Mart’s league pleader Canning bins Betfred disaster

Hamilton............................. 1 Airdrie ................................. 1 Hamilton win 3-0 on pens Colin Paterson

Martin Canning has backed his new-look Accies to shine in the Premiership despite their shock exit from the cup.

Keeper Gary Woods was the shoot- out hero, saving Ryan Conroy, Sean Crighton and Dale Carrick’s kicks to clinch a bonus point for Hamilton.

Now boss Canning is expecting a big response from his troops in Saturday’s league opener at home to Hearts.

He said: “We expected to go through. No disrespect to the teams in the group but we should be qualifying.

“It’s disappointing because we expected to win this game. However, we know what we need to do to prepare for Saturday.

“There has been a big turnaround in personnel and that’ll take time to work.

“But the boys will be ready for next week. When you step up to the Premiership the atmosphere will be good, the stadium will be full and the intensity will be there.”

Airdrie had hoped to see off Hamilton and were praying on Berwick doing them a favour at Livingston to have any chance of winning Group F.

But sub Joao Victoria could only earn the Diamonds a draw when he cancelled out Rakish Bingham’s early strike for Accies.

Airdrie manager Stevie Findlay said: “The boys are absolutely gutted in there but we have taken an established Premiership team all the way.”

Accies started brightest and tested the away side early on when Steven Boyd’s cross found Bingham for the volley, only for Diamonds keeper Scott Gallacher to deny the English forward.

Despite that early pressure, it was Airdrie who created the best chances in the first half.

And they should have taken the lead in 26 minutes. A wayward Adam Phillips pass was snapped up by Carrick who surged forward and released Darryl Duffy. But the striker fired just wide.

Airdrie went close again two minutes later but this time Duffy’s header from a Josh Edwards cross struck the bar.

The home side eventually broke the deadlock just af ter the hour following a poor kick- out from keeper Gallacher. Boyd released Mickel Miller who squared the ball for Bingham to rifle low into the bottom corner.

But the away side nabbed themselves a deserved equal iser 20 minutes later when Victoria coolly swept home a Duffy pass just three minutes after coming off the bench.