Hamilton derby win hits Well hopes

The suspended player-manager had to watch from the New Douglas Park stand but there was a celebratory atmosphere in the home end as the Accies fans welcomed their fourth victory over their neighbours this season, which ensured they finish above them in the Scottish league standings for the first time since 1954.

Motherwell were in the second tier that season and they could be heading there again after goals in each half from Jason Scotland and Ali Crawford consigned them to a damaging defeat.

Motherwell hit the frame of the goal twice in the first half but they looked devoid of ideas after Crawford put Hamilton two up in the 52nd minute.

They will finish the weekend either six or seven points adrift in 11th place and cannot afford any more slip-ups if they are to have any chance of avoiding an unwanted extension to their season.

Motherwell got away with a strong early penalty claim following Josh Law's clumsy aerial challenge on Dougie Imrie before the visitors threatened, with Michael McGovern making a good diving stop from Lionel Ainsworth's deflected strike.

Hamilton were edging the midfield battle and they took the lead in simple fashion in the 21st minute.

Ali Crawford spotted a gap in the middle of the Motherwell defence when he picked up the ball midway inside the visitors' half and his through-pass caught Louis Laing flat-footed. Scotland ran on to it and drilled a shot into the bottom corner from 18 yards.

Motherwell had an instant chance to equalise when George Long's kick-out eventually fell for Lee Erwin but the forward rushed his strike on the half-volley and hit the outside of the post.

Laing went off injured and Accies nearly doubled their lead before Fraser Kerr could come on in his place. Crawford and Scotland combined again and the former saw his deflected strike spin wide.

Crawford set up Michael Devlin from the resulting corner and the defender's looping header hit the underside of the bar and bounced out.

Kerr sent a free header well wide before the woodwork was struck again, Motherwell winger Marvin Johnson cutting in and firing off the bar after Scott McDonald's pass.

Darian Mackinnon had a shot saved by Long before the first half action seemed to be petering out.

But the visitors almost levelled on the counter-attack when McDonald threaded it through for Erwin. McGovern blocked his shot and Devlin scrambled clear, before Ainsworth fired wide from 18 yards in injury time.

Accies went two up after Motherwell lost the ball on the halfway line when Johnson misread Erwin's pass. It went straight to Imrie and he cut in and played the perfect pass to Crawford, who had peeled off to the left, and the midfielder finished clinically into the corner from 20 yards.

Motherwell boss Ian Baraclough brought on Dom Thomas and he curled a low shot just wide before firing a cross that just evaded fellow substitute John Sutton.

Sutton later headed not far wide but a comeback never really looked likely and any lingering hope disappeared when Erwin shot straight at McGovern when played clean through in the 88th minute.