ACCIES BOSS SETS A FOUR-POINT TARGET

HAMILTON manager Martin Canning has set his team a four-point minimum target as they prepare to face the Premiership top four.

A trip to Celtic Park tomorrow is just the start of a hugely-difficult run of fixtures which sees Accies making two journeys to Ibrox, one to Tynecastle and hosting in-form Aberdeen. Hamilton then face another top-four contender in St Johnstone.

A William Hill Scottish Cup quarter-final against Rangers will take care of itself but Hamilton are three points off Lanarkshire rivals Motherwell and guaranteed safety in the Premiership and Canning knows they cannot afford to slip off the pace before the run-in to the split.

“In the corresponding fixtures earlier i n t he season we have taken four points out of 12,” he said.

“That’s got to be a minimum again, we will look to take at least that.

“We beat Aberdeen at home, drew with Rangers at Ibrox and were 3-1 up against Hearts and threw away two late goals.

“So there are positives in those games that we can compete with those teams.”

Accies only l ost by a solitary Leigh Griffiths goal on their previous trip to Parkhead.

Canning said: “Concentration is key, you stay in the game long enough to give yourself a chance to take something from it.

“They are on terrific form but we have to go there and believe we can make it difficult for them.”