Canning won't blame bad luck for Hamilton woes

Martin Canning admits his Hamilton side cannot pin all their troubles this season on Lady Luck.

Accies are in danger of being sucked into a relegation scrap after winning just two of their last 20 games.

But Canning believes his team's encouraging performances should have claimed greater rewards than the 14 Premiership points they have picked up since the start of October.

However, he confessed much of the New Douglas Park outfit's problems are self-inflicted.

The player/boss said: "I'm pretty sure if you went round every manager in the league they would say they could be five, six, seven points better off. Things might be different if we hadn't lost this goal or taken that chance.

"Yeah over the last few weeks we haven't picked up the points that our performances deserved.

"But that's football. You have to go get the points. No-one gives them to you.

"Everyone can bemoan their luck but most of the time it comes down to your conviction and self-belief to get the job done.

"We had Ali Crawford miss a penalty against Dundee United. Yeah you can say it was bad luck that their keeper saved it. But for us, if you have the conviction to score it, you score it.

"Against Ross County, we had 16 attempts at goal and they had four. We only took one, missed the rest, and they ended up winning 2-1.

"Yeah that's bad luck but it also shows a lack of conviction to put the ball in the back of the net.

"I've talked to the boys about that time and again. I don't think we've showed enough of that belief.''

However, Canning hopes his team will be spurred on by last Friday's 1-1 draw with leaders Celtic.

"We've really tightened up defensively but we're not being ruthless enough at the other end,'' he said.

"Hopefully the confidence from the Celtic match can help though.''

Accies sit two points in front of 11th-placed Kilmarnock but Canning has been alarmed to see resurgent basement boys Dundee United close to within 10 points of his team.

They face Lanarkshire rivals Motherwell on Saturday and the Accies manager reckons his side will be ready to battle.

"At this stage of the season I'd be hoping the guys are fired up, whether it's a derby match or not, because we have so much to play for,'' he said.

"We know it will be difficult. I watched them on Saturday and they deservedly beat Partick, so it will be tough. But if we focus and work as hard as we did on Friday night, we've got a chance to win the game.''