Martin Canning admits Hamilton's shock William Hill Scottish Cup defeat to Annan last season represented a "real low point" in his career.

Accies are preparing for the trip to fellow Ladbrokes Premiership side Kilmarnock in the fourth round on Saturday, still haunted by their trip to Galabank a year ago.

The League Two side stunned their visitors with a deserved 4-1 win, their first against top-flight opposition.

Canning, who revealed midfielder Darren Lyon requires a hip operation which will "probably" keep him out for the rest of the season, recalled the loss with a determination not to suffer a similar fate in the future.

"It was a difficult day," he said. "When you watch it back we had enough opportunities in the game but we couldn't put the ball in the back of the net and we got punished every time.

"You could see the lack of confidence and it was a real low point for me but it is part of the game.

"I have been through it as a player and now as a manager and one thing you always do is work even harder to make sure it doesn't happen again.

"This year we have Kilmarnock, a team we know well.

"We need to go down there with the right attitude and we have proven in the past we can win."

Canning, who is looking to bring in three players before the transfer window closes, concedes the Annan result has increased the appetite to do better in this season's competition.

However, with his side sitting in the relegation play-off spot and having not tasted victory since October, he is simply looking for a victory.

Canning said: "Where we are at just now we want to win games.

"We have won two league games in 21 which isn't enough.

"Regardless if it is cup or league, winning builds momentum and we need to make sure we start getting three points in league games and wins in cups.

"We have been looking to bring players in. I have been close on two or three occasions.

"I would like to bring in a right-back, a left-back and a striker but it is difficult to find the guys to improve the squad and when I have, we haven't managed to get them in for one reason or another."