On Saturday Hamilton faced a very out of sorts Hibernian side, who couldn’t buy a win at the moment. Whenever they go ahead in games they just cant seem to see them out, and when you’re in that situation, the last team you want to come up against is Hamilton, who have already come from behind on numerous occasions this season.
The weekends game was no different to previous weeks and Paul Heckingbottom said its the “same old story” as he watched his side throw away a one goal lead in the second-half despite looking to be in control of the game.
The Hibs boss watched on from the stands as he served his first part of a two-match touchline ban.
His side were played well in the first half and deservedly took the lead through a superb Stevie Mallan strike, but were guilty of missing chances and paid the price when Mallan brought down Blair Alston in the box and the reliable Ross Cunningham stepped up and scored to rescue Hamilton a point.
Match Report
The Leith side started the much better side and were playing the majority of their football down the left-wing and missed a sitter to take the lead on the 11t minute. It was a fantastic free-flowing move down the left which ended with Joe Newell crossing the ball for Daryl Horgan, but the winger somehow put his effort wide.
Minutes later, The Hibees came close again when this time Christian Doidge got on the end of a cross, but he glanced his header just wide of Owain-Fon Williams post.
The away sides early pressure eventually paid off as they deservedly took the lead on the 20th minute courtesy a fantastic strike by Stevie Mallan. A cross into the box evaded everyone in the Hamilton box and the midfielder caught the ball sweetly on the edge of the box and his effort flew into the bottom left-hand corner.
The final chance of what was a one-sided first-half, came just before the break when a ambitious free-kick by Tom James fizzed narrowly wide of the target.
The second-half started similar, with Heckingbottom’s side looking well in control, but the game was turned on its head when Accies were awarded a penalty just before the hour mark as Mallan tripped Blair Alston in the box. Ross Cunningham stepped up and fired his effort straight down the middle to get Brian Rice’s men level.
It turned into an end-to-end game with both managers trying desperately to snatch all three points and if anyone looked likelier to win it was definitely the visitors. They thought they had scored the winner on the 86th minute when Doidge beat his man in the box and fired beyond Fon-Williams, however referee John Beaton had already blown his whistle as Doidge had allegedly handled the ball in the process.
Flo Kamberi was introduced on the 86th minute as some sarcastic cheers came from the away end, with the fans believing he should have been on earlier and the Swiss nearly won it for his team as his powerful effort was tipped around the post for a corner.
Full Time- Hamilton 1-1 Hibernian
What The Managers Said To BBC Sport
Brian Rice- ” My team never give up. That’s three of four times we’ve gone behind this season and have fought back to win or draw.”
Paul Heckingbottom– “I’m disappointed, frustrated, it’s lots of similarities again. We took the lead, were playing really well and should be talking about a superb goal from Stevie Mallan and other great opportunities where the football is fantastic.”
Referee– John Beaton
Assistants– Kylie Cockburn + Gary Hilland
Fourth Official- Scott Lambie
Attendance– 2,680
Goals- Mallan(20), Cunningham(59)
Yellow Cards- Gogic(34), Maxwell(59)
Red Cards- 0
