MARTIN CANNING reckons Hamilton were hard done by with Andrew Dallas' penalty calls as they went down 4-1 to Rangers on Sunday.

James Tavernier netted twice from the spot late on to clinch the win after Alex Penney was penalised for handball and a foul on Alfredo Morelos.

But Canning believes Accies should have had a spot-kick of their own in the first half as a Steven Boyd strike ultimately proved in vain for the hosts at the Hope Stadium.

He said: “In the first-half it is a penalty for us. Mikel Miller cuts inside Tavernier and he gets held back.

“If that’s anywhere else on the park, 100% you get a free-kick for it, so why don’t you give it in the penalty box?

“I don’t know if it’s because there wasn’t 2000 fans behind the goal shouting for it, and if it was the other way around and they jump up, is it a penalty? I don’t know.

“But for me, it was a penalty for us first and foremost.

“The first penalty they get is harsh. Pens goes and it hits his shoulder first before coming down onto his arm. I don’t think it’s a deliberate attempt from him to block the ball with his arm.

“It’s not his intention. I can see why you would give it, but I don’t think it was a clear and intentional handball.

“The second penalty is a penalty. That’s maybe a bit of naivety from a young defender that is still learning his trade.

“When you are playing against a top player, and I’ve been there myself, they will wait for the contact and come across you.

“You have to be patient, accept that they are going away from goal and be patient. You have to know you can’t win that ball.

“That was penalty, I have no complaints about that one.

“I asked the players for a performance and reaction after the Hibs game, and we got that. We probably weren’t clinical enough to make enough of our opportunities.”