Motherwell 1-3 Hamilton Academical
- Published
Hamilton Accies produced an excellent comeback to earn all three points and prolong Motherwell's miserable run.
Well, now without a league victory in eight matches, took the lead through Craig Tanner's fine near-post finish.
Dougie Imrie's penalty hauled Hamilton level after Peter Hartley was adjudged to have handled Ali Crawford's shot.
Hartley's second-half error allowed Rakish Bingham to race clear and finish before Greg Docherty added a third.
Accies' win moves them to just a point behind their Lanarkshire rivals.
Craig Tanner gave Well the lead with a fine near-post finish
There was a minute's applause prior to kick-off to remember the former Motherwell captain Phil O'Donnell, who died 10 years ago.
And the way the present Motherwell team started this Lanarkshire derby would have been fitting of the positive approach O'Donnell displayed in his heyday.
They twice came close in the second minute when Ryan Bowman battled through the visitors' defence before being thwarted on both occasions by Accies goalkeeper Gary Woods.
But there was nothing Woods could do just over a minute later when Tanner opened the scoring with a fine finish from close range as he nipped in at the front post to tuck away Bowman's low cross.
Well almost doubled their lead with a similar move involving Bowman and Tanner but on this occasion the former Reading player took a touch to control before sending a left-foot shot into the side-netting.
Motherwell fans paid tribute to former player Phil O'Donnell, who passed away 10 years ago
Accies, who's last win at Fir Park was back in September 2014, eventually found their feet and David Templeton had a left-foot strike from 20 yards deflected wide by Cedric Kipre.
Four minutes before the interval Accies equalised from the penalty spot. Referee Andrew Dallas decided Hartley handled Crawford's driven shot 10 yards from goal and after the Well man was yellow-carded for the offence, Imrie made no mistake from the spot by sending his low left-foot shot past Carson and in.
It was to get worse for Hartley early in the second half after his mistake allowed the visitors to take the lead. The defender's poor touch 10 yards inside his own half fell to Bingham and the striker took full advantage. He strode away from the chasing home defenders before sending an angled left-foot shot beyond Carson to put Accies in front.
Hartley was involved in another contentious moment when he was floored inside the Accies box in a tussle with Tomas, but the referee saw nothing untoward as the Motherwell defender claimed for a penalty.
As Well seemed to lose their way Accies increased their lead. Docherty's powerful run took him inside the home box before he drove a low shot past Carson for his third goal of the season.
Peter Hartley was penalised for blocking Ali Crawford's shot with his hands
There were ugly scenes as the referee had to separate players just after the full-time whistle, which will also be noted by the authorities. Motherwell defender Hartley was sent off after the game for his involvement in the the incident.
Motherwell have now gone nine games in all competitions without a win despite an impressive start to the season.
Accies will hope this victory, their first in eight against Well, sets them up for their first match after the break when they return to Fir Park for another Lanarkshire derby, this time in the Scottish Cup.