second win over Rangers at Ibrox in three seasons, Rice said: "To come to Ibrox and keep a clean sheet is phenomenal for us.
"I don't know how many times in their history Hamilton have come here and kept a clean sheet.
"I must say my lads defended with their lives tonight.
"We stuck to our game plan to press from the front when we could.
"There's no point in coming here and sitting in, although we were forced back later in the game.
"I think it [the result] shocked everyone - apart from myself.
"I always believe you put a team out to try and win the game and I'm not going to say I thought we'd win the game 1-0, I'd never be stupid enough to say that.
"But I think if you've got enough belief in your team you've got a chance of winning.
"Football is a crazy game. You can't predict a result - it's on the night.
"We were bottom of the league coming in tonight. Most people would have expected us still to be bottom tonight and we are not, so it's great credit to my lads."
Accies rode their luck at times, with Rangers hitting the woodwork twice and skipper James Tavernier missing an absolute sitter in the second half at 0-0.
The visitors also had goalkeeper Luke Southwood to thank for a string of saves, denying Florian Kamberi, Ianis Hagi and Alfredo Morelos.
But all that mattered was Moyo's 56th minute effort and it could prove a pivotal three points in Hamilton's bid to beat the drop.
Rice added: "On another day, Rangers might have got two or three breaks and their chances would have gone in the net.
"I think that's the first time this season that we've had a break.
"Balls are hitting the crossbar, balls are skimming by the post.
"I was just speaking to my owner there and that's the first time we've had a break this season.
"You've got to have a bit of luck; we are Hamilton Accies coming to Glasgow Rangers, you've got to have a bit of luck."
Accies now host Kilmarnock on Saturday, a side who they have beaten and drawn with in their previous league meetings this season.
But Rice has warned against getting carried away after such a massive high.
"I said to them in there, you'll get all the plaudits, you'll get phone calls from people you've never heard from, but the biggest thing for me now is Kilmarnock," he insisted.
"I need to make sure that there's no complacency going into Saturday.
"To get a clean sheet gives you confidence and it should give them a great amount of belief. It also gives us the three points that we needed."
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