Accies 2 Ross County 0

It was a vital home win in the lunchtime kick off as we defeated Ross County.

With the other later results more or less also going our way, this was a very much needed three points.

Dougie Imrie’s penalty early in the second half was followed up by David Templeton, scoring for the third game in a row.

Charlie Scott, on loan from Manchester Utd, made his senior debut in the second half.

Scott McMann and Xavier Tomas were out suspended, while Ali Crawford and Alex Gogic remain injured.

Many contenders for man of the match with Gary Woods and Shaun Want in the frame, David Templeton picked up the SkySports one, but it was Georgos Sarris who picked up the Accies sponsors one.

Ladbrokes Premiership

Hamilton Academical 2 Ross County 0

We took a huge step towards league safety, as second half goals from Dougie Imrie and David Templeton helped move us  four clear of the drop zone.

It could conceivably have been a day where we finished bottom, but the captain’s opener from the spot eased much of the first half tension as Accies visibly grew in confidence to see the game out comfortably.

Manager Martin Canning was delighted with the spirit and quality on show as we put a six game losing run behind us.

“It’s a huge three points. Today I thought we deserved to win the game. We pressed really well and were on the front foot. The boys showed we’re up for the fight, and we’ll fight until the last for every point.”

“We’d lost six games on the bounce before today but I’ve been saying to the players that performances haven’t been below par. We played four of those games in nine days, a few down to ten men. Last week we did enough to win the game, but didn’t see it out.”

“I thought both teams were very competitive, but we had the moments of quality, particularly with Temps and Danny Redmond in the second half, and that’s how we’ve managed to win the game.”

“We’ve maybe had a break early on when the ref’s not sent off Darian MacKinnon. The fact it’s so early in the game has maybe been a factor. I think a yellow card’s probably right. We’ve been due to get a break though.”

“We have to go again next week, and not think that it’s done because of today. We’ve got to maintain that focus and drive and see if we can get ourselves over the line.”

Canning and opposite number Stewart Kettlewell each made two switches from last weekend for this proverbial six pointer. Sarris replaced the suspended Tomas for Accies, whilst Ogkmpoe landed a spot up front in place of Bingham. The visitors meanwhile introduced Davies and Tansey at the expense of Routis and Gardyne.

With so much at stake neither side was giving much away in a tense, cagey opening. Darian MacKinnon escaped with just a yellow for a high challenge on Jamie Lindsay in the opening seconds of the game. Accies soaked up the main County threat from the set piece and Van der Weg got in a few well timed tackles against his former club.

On form David Templeton showed his eye for goal in a quiet opening spell for Accies. A curling effort went just wide before the Accies top scorer blasted over from a free kick on 23 minutes.

The Staggies continued to get set piece opportunities in the Accies half without really carving out anything from open play. But there were close calls in the latter stages of the half, with a Lindsay header tipped wide by Woods on 41 minutes. Schalk then headed over with the goal at his mercy  in almost the final action of the half. It was beginning to look like that first goal would be crucial.

And Accies were to make County pay as they took a grip of proceedings early in the second half. Templeton got an effort on target just after the restart, winning a free kick, and whipping in a free kick, just cleared off the line by Draper.

It marked a decisive period in the game, with Schalk finding the Accies side netting on 50 minutes from the edge of the box as County continued to press at the other end.

We grabbed that all important opener on 54 minutes, after a penalty was awarded for a clear tug on Lewis Ferguson’s jersey by Fraser at a corner kick. Imrie was cool as you like after some opposition gamesmanship to to fire his spot kick low and hard down the middle.

It looked like the weight was off our shoulders, and County had to go for broke.  As they forced numbers forward though, we caught them with the sucker punch on 66 minutes. Sub Danny Redmond found Ogkmpoe’s run down the right, before collecting the County defence’s loose clearance. This time he picked out Templeton unmarked in the box, who placed a composed finish past Fox for his tenth goal of the season.

There was no looking back as we kept the head to see the game out confidently. Two goals to the good, we were enjoying our football, and Ogkmpoe might have settled things on 70 minutes, just inches from connecting with an Imrie cross after a flowing move. 

Templeton looked in the mood for more and almost capped another standout display with a powerful effort after a driving run on 80 minutes. Sub Rakish Bingham might have added number three in injury time after Imrie picked him out on a swift counter.

Big performances and commitment all over the pitch came at this crucial time in the season. Georgios Sarris took the Accies man of the match, running through injury in the last five minutes to help us secure a vital three points ahead of another six pointer at Dens Park next week.

Accies: Woods, Jenkins (Scott, 74), Imrie (c), Van der Weg, Templeton, MacKinnon, Lyon, Ferguson (Redmond, 58 ), Want, Sarris, Ogkmpoe (Bingham, 83) Subs Unused: Fulton, Miller, Rojano, Hughes

Goals: Imrie (pen, 54), Templeton, 66

Cautions: MacKinnon, Sarris

Ross County: Fox, Fraser (Gardyne 69), Souttar, Schalk, Davies, Draper, Lindsay, McKay (N’Gog, 65), Tansey, Fontaine, Melbourne; Subs Unused: McCarey,  Curran,  O’Brien, Keillor-Dunn, Kait

Cautions: Fraser

Referee: Bobby Madden Assistants: Alan Mulvanny, John McCrossan 4th Official: Alan Newlands 

Attendance: 2057