Canning wants team to take chance after his cup woe
MARTIN Canning has urged Hamilton to grasp their William Hill Scottish Cup opportunity against Rangers and not miss the chance of a lifetime like he did.
The Accies boss was part of the Gretna side who made it all the way to Hampden in 2006, but he was cup tied and missed the Borders outfit’s big day, which ended with a penalty shoot-out defeat to Hearts.
It took penalties for Hamilton to see off Dunfermline at the second attempt on Tuesday night as they set up a last-eight clash with Rangers.
And Canning urged his team to use his sorry story for next month’s Ibrox tie.
He said: “I was at Gretna I missed out on the actual game at Hampden. I went through all the emotions of the final without getting to play, which is probably more difficult.
“I’ve told the players to grasp this opportunity because the quarter-finals was the furthest I got.
“When you play in Scotland, the cups are one of the main things you chase because the league is so hard to win unless you’re playing for Celtic or Rangers. So a cup run is the opportunity for every player to get their hands on some silverware.”
Against Dunfermline, Accies goalkeeper Remi Matthews grasped his opportunity to stake a claim for a regular firstteam place with his heroics, saving three penalties in the shoot-out.
Matthews said: “Gary Woods has done well when he’s played, and I’ve come back to fight for the No 1 spot. I can only do what I can in the games I get the opportunity.
“The gaffer’s given me the chance in the last two cup games and I think I can say I’ve repaid his faith.”