Morton 0 - 2 Hamilton Academical: Accies subs torpedo Morton

Billy Reid sent on Grant Anderson and Paul Currie and, with a little help from the Morton rearguard, the pair got the goals that put Hamilton above Morton in the table.

“We made a couple of changes and it turned our way,” said Hamilton manager Reid. “There wasn’t a lot in it, then we went for the game. There were a lot of pluses. It was more like us as a unit. We didn’t create too many chances but to come here and win 2-0 is a fantastic result.”

Despite the early positivity of the two teams and some neat passing play, the first real shot on target did not arrive until mid-way through the first-half. Hamilton’s James McAlister had a go from the edge of the Morton box, his drive taking a slight deflection before being tipped over the crossbar by Colin Stewart in the home goal. Not long after, Morton gained an opportunity with a free-kick just outside the Hamilton penalty area. Peter Weatherson beat the wall but his firmly struck shot was saved by Tomas Cerny. Despite the encouraging start, this game was heading towards half-time with little goalmouth action to speak of.

The game sparked into life after the break when, incredibly, Morton centre-half Marc Smyth was gearing up for an overhead kick in the Hamilton box. He connected too and was unfortunate to strike the bar with his excellent effort.

Morton were beginning to put a fair amount of pressure on the Hamilton defence, who were kept busy intercepting and clearing the ball to safety.

Then the hosts carved out one of the best chances yet.

Blue and white shirts breaking forward, the lively Fouad Bachirou feeding Di Giacomo whose angled drive was blocked by an alert Cerny.

After that, the home side’s Smyth was cautioned for a rough tackle on Greig Spence, the Hamilton fans booing because they’d wanted the card to be a different colour. There was more about this game now. There was a sense that something could happen, that a breakthrough might occur.

And it did, Hamilton taking the lead through Currie.

Fellow substitute Anderson fired in the cross from the right and Currie ran unchecked to meet it, nodding past the helpless Stewart from close range.

Morton may have been enjoying the better of the half, but they were behind. The goal that put them further behind was a defensive nightmare. Grant Evans was the culprit with a poor pass-back. Anderson nipped in take the ball beyond Stewart and roll it into the net for the easiest of finishes.

The Hamilton players celebrated while Morton manager Allan Moore shook his head.

When MacDonald and Cerny collided in the box the Hamilton keeper took a while to recover but was eventually able to soldier on. Andrew Jackson had a late chance for Morton but shot over the bar.