Ross County winger Joe Cardle knows professionalism is key in preparing for today's trip to Hamilton after a dramatic week.

County bounced back from four opening defeats in the Scottish Premiership by beating Stranraer 2-1 in the League Cup on Tuesday.

But players arrived for training on Thursday to find manager Derek Adams had been sacked along with his father, director of football George Adams.

After the 530-mile round trip and the upheaval they now have a 180-mile trek to New Douglas Park. And Cardle knows the team must put the week's events out of their heads.

The summer signing from Raith, under orders not to talk about the manager's exit, said Accies will be a tough game on an unfamiliar artificial pitch.

"We have to stay professional after the week we have had, and hopefully go there and get the three points we need. They have had a great start to the league and we need to kick on ourselves.

"Tuesday night was massive for us. We needed to get the monkey off our back and to get the win at a hard place like Stranraer."

Former County captain Steven Ferguson is in charge, months after promotion from first-team coach to assistant manager.

"Fergie has been brilliant with me," Cardle added. "Hopefully I can make the starting 11. He is a good manager himself and has good experience."