Martin insists it’s the Can before the storm
Accies boss calls on players to keep heads after hot-headed clash
HAMILTON manager Martin Canning has condemned his players for losing control following the win over Ross County.
Ioannis Skondras was shown a straight red card after being involved in an ugly confrontation with several County players, which saw both teams pile in.
The defender was even face-toface with referee Gavin Duncan at one point before being dismissed, and has since been charged by the Scottish Football Association. Skondras has been cited with “excessive misconduct” and could be handed an extended ban, while Accies have also been charged with failing to control their players – the second time they have been warned about their conduct following angry scenes at Tynecastle earlier in the month.
Both parties have until December 28 to respond to their charges and, though Canning says he has yet to decide on their response, he was disappointed to see the reactions of his players.
The Accies boss said: “I got that through yesterday afternoon and we left to go as it was coming time to go to the Under-20s game, so I’ve not had a chance to sit and digest it and go through it properly.
“When I do I will comment further on it, but at the minute I will need to have a chat with the owners and see where we go.
“We’ve got until the 28th I think to respond and there’s a hearing on the 11th of January so we will see how it unfolds.”
He added: “We shouldn’t be taking it that far. We have to try and control ourselves.
“It was that type of game. I think [Ross County defender Kenny] Van der Weg kicked it off by pushing Ioannis and when that happens, both teams protect their team-mates.
“And given the amount of pressureonthegame–andan89thminute goal – you can understand the emotion of the game boiling over.
“But it’s no excuse for us to have a player sent off.”
If Skondras accepts the charge he could miss up to 16 matches, and Canning is preparing for life without the full-back this weekend against Partick Thistle.
“I don’t know what will happen,” he said.
“We will see where we go, but one thing is for certain and that’s that we will lose him for the next two games through his red card anyway, and then we see where we go from there.”