Scottish Premiership
Ross CountyRoss County0HamiltonHamilton Academical1

Ross County 0-1 Hamilton Academical

By Martin DowdenBBC Scotland at Victoria Park
  • Martin Canning scores Hamilton winner
  • Accies move up to third place
  • Ross County remain second bottom

Hamilton Accies moved up to third in the Scottish Premiership to end a run of five successive away defeats by defeating Ross County in Dingwall.

A blistering start was rewarded when Martin Canning leaped to meet Ali Crawford's corner and head home.

County retain eleventh spot after St Mirren's loss but will rue late missed from Martin Woods and Paul Quinn.

But Alex Neil's side held out for back-to-back wins that arrested a dip in form recently.

County manager Jim McIntyre had emphasised the need for his side to keep a clean sheet, but that idea was blown apart after six minutes.

Crawford stole in on the left to win a corner and it was his delivery that gave Canning the chance to rise and beautifully angle a header into the corner against his former side.

Two minutes later, Crawford found space and unleashed a drive that was narrowly deflected wide.

Hamilton continued to press and a second looked likely when Mickael Antoine-Curier broke into the box on the right-hand side.

Martin Canning celebrates scoring Hamilton's winner
Martin Canning celebrates scoring Hamilton's winner in Dingwall

His beautifully weighted ball across the face of goal was inches away from being buried by Stephen Hendrie.

County came close to getting back on level terms when Michael Gardyne was upended by Canning.

Woods sent a wonderful curling effort from 25 yards only to be denied by an even more impressive save by Michael McGovern, who tipped the ball on to the post.

The County midfielder should have done better when Cardle galloped towards the bye-line.

His delivery found Woods in space in front of goal, but he snatched at it and winced as his effort flew well over.

Straight from kick off in the second half, Anthony Andreu had a great sight of goal only to have his shot blocked.

County grew into the game in terms of possession and had the chances to snatch a point.

Joe Cardle blazed high over the bar when the net beckoned and Quinn seemed certain to score right at the death, only for his composure to desert him as he fired off target.

It was another frustrating 90 minutes for County, but Hamilton demonstrated their resilience and status as a team to be reckoned with in the Premiership.

Line-ups

Ross County

Formation 4-4-1-1

  • 1Reguero
  • 8Brittain
  • 6Saunders
  • 43Quinn
  • 12Reckord
  • 40GardyneSubstituted forJervisat 55'minutes
  • 26Woods
  • 36IrvineSubstituted forMaatsenat 79'minutes
  • 7Cardle
  • 30DingwallSubstituted forCareyat 64'minutes
  • 15Arquin

Substitutes

  • 9Jervis
  • 10Kiss
  • 14Maatsen
  • 21Brown
  • 23Carey
  • 25Toshney
  • 31Dunfield

Hamilton

Formation 4-4-1-1

  • 1McGovern
  • 6Gillespie
  • 5CanningBooked at 14mins
  • 4Devlin
  • 3Hendrie
  • 7Imrie
  • 10NeilSubstituted forLongridgeat 74'minutes
  • 18MacKinnon
  • 11Crawford
  • 22AndreuSubstituted forLyonat 90'minutes
  • 99Antoine-CurierSubstituted forScotlandat 82'minutes

Substitutes

  • 9Scotland
  • 12Lyon
  • 16Watson
  • 17Longridge
  • 19Currie
  • 20Brophy
  • 28Redmond
Referee:
John Beaton
Attendance:
2,966

Match Stats

Home TeamRoss CountyAway TeamHamilton
Possession
Home51%
Away49%
Shots
Home9
Away10
Shots on Target
Home2
Away3
Corners
Home3
Away5
Fouls
Home11
Away12

Live Text

  1. Post update

    Match ends, Ross County 0, Hamilton Academical 1.

  2. Full Time

    Second Half ends, Ross County 0, Hamilton Academical 1.

  3. Post update

    Attempt missed. Louis Longridge (Hamilton Academical) right footed shot from outside the box is just a bit too high.

  4. Post update

    Attempt missed. Martin Woods (Ross County) left footed shot from the centre of the box is just a bit too high.

  5. Substitution

    Substitution, Hamilton Academical. Darren Lyon replaces Tony Andreu.

  6. Post update

    Hand ball by Jason Scotland (Hamilton Academical).

  7. Post update

    Attempt missed. Darren Maatsen (Ross County) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left.

  8. Post update

    Jamie Reckord (Ross County) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  9. Post update

    Foul by Dougie Imrie (Hamilton Academical).

  10. Substitution

    Substitution, Hamilton Academical. Jason Scotland replaces Mickael Antoine-Curier.

  11. Post update

    Attempt missed. Yoann Arquin (Ross County) header from the centre of the box is just a bit too high.

  12. Post update

    Darren Maatsen (Ross County) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  13. Post update

    Foul by Stephen Hendrie (Hamilton Academical).

  14. Substitution

    Substitution, Ross County. Darren Maatsen replaces Jackson Irvine.

  15. Post update

    Martin Canning (Hamilton Academical) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  16. Post update

    Foul by Jake Jervis (Ross County).

  17. Post update

    Attempt missed. Graham Carey (Ross County) left footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left.

  18. Post update

    Hand ball by Yoann Arquin (Ross County).

  19. Substitution

    Substitution, Hamilton Academical. Louis Longridge replaces Alex Neil.

  20. Post update

    Attempt missed. Joe Cardle (Ross County) right footed shot from the centre of the box is too high.