Hamilton 0 United 0

The Tangerines had to be satisfied with a point from this crucial fixture but it could have been worse as only Eiji Kawashima’s penalty save five minutes from time prevented Accies winning. By Peter Rundo The draw leaves the Club 12 points behind Motherwell and making the Fir Parkers’ visit to Tannadice on Tuesday crucial. Perhaps unsurprisingly, given two wins from the last two outings, Mixu Paatelainen stuck with same starting eleven for a third time. The only change to the squad was on the bench where new signing Edward Ofere replaced Henri Anier. For Hamilton, midfielder Grant Gillespie returned to the starting line-up in place of the suspended Darian MacKinnon. An impressive turnout of Arabs saw Hamilton kick-off and the hosts immediately took the game to United, winning an early corner which was eventually scrambled clear. Accies continued to take the game to United in the early stages, but without troubling Eiji Kawashima. Indeed, some twelve minutes had gone before United mounted an attack winning a couple of corners, the second of which, taken by Blair Spittal, was held by Hamilton keeper Michael McGovern at full stretch. The Tangerines finally settled and forced their way into the match and Guy Demel had the first attempt on goal of what had so far been a very tight affair, firing just over around 30 yards. United were doing most of the pressing as the half progressed, but were finding it hard to find a chink in the hosts' defence. Chances were few and far between at both ends with an Ali Crawford long-range effort just over the home side’s first effort on goal after 35 minutes. The first real chance of the game came a minute later and fell to United. Billy Mckay picked out John Rankin who in turn stabbed the ball though to Simon Murray whose first time shot on the turn was blocked by McGovern at his near post for a corner. The half came to a close with Paul Paton adjudged to have fouled Crawford and, from the free-kick, Crawford curled the ball off the wall and wide of the far post. Half time: Hamilton 0 United 0 First effort after the restart came from Grant Gillespie, his shot being deflected past after two minutes, but there was a closer call at the other end on 50 minutes. Demel threaded a precision pass into the path of Mckay who went past a defender but his shot from the edge of the box was blocked. There were huge appeals for a penalty from the massed tangerine ranks behind the goal when Donaldson went down in the box, but the ref waved play on. And United went close a minute later when a Donaldson header from a corner was met by Gavin Gunning at the far post but the angle was too acute and he shot past. A Dow cross caused confusion after 64 minutes earning United a corner which came to nothing. The game’s first booking came after 65 minutes for Mikey Devlin’s reckless challenge on Mckay. With 18 minutes left Rankin volleyed a shot just off target as United looked to get the all important opener. Maintaining the pressure McGovern palmed away a Spittal corner and from a corner on the opposite flank Demel headed wide. With 13 minutes left, Mixu Paatelainen made a triple substitution. Mark Durnan replaced Gunning who had been a doubt with flu before the game; Edward Ofere came on for the industrious Murray to make his debut and Scott Fraser took over from Dow. Accies replaced Grant with Greg Docherty seven minutes from the end. Two minutes later, there was a major let-off for United when Hamilton were awarded a penalty when Paton brought down Dougie Imrie. However, to the delight of all Arabs, Kawashimia kept out Crawford’s spot-kick with his legs. Relieved United raced to the other end and twice Demel was denied by late blocks. So too were Durnan and Donaldson shortly afterwards as the visitors piled on late pressure. In stoppage time, Accies were reduced to ten men when Devlin saw yellow and was sent off, but there wasn’t sufficient time left for United to capitalise. Man of the Match: United throughout were defensively sound and that was in no small measure to the performance of Coll Donaldson. Only recently re-instated into the  side, he has shown a maturity way beyond his tender 20 years. Not only was he outstanding in defence, but he was quick to get forward whenever possible. Indeed, he had unheeded claims for a penalty and also might have won the game in the dying minutes had his shot not been blocked. Teams: Hamilton Academical: McGovern Gordon, Lyon, Devlin, Tagliapietra. Kurakins, Gillespie (Docherty 83), Imrie, Crawford, Kurtaj (Canning 92), Morris (D'Acol 67) Unused Subs: Martin, Diaby, Brophy, Mandiangu. United: Kawashima, Donaldson, Gunning (Durnan 77), Dillon (C), Spittal, Demel, Paton, Rankin, Dow (Fraser 77), Mckay, Murray (Ofere 77). Unused Subs: Zwick, Dixon, Knoyle, Sinama Pongolle