MOVING ON UP
Canning demands focus on visit of Hibs
Martin Canning has warned his Hamilton side not to suffer a hangover from their sensational win at Ibrox, and said Hibs will be desperate to prove a point.
Canning watched with pride as Accies beat Rangers 2-0 in Glasgow on Saturday, and hopes they continue that form as Neil Lennon brings his Hibees to Hamilton this weekend.
However, he warned that they will be smarting from the 3-1 defeat Hamilton handed to them at Easter Road in August.
Canning said: “The win is a huge achievement. It’s 30 years since Hamilton last won there and we’re still talking about it, so that shows that it is a big moment, and for everyone associated with the club.
“There were a lot of good blocks and some good saves, and Rangers hit the bar a couple of times. You’re going to have to ride your luck a bit when you come to Ibrox or go to Parkhead, and to come away with the points.
“I’ve been on the opposite side, when literally everything that can go against you does, because the momentum gets behind the wrong side, but thankfully it was behind us.
“They put a lot of balls into the box and we defended our box bravely.
“It’s a great day, we need to enjoy it, but ultimately it’s three points and we need to make sure there’s no hangover, and we can go again, to start working towards Saturday again.
“I’m sure Hibs will be out to try and prove a little point because we’ve gone there early in the season and beat them at home, so they will be looking to come and put that right.
“We know it’s going to be a hard game, it will be difficult, but I’ve told the boys that if we can play with the belief that we showed against Rangers, and that character and that amount of hard work which we put in continually, then there’s no reason why we can’t get another good, positive result.”
Canning was delighted with the performance of his side, but reserved special praise for young Darren Lyon, who grabbed the clinching second goal.
He said: “Young Darren has been through so much in the last year or 18 months, and it’s great for him to get a big, important goal like that for the club.
“It was great; we have to take belief from it, but we have to make sure we regroup and the focus is on Saturday.”