Accies see red again but hold on for vital point against Killie
Hamilton Accies boss Brian Rice believes his side are developing an unwelcome quality.
The Lanarkshire side have become specialists at playing with 10 men.
Accies had Sam Stubbs sent off at Rugby Park with more than an hour still to play.
They were 2-0 up at the time and hung on to earn a draw despite goalie Owain Fon Williams dropping a clanger just before the break.
Brian Easton was sent packing earlier in the season as Hamilton beat Killie 2-0 at home.
They’ve also had Jamie Hamilton and Scott Martin redcarded since then.
Rice clearly felt the decision by referee Gavin Duncan to dismiss Stubbs for pulling back Brophy was harsh but refused to comment on the decision.
He said: “We’ve been in this situation more than any team in the league when it comes to playing with 10 men.
“We know what to do. Twice we’ve played Kilmarnock with 10 men and twice they’ve failed to beat us.
“I tell my players not to get involved with referees on the pitch, so I can’t get involved with them.
“It might have been harsh, I don’t know.
“He consulted with the fourth official, they came to a decision and we all get on with it.”
Rice had watched his team get off to a dream start.
The fans had barely sat down after a minute’s silence to mark the passing of former Killie defender Jim Richmond, when Mikel Miller put the visitors ahead.
He was well outside the penalty area as he unleashed one of the crispest volleys you’ll ever see. It went fizzing past a helpless Branescu in the Kilmarnock goal.
Accie’s second shot of the afternoon had the same result.
Steve Davies was a little nearer
the penalty area when he lashed a knock-down past the keeper.
The home supporters were shell-shocked at seeing their side two behind with less than 30 minutes on the clock.
The 189 Hamilton fans were just as surprised.
Then Stubbs got his marching orders after the referee sought guidance from fourth official Greg Aitken.
Brophy was still some distance from goal when he was impeded, but the officials decided it was a clear goalscoring opportunity.
Alex Bruce pulled up with a hamstring injury and that forced Killie to switch skipper Gary Dicker from midfield to centre-half. But that blow was compensated for by a gift of a goal in added-on time.
El Makrini had a tame shot from the edge of the area but Fon Williams got his dive all wrong to let it sail past him.
When Brophy volleyed in just after half-time, it looked liked Kilmarnock would take the points. But a lack of imagination and resolute defending saw the game end in a stalemate.
Things might have been different if Chris Burke had come off the bench earlier. He was the only man in blue with the craft to create a chance.
Killie boss Angelo Alessio said: “I am angry because it was 11 against 10 for an hour and we can do better in some situations.
“They had two shots and two goals. They were easy goals. We didn’t press or be aggressive on the edge of the box.”
Bruce’s injury, along with the absence of Stuart Findlay until the start of the year, leaves Kilmarnock with a real lack of central defenders.
Alessio added: “If someone is free then we will try for them, but it is difficult. It could be we ask a midfielder to play at centre-back. I don’t want that solution but I might have to.