BLINKERS ON FOR DEE-DAY
Boss orders troops to be totally focused on Dens trip
Martin Canning says every member of his squad has a part to play as Hamilton bid to secure Premiership football for a fifth season.
Canning wants everything to be totally focused on the visit to Dundee – before St Johnstone visit on Tuesday and a final day derby clash at Motherwell on May 12.
The New Douglas Park gaffer says his side need to take the positives from their 2-0 home win over Ross County into their clash at Dens Park – and put on the blinkers and focus entirely on taking three points against Neil Mccann’s side.
He said: “What I said to the boys was that everybody, regardless of whether you’re starting the game, whether you’re going to come on or you’re just in the squad, everybody is going to have a part to play.
“We need to make sure everybody stays focused and make sure they know their role between now and the end of the season.
“Every game is so important, regardless of what your cushion is, and you could see that against Ross County.
“Regardless of what the cushion is, or what the circumstances are, you’ve got to black all that out.
“I said to the boys before the County game that we’re in a four-game league now and we have to try and come out on top of that league.
“That win gives us a good start and, hopefully, we can build on it in the next three games.
“Saturday becomes huge for us now. We have to enjoy the County win, enjoy winning an important game, but we now really have to re-focus again for Saturday and put everything into it.
“The game at Dundee is going to be a huge one. We have to make sure we take the positives from Saturday and go and build on it for the next three games.
“The games are coming thick and fast. When the league splits like this and you’re all playing each other, that’s the excitement of it, great if you’re a neutral.
“If you’re involved in it, it can be difficult. But the benefit is you’re playing the teams that are directly round about you and that should give you every motivation you need to try and win the game.”
The importance of the defending during last Saturday’s win wasn’t lost on Canning.
He said: “If we can keep clean sheets we know we have the quality up the park, we’ve proven all season that we can score goals.
“David Templeton is a threat every time he touches the ball and Danny Redmond has quality to come on and do well.”
Xavier Tomas and Scott Mcmann return from suspension for the trip to Dundee but Georgios Sarris is touch-and-go for making it.
Admission for Tuesday’s game against St Johnstone has been cut to £5 for adults and £1 for under-18s.