Hamilton have nowhere to hide as Canning pulls no punches

HAMILTON boss Martin Canning slated his side’s lack of focus at both ends of the pitch after seeing them slip to defeat at home to Hibs and remain stuck in the Premiership danger zone.

James Keatings missed one glorious opportunity at the end of the first half when putting the ball wide from a Mickel Miller cut-back and Accies then gave Hibs far too much space and time before Oli Shaw converted a Daryl Horgan cross for the 65th-minute winner.

‘Second half we started well,’ said Canning. ‘Ziggy (Gordon) heads just past the post and, from then, we kind of fell out the game and allowed Hibs to come back into it.

‘We sat too deep, didn’t squeeze the game well enough. The goal typified it. There was a ball up and there was no contact, it goes wide, there’s no contact, there’s a cross into the box, no contact, there’s a finish, no contact.

‘If you do that against good players, you’re in trouble. We are not being clinical enough at both ends of the pitch.

‘It was the same at Dundee the other night. Even the first half we missed a couple of good opportunities to take the lead and put Hibs under pressure. ‘Rakish (Bingham) had a good chance and took a bit too long to get his shot away. And Keats’ one really was a great chance. ‘When you are doing well and get clear-cut chances, you’ve got to score — and we then managed to lose a goal from something that isn’t really a chance.’ Canning (left) is now awaiting fitness reports on goalkeepers Jan Mucha, who felt an issue with his quad muscle in the warm-up, and Gary Woods, who was taken off at the break after a collision with Martin Boyle, ahead of next Sunday’s trip to Rangers.

With Ryan Fulton also out injured long-term, 22-year-old Englishman Jacob Marsden was handed a surprise debut and actually made four decent saves despite conceding.

‘I didn’t want to take a chance with Jan because repetitive kicking would have made it worse and he would have been out longer,’ said Canning.

‘Woodsy was very good first half and took a sore one on the knee. It swelled up and stiffened up at half-time.

‘Young Jacob came in and did well. He was meant to be in the stand and then he’s making his debut in the Premiership. That’s football. It can change so quickly.

‘He made a couple of good saves and he can go home pleased with his performance.’