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Hamilton left short between the sticks

Jan Mucha was ruled out by a pre-match injury.

Hamilton face a potential goalkeeping shortage after losing two players at Saturday's 1-0 defeat by Hibernian.

A pre-match injury robbed Martin Canning of first-choice Jan Mucha – who joined the club two weeks ago following a long-term blow to Ryan Fulton.

Gary Woods stepped in at the last minute but he only lasted 45 minutes after taking a knock early on, and Jacob Marsden came on for his league debut.

The 22-year-old former Ipswich trainee made a string of saves but was beaten in the 65th minute when Oli Shaw converted Daryl Horgan's cross.

Martin Canning was impressed with his performance, especially given he expected to spend the match in the stand, and will assess his other goalkeepers before next Sunday's trip to Ibrox.

Canning said: "Jan felt his quad in the warm-up and I didn't want to take a chance because repetitive kicking would have made it worse and he would have been out longer.

"Woodsy was very good first half and took a sore one on the knee and it swelled up and stiffened up at half-time.

"Young Jacob come in and did well. He was meant to be in the stand and then he's making his debut in the Premiership. That's football, it can change so quickly.

"He made a couple of good saves and he can go home pleased with his performance. It's a big thing to make your debut and he did well in difficult circumstances. We knew he was a good young goalkeeper and he's got a great attitude.

"We will assess both of them and see how they are. That's why we brought big Jan in. When Ryan got injured, you know carrying two goalkeepers that anything can happen in a busy December."

Hibs' victory was their first in eight games and assistant coach Garry Parker admitted it was a weight off their minds.

"That was a massive relief for us – it was vitally important and now they can have a couple of days to get themselves together again and build for next week," he said.

"They'll feel better about themselves, of course they will. When you're not getting results week after week it's a case of sleepless nights – I've been having them, I tell you.

"We go away happy because we've won the game but we know there's still a long way to go."

Hibs, who also lost a goalkeeper, Adam Bogdan, to injury before kick-off, received positive news on Saturday night when Martin Boyle was released from hospital. The winger received the all clear after being wheeled off on a stretcher with a head injury.

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Hibernian coach Garry Parker pictured in July 2016
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