Any sort of win at Tannadice would have satisfied Martin Canning but the manner of Hamilton Accies’ thrashing of bottom side Dundee United maximised their manager’s satisfaction.

A late consolation goal flattered the home team as Accies cruised to a 3-1 victory with two second half goals from Carlton Morris building on a stunning first half strike from Grant Gillespie which means that one more win against Kilmarnock next weekend will guarantee their place in next season’s Premiership.

“Obviously the most important thing at this time of the season is the result but to couple it with the performance we have today I’m pleased with the boys,” said Canning.

“They’ve worked really hard. Today again you see it. I thought the work-rate, the togetherness was excellent and it’s a great three points for us.”

It was the first time since September that Hamilton had won back-to-back matches, following up on their home win over United’s city neighbours Dundee a fortnight earlier, but Canning said he had never doubted his players.

“You have confidence in those guys because they’ve done it all season and there’s been some poor performances, poor results, but there’s been some big performances and today was a big game and it needed big performances and big characters and to a man every one of them were excellent,” he said.

He said his team had gone out and played exactly as they had planned to.

“We spoke about being in their faces, doing what we’re all about, making it difficult for them to play and I thought we did that really, really well, but I thought we were brave to go and play as well,” said canning.

“The quality of the football at times from us was good and three good goals as well so it’s been the perfect day.”

While Kilmarnock’s defeat was an added bonus for Hamilton the manager said they are working hard to avoid being distracted by things that are outside their control.

“You can’t stop them seeing other results because everybody’s got a mobile ‘phone now , but I’ve said all along it’s about us,” he said.

“We need to make sure we’re solely focused on doing our own jobs and if we do that hopefully we’ve got enough to go and win enough games.

“Next week’s becomes a huge game but I’ve been saying that for weeks that every game’s a huge game and now it so happens Kilmarnock’s next and that becomes the next one so we’ll re-focus this week, re-group and go again and hopefully get three points.”

The same applies to speculation over the future of his players, much of which currently surrounds Michael McGovern, their European Championships bound goal-keeper.

“Michael’s obviously out of contract and would like to see what his options are,” said Canning. “Obviously we’d like to keep him but that will be his decision to make. He’ll go to the Euros all being well and hopefully he’ll do well and if he moves on we’ll wish him all the best because he’s been great for us and if we get an opportunity to keep him great as well.”