Match ends, Dundee 1, Hamilton Academical 1.
DundeeDundee1HamiltonHamilton Academical1
Dundee extended their unbeaten run while Hamilton Accies avoided their fifth straight defeat as they shared two late goals in a thrilling finish.
Accies were on top until Dougie Imrie was sent off seven minutes after the break for an off-the-ball clash that left Greg Stewart writhing in pain.
Player-manager Martin Canning's header looked to have handed Accies a first win under his charge against the odds.
But Stewart fired the equaliser with two minutes remaining.
Hamilton held out bravely for a deserved point - their first since Canning took over from Norwich City-bound Alex Neil on 9 January.
However, both sides will be left wondering what might have been as Dundee remain a point behind sixth-top St Johnstone and Accies failed to take advantage of fourth-placed Dundee United's involvement in the Scottish League Cup semi-final.
Despite Dundee's five-game unbeaten run, it was Accies who started more confidently and were denied within 30 seconds by the inside of the post after Tony Andreu burst through the centre of the Dundee defence and his shot was parried by goalkeeper Scott Bain.
Canning's downward header was cleared off the Dundee line, but it was the man he had brought back to the club this week who was giving the home defence a particularly torrid time.
Former Trinidad and Tobago international Jason Scotland had gone straight into the starting line-up after returning to the club amid absent Frenchman Mickael Antoine-Curier's public pronouncements about finding a club in England.
And Kostadin Gadzhalov was fortunate to escape with a yellow card after tripping the striker as the 36-year-old belied his years with a neat turn on the edge of the penalty box.
Dundee manager Paul Hartley had shown attacking intent by introducing striker David Clarkson and winger Alex Harris in place of the injured Gary Harkins and Iain Davidson.
However, it took a header from Bulgarian defender Gadzhalov to force a save from Michael McGovern with a near-post block.
Dundee were finding it difficult to penetrate a defence again featuring their two sought-after full-backs, with Ziggy Gordon returning from injury and a failed bid from Jagiellonia Bialystok, while Stephen Hendrie was back from completing a summer switch to West Ham United.
Hartley responded to home frustration by hauling off Clarkson and Kevin Thomson at half-time and introducing Stephen McGinn, the former St Mirren and Watford midfielder signed on loan from Sheffield United in midweek, and Luka Tankulic to his midfield.
It failed to immediately change the balance of play, with Scotland being put clear by Andreu but this time being thwarted by the advancing McGowan.
The game eventually turned on what the officials ruled was a moment of madness from Imrie, who left Stewart writhing in pain off the ball.
Freed from those attentions, Stewart twice threatened the Accies goal with powerful efforts and a Jamie McAlister header flew just wide.
Hamilton looked to have snatched their first victory at Dens Park in five visits since September 2011 when Canning rose to head in an Ali Crawford corner.
However, Stewart's persistence paid off when he finished a series of long-range efforts by finding the far corner of the net from just inside the penalty box.
Line-ups
Dundee
Formation 4-1-4-1
- 12Bain
- 2Irvine
- 26GadzhalovBooked at 16mins
- 5McPake
- 3Dyer
- 10ThomsonSubstituted forMcGinnat 46'minutes
- 15Stewart
- 18McGowan
- 20McAlister
- 47HarrisSubstituted forWightonat 69'minutes
- 16ClarksonBooked at 40minsSubstituted forTankulicat 46'minutes
Substitutes
- 1Letheren
- 4Konrad
- 21Tankulic
- 24Black
- 28Carreiro
- 33Wighton
- 48McGinn
Hamilton
Formation 4-1-4-1
- 1McGovern
- 2GordonBooked at 34mins
- 5CanningBooked at 90mins
- 24TenaBooked at 86mins
- 3Hendrie
- 6GillespieSubstituted forLongridgeat 77'minutes
- 7ImrieBooked at 53mins
- 11CrawfordBooked at 47mins
- 22Andreu
- 8Routledge
- 9ScotlandSubstituted forBrophyat 90+4'minutes
Substitutes
- 4Devlin
- 12Lyon
- 17Longridge
- 20Brophy
- 21Docherty
- 28Redmond
- 29Hill
- Referee:
- Crawford Allan
- Attendance:
- 5,618
Match Stats
Home TeamDundeeAway TeamHamilton
- Possession
- Home51%
- Away49%
- Shots
- Home11
- Away8
- Shots on Target
- Home3
- Away3
- Corners
- Home9
- Away7
- Fouls
- Home10
- Away17
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Dundee 1, Hamilton Academical 1.
Booking
Martin Canning (Hamilton Academical) is shown the yellow card.
Substitution
Substitution, Hamilton Academical. Eamonn Brophy replaces Jason Scotland because of an injury.
Post update
Paul McGowan (Dundee) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Post update
Foul by Tony Andreu (Hamilton Academical).
Goal!
Goal! Dundee 1, Hamilton Academical 1. Greg Stewart (Dundee) left footed shot from outside the box to the top left corner.
Booking
Jesus Garcia Tena (Hamilton Academical) is shown the yellow card.
Post update
Luka Tankulic (Dundee) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Jesus Garcia Tena (Hamilton Academical).
Goal!
Goal! Dundee 0, Hamilton Academical 1. Martin Canning (Hamilton Academical) header from the centre of the box to the top left corner. Assisted by Ali Crawford with a cross.
Post update
Corner, Hamilton Academical. Conceded by Jim McAlister.
Post update
Attempt saved. James McPake (Dundee) header from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
Post update
Corner, Dundee. Conceded by Martin Canning.
Post update
Ziggy Gordon (Hamilton Academical) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Foul by Craig Wighton (Dundee).
Post update
Attempt missed. Stephen McGinn (Dundee) header from the left side of the six yard box is close, but misses to the left.
Substitution
Substitution, Hamilton Academical. Louis Longridge replaces Grant Gillespie.
Post update
Attempt missed. Ali Crawford (Hamilton Academical) right footed shot from outside the box is too high.
Post update
Corner, Dundee. Conceded by Martin Canning.
