Darian Mackinnon’s last-minute strike earned Hamilton Academical a crucial point against Scottish Premiership relegation rivals Dundee.
In head coach Brian Rice’s first game in charge of the hosts, Mackinnon side-footed high into the net to level.
Scott Wright’s superb debut goal had the visitors in front and seemingly on course for a priceless victory that would take them above Hamilton.
But Mackinnon’s goal keeps Dundee 11th, a point behind the Lanarkshire side.
Despite the crucial point, Hamilton are now without a win in their last nine matches.
Two moments of beauty amid scrap
Both teams were woefully short of form, with no wins in eight for Hamilton and just one in the same period for Dundee.
There was a sense this was going to be a scrappy, desperate battle for points, but new Hamilton head coach Rice said pre-match he wanted to “play on the front foot, entertain and win.”
It was easy to say, but his players backed his words with deed as they tore into Dundee from the first whistle. Steven Boyd hassled James Horsfield just outside the Dundee box, won the ball, sprinted in from the left and came within inches of finding the far corner.
Deadline day signing George Oakley was then denied from point-blank range by Dundee goalkeeper Senny Dieng, with Genseric Kusunga blocking two rebound efforts from Tony Andreu on the line.
Dundee, with five debutants and a completely different XI to the one that started their opening-day defeat at St Mirren, were reeling. But as the half wore on they gradually clawed their way back.
Martin Woods should have done better as he came steaming into the box, but struck straight at namesake Gary in the Hamilton goal. Then the goalkeeper had to fling himself to tip Andy Dales’ drive wide, after he was teed up just inside the box by Aberdeen loanee Wright.
The second half descended into a battle and neither side shied away from the challenge. But in the heat of it, Wright produced the quality he has shown glimpses of at Aberdeen.
After a fortuitous break off Aaron McGowan, the winger controlled the ball, deftly nudged it onto his right foot – flooring Matt Kilgallon in the process – and fired across Woods into the far corner.
It was a strike fit to win any match, but painfully for Dundee boss Jim McIntyre it did not.
Counterpart Rice threw caution to the wind in the desperate search for an equaliser, playing 4-2-4 by the end.
Dieng somehow pushed away McGowan’s deflected volley before Mackinnon’s composed finish from the edge of the box, after a perfectly weighted lay-off from Steven Davies, clinched a precious point.
‘Hamilton showed attacking intent’ – analysis
BBC Scotland’s Jonathan Sutherland at the Hope Stadium
That felt like the right outcome in the end. So much focus was on the new Rice regime at Hamilton, and what he is all about was clear from the off. Hamilton set up with a 4-3-3 that showed attacking intent and the players looked like they had had a weight lifted off their shoulders.
But credit to Dundee, as they wrested control of this game. McIntyre has clearly recruited players who will make a difference, deadline day signing Wright proving his worth straight away.
There was something fitting about the equaliser. Mackinnon, back from injury, firing home to grab what felt like a really big goal to ensure the Rice era would not fall flat on his first game in charge.
‘Hamilton never say die’ – reaction
Hamilton Academical head coach Brian Rice: “It was fantastic, the spirit, the effort, the energy. Everything I asked of the boys they showed it in abundance.
“There wasn’t much between the teams, they had chances we had chances. But the never-say-die attitude Hamilton’s famed for came to the fore.”
Dundee manager Jim McIntyre: “There were a bit of nerves from both sides. It was good composure from Scott Wright to pick out the corner, but we didn’t keep the ball well enough and got deeper.
“Then you’re always liable to concede opportunities from the edge of your box.”
Content provided by the BBC. Original piece can be found here https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/47011424
