United 1 Hamilton 3

United endured another awful day at Tannadice this afternoon losing 3-1 to a dominant Hamilton side. By Gareth Scott Gillespie had the visitors ahead at the break and then a double from Morris effectively sealed the points. At the death Simon Murray pulled one back but that was merely a consolation on a terrible day for the home supporters. After the agony of the penalty shoot out defeat last Saturday, Mixu Paatelainen made four changes to the starting United side for the vital visit of Hamilton. Unsurprisingly, after good showings at Hampden, there were starting berths for Dixon and Demel whilst Mark Durnan and Scott Fraser also returned. Callum Morris dropped out completely with Erskine, Spittal and Donaldson listed amongst the substitutes. First Half  United started the game very nervously and early on Imrie hooked in a shot that Kawashima saved and then he again went close when he took advantage of a defensive mistake but was denied by United's keeper. With eleven minutes on the clock the visitors took a deserved lead. Morris picked up the ball in the corner and he laid the ball into the path of Gillespie who will never hit a shot better leaving Kawashima with no chance. Shortly after, Accies had a penalty claim waved away after Demel and Morris clashed in the box. United had their first effort on goal with 20 minutes on the clock but Fraser's shot was well over. Demel and Fraser then combined but the youngster's teasing ball into the box was just out of the reach of Mckay. The visitors were certainly the better side and went close again when MacKinnon set up Crawford but the Hamilton man hit the side netting from close range. Three minutes from the interval, United almost fell further behind. Crawford floated a free kick into the penalty area and the unchallenged Tagliapietra was thwarted by an outstanding save from Kawashima. On the stroke of half time Paton played the ball into the chest of Mckay who controlled and turned well but his left foot shot sailed over the crossbar. Second Half  Within two minutes of the restart United were desperately unlucky not to be level. Dixon broke up the left and his cross was headed against the post by Mckay and from the rebound the Irishman was denied by a brilliant save from McGovern. That was to prove costly for the hosts as play broke forward and Imrie crossed into the United box and Docherty headed against the bar but the rebound landed on the head of Morris who nodded into the empty net. Shortly after United nearly pulled one back when firstly Fraser had a shot saved and then the resulting corner was flicked by Ofere but McGovern again saved well, this time tipping the ball onto the crossbar and the danger was cleared. United's skipper Paul Paton then shot from distance but his effort was easily gathered. Imrie then threatened for the visitors but he sliced his effort wide from close range and then United had a chance but Mckay was denied when through on goal. The result was well and truly beyond doubt with 20 minutes remaining. Crawford's weak shot at goal was spilled by United's keeper and Morris had the easy job of turning the ball into the empty net. Hamilton were coasting to the three points but United did pull one back in the last minute when Paton forced the ball into the box and Murray lobbed the ball over the helpless McGovern. Summing Up - Although it is not confirmed, this was another nail in United's coffin with the drop looking more likely. The players must have been buoyed by Kilmarnock's defeat but in truth they were well beaten and are running out of games. Teams: United: Kawashima, Dillon, Dixon, Paton, McKay (Murray 77) Rankin, Knoyle, Dow (Ofere 46) Durnan, Fraser (Spittal 77), Demel Subs : Zwick, Erskine, Anier, Donaldson Hamilton: McGovern, Gordon, Kurakins, Devlin, Gillespie, Imrie (Kurtaj 77), Crawford (Redmond 75), Morris (Diaby 80) Mackinnon, Docherty, Tagliapietra Subs : Martin, Canning, Boyd, Hughes Referee : Steven McLean