Hamilton boss Brian Rice says he "can't question our effort and commitment" after defeat to League Two Stranraer last night.
Goals from Tam Orr and Darryl Duffy either side of Hakeem Odoffin's header inflicting Accies' 11th defeat in 15 outings this season.
The result means the side are out of the Betfred Cup at the group stage, with the shock result coming just days after an 8-0 thrashing by Rangers.
However, Rice reckons his players did show some of the attributes he had hoped to see after the heavy loss at Ibrox.
He said: "The conditions were atrocious and it was just a slog in the mud; it was just a battle.
"It was a typical, old fashioned cup tie and we lost a soft goal to lose the match in the end.
"We had the momentum second half after Stranraer had got the first goal and sat in second hallf.
"We threw everything at it to get the goal back.
"On Sunday I questioned the lads desire and their lack of heart, but there was none of that last night, they threw everything at it and we just couldn't get the break.
"When you go into a cup tie it's important to get the first goal, and Stranraer got the first goal, and defended it well.
"We had chances to get the goal in the first 20-25 minutes and we didn't take them.
"I can't question our effort and commitment that's for sure."
With just one game left in the group stage against Lanarkshire rivals Albion Rovers, Rice is targeting a morale-boosting win to bring a nightmare week at New Douglas Park to a close.
He added: "We need to try and get a win to boost the confidence before we go back into our league campaign, that's for sure.
"It's been a tough, tough week. We're only human. We feel it. We take it bad, and I take it as bad as anybody.
"We need to try and get the win to get the confidence up a bit."
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