Coyle frustrated by controversial loss

Ross County manager Owen Coyle struggled to contain his emotions after a controversial 3-2 defeat at Hamilton.

Match officials and stewards had to step in when players and coaches clashed in the final seconds before referee Gavin Duncan flashed a straight red card to Ioannis Skondras for his bust-up with County’s Kenny van der Weg and Chris Routis.

He had earlier dismissed County’s Michael Gardyne after 86 minutes for a second booking plus awarded a penalty to each team and booked a flurry of players.

Coyle said: “Goals change games and every one of them

. . . the first one for me, the penalty (decision) Dougie Imrie is already on the way down before there is any contact but he (the referee) has given it.

“The third one Dougie Imrie actually slips, which leads to the free-kick.

“It actually hits Jamie Lindsay on the back while he is on the ground because he has actually been pushed to the ground by two hands in the box.”

Hamilton boss Martin Canning said: “You could see with the confrontation at the end that it means a lot to both teams, who understood the importance of the game and a win.”

He added: “I don’t think it was the referee’s best game.

“Thankfully we came out on top, and you don’t get as frustrated when that happens.”

Meanwhile, Kilmarnock manager Steve Clarke said he was still learning about his players after Scott Boyd marked his first start of the Ladbrokes Premiership season with the winner against Motherwell.

Boyd scored from close range in the 42nd minute after Russell Griffiths failed to deal with Chris Burke’s corner.

But it was the centre-back’s role in keeping a clean sheet that really impressed his manager after the former Ross County defender came in for the injured Gordon Greer.

Killie have taken 10 points from their last four games, and have gone from bottom to eighth – two points off the top six – since Clarke was appointed in October.

Motherwell suffered a fourth consecutive defeat but manager Stephen Robinson took plenty of encouragement as he adjusts to life without Preston-bound Louis Moult, missing through injury.

Jamie MacDonald made good saves from Craig Tanner and Alex Fisher before substitute George Newell came close on his return from a foot injury.