Hamilton Cann-do attitude to KO Celts

HAMILTON Accies are hatching a plan to be the first domestic side to defeat Celtic since the arrival of Brendan Rodgers.

But that doesn’t mean manager Martin Canning is ruling out the notion of the Parkhead side compiling a second invincible Scottish season in succession. “Based on last season it is feasible, yes,” said Canning.

“I don’t think they’re getting weaker, they’re becoming stronger.

“You look at the guys they’re bringing through into their squad from their under-20s teams.

“If they can do it last year I don’t see why they can’t go ahead and do it again this year. I’m pretty sure that’ll be their intention.

“But that’s why it’s up to the likes of us and the rest of Scottish football to get that result.”

While Rodgers is sure to have at least one eye on the home Champions League opener against Paris St Germain on Tuesday night, Canning reckons Celtic’s “second or third” team could compete in the Ladbrokes Premiership.

“Yes they’ll be forward planning for the European game, but they’ll know the importance of being focussed and they won’t take their eye off the ball,” said the Accies manager, whose side sat fourth in the Premiership table throughout the international break. “They’re too professional for that.”

As imperious as the Parkhead side have been in recent times, Ali Crawford, Dougie Imrie and Danny Redmond all played as the Accies ended a 76-year jinx in 2014.

“I didn’t play because of injury and watched from the stand,” he said. “But it was a great day.

“Whoever ends Celtic’s run, it’ll be a team that rides their luck a little bit and we did that day. They missed opportunities and we took ours and hung on.

“So the boys know we can do it,” he added. “Every team that’s played Celtic in the last 50-odd games has been thinking, ‘are we the team that’s going to be the one that ends their run?’

“We’ll be thinking the same thing. That’ll the main focus – to try and take something from the game, and if you can win it, great.”