Match ends, Hamilton Academical 0, Dundee United 0.
HamiltonHamilton Academical0Dundee UtdDundee United0
Dundee United were cast further adrift at the foot of the Premiership as they were held to a draw by Hamilton.
Accies missed the opportunity to extend their 15-point cushion over the bottom side as United keeper Eiji Kawashima beat away Ali Crawford's late penalty.
But United are now 12 points adrift of second-bottom Motherwell.
Accies' Mikey Devlin was sent off in injury-time for a second bookable offence, but there was no time for United to press home their advantage.
A draw was an accurate reflection of a dour match, with goal-scoring opportunities scarce, but the point does United little good.
United have a game in hand over Motherwell, beaten 2-0 at home by Kilmarnock, but a massive game now looms when the bottom two face each other at Tannadice on Tuesday.
Though Mixu Paatelainen's side have only lost once in their last five matches, they desperately need to win games against their relegation rivals.
They may feel they were denied the opportunity to do that when referee Steven Maclean waved away their penalty claims after Coll Donaldson appeared to be tripped.
But although Accies had to survive a couple of late goalmouth scrambles, the only shot Michael McGovern had to to deal with was a poked effort by Simon Murray, which the keeper turned round the post.
Indeed, Kawashima turned out to be their hero after Dougie Imrie was adjudged to have been fouled in the penalty area with four minutes left.
Crawford, Accies' most accomplished player, fired the spot-kick down the middle but the keeper's flailing legs kept it out.
Line-ups
Hamilton
Formation 4-4-2
- 1McGovern
- 2Gordon
- 4DevlinBooked at 90mins
- 44De Lima Tagliapietra
- 3Kurakins
- 22Lyon
- 12KurtajSubstituted forCanningat 90+3'minutes
- 6GillespieSubstituted forDochertyat 83'minutes
- 11Crawford
- 7Imrie
- 14MorrisSubstituted forD'Acolat 66'minutes
Substitutes
- 5Canning
- 8Diaby
- 9D'Acol
- 20Brophy
- 21Docherty
- 26Martin
- 28Mandiangu
Dundee Utd
Formation 3-5-2
- 1Kawashima
- 2Dillon
- 19GunningSubstituted forDurnanat 77'minutes
- 28Donaldson
- 20Spittal
- 8Rankin
- 55Demel
- 6Paton
- 14DowSubstituted forFraserat 78'minutes
- 15MurraySubstituted forOfereat 77'minutes
- 7Mckay
Substitutes
- 3Dixon
- 9Ofere
- 12Knoyle
- 17Durnan
- 22Fraser
- 51Zwick
- 54Sinama-Pongolle
- Referee:
- Steven McLean
- Attendance:
- 3,902
Match Stats
Home TeamHamiltonAway TeamDundee Utd
- Possession
- Home50%
- Away50%
- Shots
- Home6
- Away8
- Shots on Target
- Home1
- Away1
- Corners
- Home6
- Away9
- Fouls
- Home12
- Away13
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Hamilton Academical 0, Dundee United 0.
Substitution
Substitution, Hamilton Academical. Martin Canning replaces Gramoz Kurtaj.
Dismissal
Second yellow card to Michael Devlin (Hamilton Academical) for hand ball.
Post update
Hand ball by Michael Devlin (Hamilton Academical).
Post update
Corner, Hamilton Academical. Conceded by John Rankin.
Post update
Ali Crawford (Hamilton Academical) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Foul by Guy Demel (Dundee United).
Post update
Foul by Antons Kurakins (Hamilton Academical).
Post update
Blair Spittal (Dundee United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Penalty saved! Ali Crawford (Hamilton Academical) fails to capitalise on this great opportunity, right footed shot saved in the centre of the goal.
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Penalty Hamilton Academical. Dougie Imrie draws a foul in the penalty area.
Post update
Penalty conceded by Paul Paton (Dundee United) after a foul in the penalty area.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Ali Crawford (Hamilton Academical) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Post update
Dougie Imrie (Hamilton Academical) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Guy Demel (Dundee United).
Substitution
Substitution, Hamilton Academical. Greg Docherty replaces Grant Gillespie.
Post update
Alejandro D'Acol (Hamilton Academical) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Mark Durnan (Dundee United).
Substitution
Substitution, Dundee United. Scott Fraser replaces Ryan Dow.
