Hamilton Academical 1-2 Ross County: Jordan White scores on County debut

Hamilton Academical cannot feel sorry for themselves, says head coach Brian Rice, after they were left four points adrift in the Scottish Premiership following a late defeat by Ross County.

Accies went a fourth game without a win, despite a Stephen Kelly own goal giving them an early lead.

Jordan White cancelled that opener out before crossing for Billy Mckay to knock in a winner.

"There's still a lot of games to play," Rice insisted to BBC Scotland.

"We just need to make sure we hang in there and keep producing some of the stuff we did tonight and hopefully we can get the points.

"The boys gave everything they had. The boys are down but there's no time for that in this game."

White starred on his County debut as the forward, who signed last week from Motherwell, proved pivotal for the visitors from the bench.

It comes after consecutive defeats for John Hughes' side and leaves Hamilton stranded, though Rice's side still have two games in hand.

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In December, their 2-0 win in Dingwall had lifted them four points above County. Yet seven games on, they went into this one languishing at the bottom and a point behind their visitors.

County had won just three of their last 14. Those wins had been at Celtic and Hibernian, and a thumping home win over Aberdeen. It showed what they could do when they turned it on, and now they needed to do it again to stop them slipping to the bottom of the table.

Marios Ogkmpoe could have given the hosts an early lead when his first touch put him through into the box, but he drove his shot the wrong side of a post.

Jason Naismith's effort was deflected wide in County's best chance of the opening exchanges, but it was the home side who continued to dominate and they soon took charge of the game.

Bruce Anderson - making his debut on loan from Aberdeen - raced down the right. His first cross was blocked, but his second was knocked into the net by the unfortunate County midfielder Kelly.

It was almost 2-0 when Ogkmpoe took the ball past the goalkeeper, but Callum Morris was able to deny him.

The rain and the plastic pitch was helping to produce some quick attacking football. Kelly and Callum Morris both hit low shots from distance which skidded across the surface but couldn't catch out Accies goalkeeper Ryan Fulton.

Harry Paton missed a glorious chance for County when the ball broke to him on the edge of the box, but he side footed it straight to the goalkeeper. Soon after, Tony Andreu headed off the post.

Two huge chances passed up by the visitors which they couldn't afford to do in a game of this magnitude. But they kept on coming at the home side.

Oli Shaw lobbed a shot wide as County continued to knock the door, and they finally got their reward when White directed Naismith's drilled ball into the box past the goalkeeper.

Then White found space on the right and sent a cross to the unmarked McKay, and it was an easy finish from his fellow substitute as County left with the points.

Man of the match - Stephen Kelly

The night started badly for Kelly (right) when he conceded the own goal, but after that he bounced back to have a solid game for the visitors

What did we learn?

Hamilton played with a confidence that belied their precarious spot in the league table. It's early days, but Anderson and Ogkmpoe combined well up front and they could be key to survival.

But their defending at both goals was poor as they wilted under heavy pressure.

For all their poor results, County have generally been able to find the back of the net, but that clinical edge looked like it was deserting them as big chances were passed up.

But Hughes' substitutions worked a treat and it's a huge three points for them.

What did they say?

Hamilton head coach Brian Rice: "We're nine minutes away from winning the match. To lose the goals, it's disappointing. We created chances, we could have been further away at half-time. We looked comfortable, Ross County were playing in front of us."

Ross County manager John Hughes: "I felt we were the better team. We lost a soft goal but we played proper football, we showed character to come back and get the win."

What's next?

Ross County are at home to Dundee United on Saturday (15:00 GMT), while Hamilton host Rangers on Sunday (12:00).