TOP FORM AT RIGHT TIME Canning urges players to keep showing they are Premiership quality
Two wins, two draws, three clean sheets and a single goal conceded is a brilliant return from Hamilton’s last four games – but boss Martin Canning warns they’re not out of the woods yet.
The Accies gaffer, however, said he has been prepared to sacrifice performances for points, and is delighted that he didn’t have to, as Hamilton beat Dundee 2-0 in some style at Dens Park on Saturday to record their first away win of the season.
He said: “It’s a good place and a good time to get the first away win of the season, but I spoke to the players through the week about that, that with the quality we have that shouldn’t be the case.
“We have been unfortunate at times and we’ve drawn too many games away from home, so it’s great to win, and at a crucial part of the season as well.
“The boys were excellent, performance levels were good, and at this stage of the season you would probably be happy to sacrifice performances just to get points.
“To put both together, get the performance and the three points, was really pleasing.
“One thing I keep saying though is that we won’t get too low when we lose and we won’t get too high when we win; the second you get too high and think you’re going to be OK that’s when you get in trouble.
“We’ll make sure we stay hungry, we keep working hard, and we need to make sure we have that same intensity and desire until the end of the season, and if we do that hopefully we’ll pick up enough points and be fine.”
Canning added: “It’s credit to the players. When it gets to this stage of the season this is when you want your players to be hitting form and being bang at it, and they were.
“That’s great credit to the character and atmosphere in the changing room – they keep each other going, drive each other on, and we need to make sure we keep doing that from now until the end of the season and keep working hard.”
Hamilton entertain Kilmarnock after this weekend’s break, knowing a win will take them above the Ayrshire side, and Canning knows they’re capable of that.
He said: “Our record against Killie at home isn’t the best and we need to put that right.
“It’s another game that we know is going to be difficult, they’re having a good season, and in every game now there is so much to play for.
“However, it’s all about us, it’s about us doing our job. In the last few weeks we’ve taken care of that, we’ve been intense.
“The teams we have still to play will make it hard for us, they will be difficult games because of what is at stake, but I believe that if we play to our potential and do our job properly we’re capable of winning games. If we maintain that workrate we can beat anybody.”