Canning fails to see funny side as ‘joke’ penalty decision costs Accies dear in struggle for survival

Hamilton manager Martin Canning criticised referee Andrew Dallas for rejecting his side’s penalty appeal in the 2-1 Ladbrokes Premiership defeat at Inverness.

Canning was furious at the decision not to award a spotkick when Caley Thistle goalkeeper Ryan Esson appeared to barge Ali Crawford to the ground in the penalty area.

Dallas had earlier given the hosts a penalty when Massimo Donati fouled Ross Draper.

Canning also claimed the failure to award the penalty would have attracted greater scrutiny if the decision had gone against one of the Old Firm sides. Goals from Greg Tansey and Brad Mckay left Accies playing catch-up, with Danny Redmond’s consolation coming too late to get them back in the game.

On the subject of the penalty claim for his side, Canning said: “It’s a stone-waller. I’m very supportive of referees but that’s just poor.

“He’s able to see a penalty from further away in the first half. How he doesn’t see it is an absolute joke. I think back to Ross County a few weeks ago where we’re very comfortable and the referee sends off one of our players, which later gets rescinded and that tells you it’s not a red card. That cost us two points.

“Some of the decisions in the Rangers game were a joke too. I don’t know if it’s because we’re Hamilton Accies and no one really cares. But if it’s Celtic or Rangers up here, there’s 50,000 fans, it’s all over the papers, all over social media and all over Sportscene.

“They don’t seem to get as many wrong as they do for us.

“It was a crucial moment and for the second time in as many weeks, the crucial moment has gone against us.”

Hamilton are now four points ahead of Inverness, who remain bottom, and they face local rivals Motherwell on Saturday.

Caley Thistle boss Richie Foran hopes the win acts as a platform for a dramatic escape from relegation for his side, with an away game against Kilmarnock coming up next.

“It’s a start – it is only going to get harder. Anyone watching us on Saturday will give us a bit more respect,” he said.

“I’d be worried if I was one of the clubs around us. We only needed that one win to kick on and now we’re out for another big win.”