DOUGIE Imrie has lamented the "freak" goal which led to Hamilton Academical suffering their fourth straight defeat under new gaffer Martin Canning.

The 33-year-old was confirmed as the club's new player-manager on Friday, but could not mark the occasion by picking up the first points of his tenure.

Instead Hamilton fell 2-0 at home to Inverness Caledonian Thistle - adding to defeats by Dundee United, Celtic and Partick Thistle.

The latest loss was especially tough to take as Hamilton were undone by a double deflection when Graeme Shinnie's second half effort rebounded off both Michael McGovern and Grant Gillespie on its way into the net.

Nick Ross added a second with a neat finish soon after to leave Hamilton eight points adrift of the European places.

A frustrated Imrie said: "For the first 60 minutes I thought we were excellent and controlled the game but a freak goal deflated us a little bit.

"You can take nothing away from Michael and Grant is unlucky - it has come right off him and into the net.

"But at this level it is vital to get the first goal.

"When we went a goal down we stuck at it, but Inverness did us with a sucker punch and got a second goal. It was good interplay from them.

"I said at the start of the season that we would go through a sticky pitch and this is it - that's four games now that we've not been able to pick up any points.

"We've not been able to get that first goal to give us that stable platform to kick on."

Imrie was jeered by Inverness supporters throughout the match, with the forward having left the Highlands to begin his first spell with Hamilton in 2010.

HIs latest stint in Lanarkshire now combines a coaching role with the under-17s with his playing duties.

The 31-year-old was restored to the position of the central striker on Saturday by Canning.

Imrie said: "I've played up there before, when I first came here. It doesn't matter, I can play that position and it's one that I enjoy.

"I'll play anywhere in the team to try and help us to get a win."

Few at the club will want to record a league victory more than Canning as he works to rescue his side's form which has suffered since predecessor Alex Neil left for Norwich City.

And while Hamilton had now conceded nine goals in three matches without reply, Imrie is confident that the Lanarkshire team can turn it around.

He added: "It's very important for the gaffer to get that monkey off his back, to get that first win under his belt.

"That's four defeats but we've not played badly since he's taken over. It's individual errors or a freak goal like the first one today that are costing us.

"But we can't let these things affect us and we've just got to keep going. We've got plenty of character in this team to do that."