Canning: Points Above Performance

Photo by Jeff Holmes Hamilton player/manager Martin Canning admits points are now more crucial than performances ahead of his side's Premiership clash with Dundee at Dens Park on Saturday. Since taking over from Alex Neil, following his departure to Norwich earlier this month, the 33-year-old defender has watched the Lanarkshire side lose four consecutive games to sit fifth in the table. Canning has been happy with performances - aside from a 5-0 thrashing at Partick Thistle - but has stressed they now need results. The former Hibernian player is hoping to have full-back Stephen Hendrie available although it has been reported he is in talks with West Ham, but new signing Brazil-born defender Lucas Tagliapietra, who holds an Italian passport, is not included. "We could do with a win," said Canning. "If you look back at our performances, aside from the Partick game where it went completely wrong on the night, it has been decent. "But we need to get a result, that is the most important thing. It doesn't matter about performances. "It is a difficult place to go, we don't have a good record there in Dundee but it is something we are looking to change." After initially being appointed caretaker, Canning was handed the job on a permanent basis last week in a new management team which includes former Hamilton players, Chris Swailes, Guillaume Beuzelin, and Brian Potter, with winger Dougie Imrie taking over the club's under-17 side. He said: "The boys have been great since I came in. They have been as hard working and as honest as they have always been. "Chris, Guillaume and Brian have given everyone a lift and training has been good. "Now it is down to making sure we get the points." Tagliapietra, 24, who signed a one-year contract with the club, has played in Brazil, Hong Kong, Italy and Moldova. Canning said: "Lucas won't be involved. He came in on trial last week and did really well. "He is something we have been looking for, another centre-back. He's big, good on the ball and with good stature. "We have checked him out as best we could and - from what we have seen - we think he has an opportunity. He will play with the under-20s in midweek."