Match ends, Hamilton Academical 2, Dundee United 3.
HamiltonHamilton Academical2Dundee UtdDundee United3
Sean Dillon headed the winner as Dundee United edged Hamilton in a five-goal thriller to go third in the league.
United looked on course for victory at New Douglas Park as they took a two-goal lead through Stuart Armstrong and Gary Mackay-Steven.
Hamilton - playing their first match since the departure of manager Alex Neil - fought back with goals from Jesus Garcia Tena and Ali Crawford.
However, Dillon rose unmarked to head in a corner to seal the win for United.
It means United leapfrog Hamilton and Inverness Caledonian Thistle in the Scottish Premiership table, with Accies slipping a place to fifth.
With the wind swirling around New Douglas Park, both sides were struggling to play their normal passing game or create any clear scoring chances.
The standard of play was generally poor in the opening 37 minutes until Armstrong provided a moment of real quality to give United the lead.
The midfielder took the ball, turned and drove at the Accies defence. With nobody closing him down, Armstrong fired a sublime strike that flew beyond Michael McGovern from 22 yards.
There were few clear scoring chances in the first half, but after just 21 seconds in the second period, United found the back of the net.
Armstrong played a through ball behind the Hamilton defence for the onrushing Mackay-Steven, who brought the ball under control with his first touch and coolly slotted the ball low past McGovern.
Hamilton were in desperate need of inspiration and it came from their Spanish centre-back. Accies were awarded a free-kick on the edge of the box and Tena stepped up to curl a wonderful effort over the wall and beyond goalkeeper Radoslaw Cierzniak.
Accies were a far more dangerous prospect after their first goal, and they levelled things with 20 minutes remaining.
Tony Andreu split the defence with a beautifully weighted pass to Crawford, whose first-effort was blocked by Cierzniak. But the midfielder looped the ball into an empty net on the rebound.
And just when a win seemed possible for Accies, they were undone 13 minutes from time by slack defending.
A corner whipped to the far post found Dillon completely unmarked and the Irishman powered home a header from 10 yards.
Cierzniak was called into action to deny Crawford and Andreu late on as Hamilton's 10-game unbeaten home run was brought to an end.
Line-ups
Hamilton
Formation 4-4-1-1
- 1McGovern
- 6Gillespie
- 24TenaSubstituted forCanningat 88'minutes
- 4Devlin
- 3HendrieSubstituted forLongridgeat 45'minutes
- 7Imrie
- 8RoutledgeBooked at 68minsSubstituted forBrophyat 84'minutes
- 18MacKinnonBooked at 69mins
- 11Crawford
- 22Andreu
- 99Antoine-Curier
Substitutes
- 5Canning
- 16Watson
- 17Longridge
- 20Brophy
- 21Docherty
- 28Redmond
- 29Hill
Dundee Utd
Formation 4-4-1-1
- 1Cierzniak
- 24Spittal
- 2Dillon
- 5FojutBooked at 70mins
- 3TownsendBooked at 64mins
- 21TelferSubstituted forPatonat 80'minutes
- 20ButcherBooked at 67mins
- 10S Armstrong
- 11Mackay-Steven
- 22ConnollySubstituted forErskineat 71'minutes
- 7Ciftci
Substitutes
- 6Paton
- 8Rankin
- 12Watson
- 17Erskine
- 18Dow
- 26Szromnik
- 43Coote
- Referee:
- Bobby Madden
- Attendance:
- 2,384
Match Stats
Home TeamHamiltonAway TeamDundee Utd
- Possession
- Home49%
- Away51%
- Shots
- Home10
- Away15
- Shots on Target
- Home5
- Away6
- Corners
- Home4
- Away5
- Fouls
- Home24
- Away11
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Hamilton Academical 2, Dundee United 3.
Post update
Attempt missed. Ali Crawford (Hamilton Academical) right footed shot from the centre of the box is too high.
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Foul by Martin Canning (Hamilton Academical).
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(Dundee United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Corner, Hamilton Academical. Conceded by Gary Mackay-Steven.
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Michael Devlin (Hamilton Academical) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Foul by Nadir Ciftci (Dundee United).
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Attempt saved. Michael Devlin (Hamilton Academical) header from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
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Corner, Hamilton Academical. Conceded by Radoslaw Cierzniak.
Post update
Attempt saved. Ali Crawford (Hamilton Academical) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top centre of the goal.
Substitution
Substitution, Hamilton Academical. Martin Canning replaces Jesus Garcia Tena.
Post update
Grant Gillespie (Hamilton Academical) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Blair Spittal (Dundee United).
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Attempt missed. Sean Dillon (Dundee United) header from very close range misses to the left following a corner.
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Corner, Dundee United. Conceded by Michael McGovern.
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Attempt saved. Stuart Armstrong (Dundee United) right footed shot from a difficult angle and long range on the left is saved in the top centre of the goal.
Substitution
Substitution, Hamilton Academical. Eamonn Brophy replaces Jon Routledge.
Post update
Attempt saved. Chris Erskine (Dundee United) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Stuart Armstrong (Dundee United) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
