Match ends, Hamilton Academical 0, Dundee United 0.
HamiltonHamilton Academical0Dundee UtdDundee United0
Brian Rice feels Hamilton Academical have been "a wee bit unlucky" with how Covid-19 has affected their fixtures.
Accies' games with Aberdeen and St Mirren were postponed and Hamilton were initially awarded three points for the match with the Buddies.
However, St Mirren's appeal against that ruling was successful and the match will be rearranged.
"We just get on with it," Rice said after Saturday's goalless stalemate with Dundee United.
"That's twice now. We were meant to play Aberdeen when Aberdeen had nine people out with Covid and a suspension and we went and played them after it when they had their full team. We were meant to play St Mirren when they were depleted. They'll have their full team. We've been a wee bit unlucky."
Hamilton remained second bottom after drawing with United but could slip to the foot of the table if Motherwell draw or win against Rangers on Sunday. The Tangerines stayed sixth.
Dundee United saw more of the ball in the first half and should have moved into the lead when Dillon Powers crossed from right to left and Ian Harkes nodded towards goal, Ryan Fulton somehow keeping it out on his return to the starting line-up.
At the other end, Callum Smith stayed onside when found by Ross Callachan but could not keep his effort down and a free-kick by Callachan was pushed out by goalkeeper Benjamin Siegrist.
Siegrist held Lee Hodson's shot early in the second half and also got a touch on Hakeem Odoffin's effort.
In between times Nicky Clark drew a save from Fulton from the edge of the Hamilton box.
Lawrence Shankland, having been starved of service, finally had a sight of goal from Harkes' lay-off and fired past the left-hand post.
United finished as strongly as they had started but could not find a way through.
Man of the match - Mark Connolly
What did we learn?
The wet and windy conditions did not lend themselves to flowing football and both teams struggled particularly in the final third.
Hamilton, with defenders Odoffin and Ben Stirling playing in central midfield, tried to crowd Dundee United out but it limited them going forward.
The visitors were much more forceful in attack but too often their final ball let them down. Still, a point keeps them on course for a top-six finish in their first season back in the Premiership.
What did they say?
Hamilton Academical head coach Brian Rice: "Probably a fair result. It was slippy and it was windy. It was a gritty performance. You could easily lose these games so to walk away, get a point, we'll take that.
"It was a really good save from Ryan Fulton. It's his first game in about a month so I'm delighted for him. We've got another clean sheet, so I'm delighted with that."
Dundee United manager Micky Mellon: "Over the course of 90 minutes, performance wise, we're satisfied, apart from not putting an end to some of the moves that we created.
"We have to get better at getting on the end of those chances or being more clinical when they come, we know that. Defensively, we were excellent. We're building in the right direction."
What's next?
Both teams need to wait 11 days for their next match with Hamilton away to Celtic and Dundee United at home to St Mirren on 27 January (both 19:45 GMT).
Player of the match
SiegristBenjamin Siegrist
with an average of 8.13
Hamilton Academical
Avg
- Squad number23Player nameFultonAverage rating
5.64
- Squad number16Player nameMartinAverage rating
5.06
- Squad number4Player nameStirlingAverage rating
4.97
- Squad number3Player nameMcMannAverage rating
4.88
- Squad number6Player nameHamiltonAverage rating
4.87
- Squad number34Player nameCallachanAverage rating
4.84
- Squad number32Player nameSmithAverage rating
4.81
- Squad number5Player nameEastonAverage rating
4.80
- Squad number2Player nameOdoffinAverage rating
4.55
- Squad number20Player nameMoyoAverage rating
4.45
- Squad number27Player nameHodsonAverage rating
4.33
- Squad number9Player nameOgkmpoeAverage rating
3.59
- Squad number19Player nameWinterAverage rating
3.35
Dundee United
Avg
- Squad number1Player nameSiegristAverage rating
8.13
- Squad number27Player nameAppéréAverage rating
7.58
- Squad number2Player nameSmithAverage rating
7.47
- Squad number24Player nameShanklandAverage rating
7.44
- Squad number6Player nameReynoldsAverage rating
7.39
- Squad number17Player nameRobsonAverage rating
7.28
- Squad number30Player nameNeilsonAverage rating
7.22
- Squad number4Player namePowersAverage rating
7.22
- Squad number23Player nameHarkesAverage rating
7.16
- Squad number5Player nameConnollyAverage rating
7.08
- Squad number10Player nameClarkAverage rating
6.88
- Squad number9Player nameMcNultyAverage rating
6.86
Line-ups
Hamilton
Formation 3-4-1-2
- 23Fulton
- 6HamiltonBooked at 87mins
- 16Martin
- 5Easton
- 27Hodson
- 2Odoffin
- 4Stirling
- 3McMann
- 34Callachan
- 32SmithSubstituted forWinterat 76'minutes
- 20MoyoSubstituted forOgkmpoeat 68'minutes
Substitutes
- 9Ogkmpoe
- 14Trafford
- 17Stanger
- 18Mimnaugh
- 19Winter
- 21Munro
- 22Gourlay
- 36Owolabi
- 37Johnson
Dundee Utd
Formation 3-5-2
- 1Siegrist
- 30NeilsonBooked at 45mins
- 5Connolly
- 6ReynoldsBooked at 90mins
- 2Smith
- 10Clark
- 4Powers
- 23Harkes
- 17Robson
- 27AppéréSubstituted forMcNultyat 58'minutesBooked at 70mins
- 24Shankland
Substitutes
- 3Spörle
- 8Pawlett
- 9McNulty
- 12Edwards
- 19Mehmet
- 20Bolton
- 25Fotheringham
- 26Mochrie
- 43Smith
- Referee:
- Greg Aitken
Match Stats
Home TeamHamiltonAway TeamDundee Utd
- Possession
- Home43%
- Away57%
- Shots
- Home11
- Away6
- Shots on Target
- Home3
- Away2
- Corners
- Home9
- Away6
- Fouls
- Home12
- Away6
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Hamilton Academical 0, Dundee United 0.
Booking
Mark Reynolds (Dundee United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Mark Reynolds (Dundee United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Hakeem Odoffin (Hamilton Academical).
Post update
Corner, Dundee United. Conceded by Hakeem Odoffin.
Post update
Corner, Dundee United. Conceded by Hakeem Odoffin.
Post update
Marc McNulty (Dundee United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Foul by Hakeem Odoffin (Hamilton Academical).
Booking
Jamie Hamilton (Hamilton Academical) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Marc McNulty (Dundee United) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Post update
Foul by Jamie Hamilton (Hamilton Academical).
Post update
Corner, Hamilton Academical. Conceded by Mark Connolly.
Post update
Offside, Dundee United. Lawrence Shankland tries a through ball, but Marc McNulty is caught offside.
Post update
Corner, Dundee United. Conceded by Ben Stirling.
Post update
Ian Harkes (Dundee United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Hakeem Odoffin (Hamilton Academical).
Substitution
Substitution, Hamilton Academical. Andy Winter replaces Callum Smith.
Post update
Mark Connolly (Dundee United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Marios Ogkmpoe (Hamilton Academical).
