Rice hails Accies comeback as ‘the best performance I’ve seen since I came here’

MOTHERWELL

Long 5

HAMILTON ACCIES

Mcgowan 68, Moyo 77

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Hamilton continue to confound. They may remain in the play-off position but coming from behind to defeat third-placed Motherwell at Fir Park will affirm their belief that they possess the quality required to survive for a sixth successive season in the Premiership.

Perhaps the most satisfying aspect of this victory for them is that it was thoroughly merited, although few inside the stadium would have predicted the outcome at half-time.

Hamilton manager Brian Rice was one who did, at least based on his post-match assessment. He believed that the writing was on the wall for the home side long before the interval.

“The first 20 minutes Motherwell were on top but after that there was only one team going to win the game,” he said. “I was just a bit concerned that we weren’t going to get the first goal but we deserved the victory. The second-half performance was probably the best I’ve seen since I came to the club.

“We started the second half on the front foot, scored two good goals and I’m just disappointed we didn’t score more.

“The boys are delighted – we’ve come here and put on a performance.”

There had already been chances at either end before Motherwell opened the scoring in the fifth minute with a superbly-taken goal by Chris Long. The 24-year-old was found in space by winger Jermaine Hylton and his low drive sneaked inside Luke Southwood’s left-hand post from the opposite corner of the penalty area.

Liam Polworth and Long each went close to doubling the hosts’ advantage while there was a minute’s applause to commemorate the 12th anniversary of the death of former Motherwell midfielder Phil O’donnell during a game against Dundee United.

Motherwell could not convert their first-half superiority into goals and their failure to do that came back to bite them.

Hamilton had them on the back foot from the restart and could have drawn level before full-back Aaron Mcgowan lashed the ball behind Mark Gillespie from 15 yards after David Moyo had nodded on Scott Mcmann’s cross.

The visitors – without an away win in the league this season – did not settle for a point. They continued to press and got the winner when Mcgowan’s deep cross was met by Moyo at the far post and his downward header left Gillespie helpless. Motherwell manager Stephen Robinson accepted that Hamilton deserved to take all three points but he expects his players to use this upset as a wake-up call.

“It’s an opportunity missed,” he said. “We started really well and scored a good goal and could have had more. But then we thought it was too easy and I have to credit Accies. It’s a real sore one for me to take in a local derby.

“There are lessons for everybody and me included. We will get back to basics and do the simple things well and kick on again.”