Hamilton manager Martin Canning has challenged his players to show they are better than the hiding they took from Celtic suggested as they gear up to face Ronny Deila's side again tonight at New Douglas Park.

The 8-1 reverse at Celtic Park in January may still be fresh in the memory, but according to Canning his players quickly put that humiliating rout behind them. While he is urging his players to treat tonight's rematch like any other game, he does admit that restoring professional pride is a huge incentive for both himself and his players.

He said: “We’ll definitely be looking for a better outcome than the last time we faced them. We spoke about it during the week and the boys all know that we owe it to ourselves to put a better performance on.

“The last time everything that could have went wrong on the night went wrong, and we end up on the end of a heavy defeat. For us it’s about forgetting about that, which we have done, and treating it like any other game.

“The only pressure on us is the pressure that we put on ourselves. I know that if I was playing that night I’d want to go out and show that I was a better player than I played that night, put it that way.

“They’re a talented side and it just so happened that it was us who were on the end of it. They all got up into the stride and if you let them get on top of you and get a foothold in the game then they can really hurt you.

“For us it’s about going out there and making sure we compete better than we did that night at Celtic Park. We put in the miles that night but we didn’t get close enough and compete enough and that’s something we’ve got to rectify.”

One man who has been part of famous wins against Celtic as well as a few hidings is experienced wide-man Dougie Imrie.

He knows what it takes to get a result against the champions, as well as being all too aware of how things can quickly go wrong if you’re not at your best, and he is hoping that keeping it tight early on can give his side a platform to achieve another shock result.

“We’ll be out to try and not get beat 8-1 – that’s for sure!” he said.

“Tomorrow night’s different, they’re coming to our place and it will be tough for them as it is for any team. We’re normally not bad at home.

“It’s a game we’re looking forward to and if we get anything from it then it’s a bonus.

“It wasn’t nice for a few days after it. But then it’s out of your system and you’re focusing on the next game. Celtic are capable of beating any team 8-1 on their day, when they’re bang at it. However, it’s a chance to try and rectify the scoreline and put on a better performance than the one we managed that night.

“I think we lost a goal after a couple of minutes. When you go to these places you’ve got to try and give yourself a chance, keep it tight for the first 20, 25 minutes. If you manage that then you’ll generally get an opportunity to get something from the game.

“But once you’re three-nil down after nine minutes then it’s going to be a tough game for anyone, especially at Celtic Park when they make the pitch so big.

“However, we’re on our own patch and no one likes coming here to play us. It’s a chance for us to try and get something.”

Despite being on the end of such an emphatic defeat just a few weeks ago, Imrie says that Celtic have weaknesses that can be exploited. He is stressing to his teammates though the importance of being ruthless should any opportunities come their way.

He said: “I watched the highlights of the game against Inverness and they had two or three great chances before Celtic even had an opportunity of their own. You have to take your chances against Celtic when you get them.

“The boy Roberts missed a one on one when it was goal-less – then Celtic went on to score two goals in four minutes and that killed the game.

“You must take your opportunities against teams like Celtic to make a game of it. On their day they can beat anyone.”