Kilmarnock 1 - 2 Hamilton: Victory takes Accies another giant step towards SPL safety

Mickael Antoine-Curier and Simon Mensing netted within five minutes midway through the first half as Accies moved eight points away from the bottom of the Clydesdale Bank Premier League.

The Lanarkshire side missed several chances to put the game out of sight before Chris Maguire pulled one back, but they survived the remaining 13 minutes without serious danger.

Kevin Kyle and Maguire returned up front for Kilmarnock against an unchanged Hamilton. Kyle had missed three games with a groin injury while Maguire was cup-tied for Killie's defeat by Celtic 11 days ago.

Manuel Pascali also came back after suspension while on-loan Watford defender Ron Kiernan was handed a start. Frazer Wright was absent while Allan Russell, Mark Burchill and Mehdi Taouil dropped to the bench.

Hamilton midfielder James McArthur had a fortunate escape in the second minute when the ball hit his hand after he miscontrolled it inside the box, but referee Craig Thomson waved play on.

Accies settled well and Dougie Imrie saw a shot blocked after a slick move, although it looked like heading wide, before Cameron Bell saved Brian Easton's deflected shot after the wing-back broke with purpose.

Tomas Cerny was soon called into action to tip over after Kyle chested the ball down and shot from 20 yards. Kyle then looped a header over from Craig Bryson's free-kick. Thomson booked Jamie Hamill for a reckless tackle on Easton, seconds before the visitors took a 21st-minute lead.

Simon Mensing released James Wesolowski in the right channel and the Australian showed a good turn of pace to get to the bye-line before his deflected cross fell perfectly for Antoine-Curier to bundle home at the far post.

Hamilton doubled their lead in the 26th minute when Mensing planted a firm header into the corner from Imrie's left-wing cross.

Killie were staring defeat in the face when Kiernan took a fresh-air swipe on the edge of his box but he recovered to make a crucial sliding challenge on Antoine-Curier.

Accies had a real verve to their play and could have added more before the break.

Wesolowski had an acrobatic shot blocked after a corner before Antoine-Curier fired wide. Moments later Pascali brilliantly blocked Easton's shot after Imrie claimed for a penalty following Liam Kelly's challenge.

Accies came even closer from Flavio Paixao's corner with James Fowler clearing Mensing's header off the line.

Craig Bryson was booked for a penalty-box dive as Killie struggled to get back in the game.

Kilmarnock's attacking play did not improve after the restart, even after Jimmy Calderwood brought on two more strikers in Burchill and Russell 10 minutes into the second half.

Imrie soon missed a glorious chance when he curled wide from 12 yards after Antoine-Curier's cutback.

Kilmarnock finally began pushing Hamilton back midway through the half but were still lacking a cutting edge.

However, they got a lifeline in the 77th minute after Marco Paixao, who had come off the bench moments earlier, gifted possession to Kelly midway inside his own half.

Kelly fed Maguire in the right channel and the on-loan Aberdeen striker fired a swerving shot inside Cerny's near post.

Accies defender Mark McLaughlin grabbed hold of Paixao as he remonstrated with the substitute but his determination was soon put to positive effect as Hamilton soaked up some late pressure.

Kilmarnock: Bell, Clancy (Taouil 90), Pascali, Kiernan (Burchill 56), Fowler (Russell 56), Severin, Bryson, Kelly, Hamill, Maguire, Kyle. Subs not used: Robinson, Hay, Ford, Owens.

Hamilton: Cerny, Wesolowski (Elebert 71), Canning, McLaughlin, Easton, Mensing, McArthur, Neil, Imrie (Marco Paixao 76), Antoine-Curier (Thomas 81), Flavio Paixao. Subs not used: Murdoch, van Zanten, Evans, Crawford.