Defeat anchors Accies to the bottom

Nov 20 2008 by Andrew McGilvray, Hamilton Advertiser

A DEFENSIVE blunder cost Hamilton a chance to drag themselves off bottom spot in the SPL as an under-strength Hearts side earned a slender win at Tynecastle last Wednesday.

With 11th-placed St Mirren losing against Aberdeen on Tuesday, a win would have taken Hamilton at least one place higher, but they conceded after just six minutes.

Lee Wallace’s long ball was flicked on by Bruno Aguiar, Christian Nade brushed off challenges from Martin Canning and Mark McLaughlin and slid the ball under outrushing Tomas Cerny.

Hamilton had started well, with Alex Neil’s corner knocked on by James McCarthy to McLaughlin, who sent a shot just past the left post in four minutes.

But Nade nearly scored again in 27 minutes, hooking a shot just past the left post with his back to goal, despite the attentions of McLaughlin.

Three minutes later David Obua found Nade on the right. His swerving effort was parried by Cerny, Simon Mensing missed his clearance attempt, and when the ball was put back in, Nade saw his shot saved.

Hamilton’s best chance fell to David Graham in 38 minutes as he drove down the left flank and nearly deceived keeper Janos Balogh at his near post, with McCarthy’s follow-up effort blocked.

Aguiar saw his shot parried and cleared three minutes into the second half, and 60 seconds later Andy Driver’s swerving shot was saved.

Hearts should have doubled their advantage in 52 minutes when Aguiar sent over an inviting cross from the right but, stretching, Nade couldn’t quite connect.

The striker seemed to suffer a hamstring injury in the process, and was replaced by Jamie Mole 10 minutes later

Hamilton stepped up a gear and pummelled Hearts for much of the remainder of the half, but without often breaching a stubborn defence.

In 55 minutes Simon Mensing delivered an excellent cross from the right for sub Richard Offiong, but his header was saved at the back post.

And in 72 minutes Graham’s cross from the right was headed over by James McArthur, who should have done better.

HEARTS: Balogh, Wallace, Berra, Karipidis, Palazuelos, Aguiar, Driver, Nade (Mole, 62), Obua (Neilson, 60), Jonsson, Zaliukas. Subs (not used): Kello, Makela, Thomson, Templeton, Balatoni.

Booked: Mole.

HAMILTON: Cerny, McClenahan (Thomas, 84), Easton, McCarthy, Canning, McLaughlin, Mensing, McArthur (Gibson, 77), Akins (Offiong, 45), Neil, Graham. Subs (not used): Murdoch, Elebert, Swailes, Lyle.

Booked: Mensing.

Referee: Dougie McDonald.

Attendance: 12,013.

Advertiser Man of the Match: Brian Easton – drove forward as often as possible and tried to make things happen against a stubborn Hearts side.