Hamilton 1-1 Aberdeen: Visitors return to third place

Manager Derek McInnes harboured suspicions of offside and heaped praise on goalkeeper Joe Lewis as Aberdeen were held to a draw at Hamilton.

Ryan Hedges shot the Dons into a first-half lead only for Accies to level with a Marios Ogkmpoe header, while Lewis made a fabulous late save.

The visitors, who return to third place in the Premiership, were convinced the equaliser should not have stood.

"I've seen it back and think Ogkmpoe's half a yard offside," said McInnes.

"I've not seen it from a better angle but I thought at the time he must be offside to get a free header. I don't think it's a free-kick that leads to the goal. It's never a free-kick. I do feel we are a touch too high, but we've got to trust the officials.

"Hamilton showed real spirit and they could've got more, Joe Lewis pulled off a brilliant save with the last kick of the ball."

Lewis somehow managed to throw up a hand to keep out a fierce strike from substitute David Moyo and ensure that his side are now one point better off than Hibernian, while bottom club Hamilton have stopped a run of five successive league losses and cut the gap on St Mirren to three points.

• As it happened & reaction

Ryan Fulton also made a good late save to keep out a firm, low shot from Matty Kennedy, while the follow-up from Ryan Hedges was headed clear by Lee Hodson.

Fulton had earlier pushed a powerful drive from Sam Cosgrove on to a post just moments after Hedges had opened the scoring.

On 19 minutes, Hedges, lively throughout the first half, steered a shot home from 16 yards as the ball broke his way following a pass into the feet of Cosgrove.

With the hosts extremely passive and not managing a single effort on goal, Aberdeen were then allowed to dominate for long spells.

But Lewis, a spectator for the first 45 minutes, was beaten early in the second half when his defenders held a high line and claimed in vain for offside as Ogkmpoe headed in a deep delivery from Scott McMann.

Aberdeen, who had 68% possession before half-time, were suddenly in a scrap, with Accies buoyed by their equaliser and much sharper and more aggressive.

The rest of the match played out in untidy fashion until a late flurry of goalmouth action and those impressive stops from Fulton and Lewis.

Man of the match - Marios Ogkmpoe

Marios Ogkmpoe (right) was absolutely spent when withdrawn after 75 minutes, having given his all for Accies and grabbing the equaliser

What did we learn?

Aberdeen were without a host of key players, including midfielders Lewis Ferguson and Ross McCrorie, and their physical presence and quality was sorely missed when Accies decided to put up a fight.

Dean Campbell did well to set the tempo in the middle of the park in the first half but the teenager won't often get so much time on the ball.

Kennedy and Greg Leigh did not offer much on the flanks, with Cosgrove growing increasingly isolated up top as Hedges' influence waned.

At halfway, it looked like Accies were staring at yet another defeat but they got tighter to their opponents and played higher up the pitch, with much more purpose, and this point gives head coach Brian Rice something to build on for the busy December period.

What did they say?

Hamilton Academical manager Brian Rice: "The last two games have given me great confidence, I can see the confidence coming back to the players. It's imperative we try to stay in this league, we're going to keep working and keep getting better."

Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes: "We were very good first half, I thought we controlled the game and we deservedly went in front, but we said at half time that we didn't want to give Hamilton any encouragement.

"I thought the performance was good, considering we have so many (players) out and boys who have not had a lot of football."

What's next?

Aberdeen go to St Mirren on Saturday to fight it out for a place in the last eight of the League Cup (17:15 GMT). Hamilton didn't get past the group stage of that competition and must wait until 5 December when Kilmarnock visit on league duty.