Hamilton Accies 3-0 Motherwell: Steelmen slump to derby loss

Motherwell slumped to a heavy 3-0 away derby defeat against local rivals Hamilton Accies at The Foys Stadium on Saturday.
Action from Saturday's Lanarkshire derby (Pic by Ian McFadyen)Action from Saturday's Lanarkshire derby (Pic by Ian McFadyen)
Action from Saturday's Lanarkshire derby (Pic by Ian McFadyen)

The Steelmen – led for the first time by interim manager Keith Lasley after Stephen Robinson’s shock resignation on Thursday – are now second bottom of the table and facing a major battle for survival in the Scottish Premiership.

The first chance came for Accies on four minutes when Lee Hodson dispossessed Jake Carroll in midfield and advanced before firing in a low shot that was turned wide by Motherwell keeper Aaron Chapman.

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The Steelmen came agonisingly close to hitting the front when Liam Polworth fed Stephen O'Donnell on the right and his fizzed ball into the box was turned wide by Tony Watt with the goal gaping.

But it was Accies who took a 10th minute lead when Andrew Winter fed Hodson – in acres of space – and he shot low past Chapman.

Polworth’s long lofted free-kick on 21 minutes was headed against the post by Declan Gallagher who was flagged offside. Motherwell then produced a fine move culminating in Polworth’s flick to Watt whose shot was straight at home keeper Kyle Gourlay.

There was nearly disaster for Chapman on 24 minutes when he ran out to punch away a long free-kick into the away box and was then stranded as he was rounded by Winter who shot well over.

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Polworth’s corner from the left dropped for Mugabi whose smothered shot went through to Gourlay.

That man Polworth stung Gourlay's palms with a powerful shot following an Allan Campbell pass and it remained 1-0 Hamilton at half-time.

It was 2-0 Accies on 49 minutes when Bevis Mugabi missed a high ball forward and Moyo's cross from the right was finished by an unmarked Ross Callachan.

O'Donnell's cross found Watt but his volley from the edge of the box lacked power and was easily saved.

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Accies had a third goal disallowed when a Callachan corner was headed in simply with no defenders near the Accies player.

Sub Callum Smith, again unmarked, then headed in Callachan’s cross to put the hosts 3-0 up.

Allan Campbell fired in a shot from the edge of the box which Gourlay palmed away to maintain Hamilton's three-goal lead.

Gallagher’s cross from the left glanced well wide off White’s head before Polworth's long diagonal free-kick with just six minutes remaining was headed not too far off target by Carroll at the back post.

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Another long delivery into the Accies penaty area picked out White whose header was stopped by Gourlay.

Motherwell: Chapman, Grimshaw, Carroll, Campbell, Hastie (Maguire 65), Mugabi, Polworth, Gallagher, Watt, O’Donnell, Cole (White 56).

Referee: Colin Steven