Hamilton 2-2 Motherwell

Lukas Jutkiewicz scored a late equaliser as Motherwell came from behind to earn a share of the spoils against ten-man Hamilton.

The striker netted three minutes from time at New Douglas Park to salvage a point in a pulsating Lanarkshire derby.

Accies, who had Guillame Beuzelin sent off in the first-half, twice led through Simon Mensing and Marco Paixao but they were pegged back by a stunning strike from substitute Jamie Murphy.

Ross Forbes also missed a penalty and a whole host of chances went begging during an entertaining 90 minutes in Hamilton.

The Steelmen were dealt a triple blow ahead of the trip to New Douglas Park, with John Ruddy, Yassin Moutaouakil and Shaun Hutchinson ruled out through injury.

Michael Fraser, Stephen Craigan and Chris Humphrey came in as Jim Gannon was forced to shuffle his pack for the derby clash.

But they made an encouraging start to the game and Jutkiewicz threatened early on, although his shot on the turn was comfortable held by Tomas Cerny.

John Sutton did have the ball in the net on 12 minutes but his header was chalked off for a foul on the Hamilton goalkeeper.

The home side responded and Beuzelin went close to breaking the deadlock when he flashed a shot narrowly wide from 12 yards.

But the French midfielder was then sensationally sent off after picking up two bookings in quick succession.

Firstly, he was penalised for a foul on Jim O’Brien and just two minutes later he tripped Mark Reynolds, leaving referee Craig Thomson little choice but to produce a red card.

Tom Hateley tried his luck from the resulting free-kick, forcing Cerny into a low save at his near post. Sutton then diverted a Humphrey cross wide as the Steelmen continued to press.

And they were awarded a penalty in the 38th minute when Hastings brought-down O’Brien inside the box. Forbes stepped up but his spot-kick was saved by Cerny and Accies scrambled the ball behind.

The pressure was still on though and from the resulting corner, Steven Saunders saw a header cleared off the line by Mickael Antoine-Curier.

Cerny then had to be at full-stretch to keep out a Hateley shot on the stroke of half-time as Motherwell remained in control.

Gannon introduced Murphy for Craigan at the break in an attempt to make the most of the man advantage.

And it almost paid dividends within seconds of the restart as both Reynolds and Sutton were denied by Cerny.
Sutton then headed a Hateley free-kick wide from just 8 yards as the Steelmen continued to create chances.

But it was the home side who took the lead against the run of play when Mensing rose highest to head a Marco Paixao corner into the net on 61 minutes.

And they almost doubled their lead moments later when Antoine-Curier flashed a shot narrowly wide from a tight angle.

Motherwell hit-back and substitute Jennings came within inches of getting one after a neat lay-off by Jutkiewicz inside the box.

They eventually drew level on 78 minutes when Murphy unleashed an unstoppable shot from 30 yards that flew past Cerny into the top corner of the net.

And Jennings almost put the Steelmen in front seconds later with a low drive which whistled past the post.

Play continued to flow from end to end and Hamilton restored their lead on 81 minutes when Marco Paixao headed a James Wesolowski cross home from  six yards.

But Motherwell refused to lie down and Jutkiewicz diverted a Coke cross into the net three minutes from time to make it 2-2.

Hamilton: Cerny, McLenahan, Hastings (Evans 46 (Elebert 90)), Canning, McLaughin, Wesolowski, McArthur, M Paixao, Mensing (Mills 84), Beuzelin. Subs: Murdoch, F Paixao, Kissock, Kirkpatrick.

Booked: Beuzelin (28), Hastings (42), McLenahan (66)

Sent off: Beuzelin (30)

Goals: Mensing (61), M Paixao (81)

Motherwell: Fraser, Reynolds, Craigan (Murphy 46), Coke, Humphrey, Jutkiewicz, Sutton, O’Brien (McHugh 77), Hateley, Forbes (Jennings 60), Saunders. Subs: Kosiorowski, Lasley, Archdeacon, Page.

Booked: Jennings (63)

Goals: Murphy (78), Jutkiewicz (87)

Referee: Craig Thomson

Attendance: 3,583