Hibernian 2-0 Hamilton Academical: Referee changed from yellow card to red - Brian Rice

Brian Rice claimed referee Craig Napier was convinced to change his mind and send Jamie Hamilton off as 10-man Hamilton fell to defeat by Hibernian at Easter Road.

Hibs made it four Scottish Premiership wins in a row, with Accies playing 78 minutes a man down after Hamilton's lunge at Martin Boyle.

Within a minute Boyle made it 1-0, with Josh Doig adding a second late on.

"It changed the game 100% because I think we were on top," said Rice.

"The referee on the pitch was saying yellow card and someone from the sidelines was saying red card. It's done and dusted, can't do anything about it and I'm not getting myself into trouble."

Despite the one-man advantage Hibs did not get things all their own way and Boyle had a penalty saved in the first half, but eventually made the points safe through Doig's first career goal.

The Easter Road side remain four points clear of Aberdeen in the battle for third place, with Jack Ross' men having a game in hand. Hamilton stay second bottom, one point clear of Ross County, who face Celtic on Sunday.

• Reaction & as it happened

Since Hibs' last game two weeks ago, Hamilton had played three times. Head coach Brian Rice was worried his players would struggle to maintain the energy levels that secured draws against Rangers and St Mirren and a thumping win over Motherwell.

But the visitors were on the front foot early. Scott McMann had a low shot shot tipped wide before Scott Martin's 25-yard effort was held.

Then Marios Ogkmpoe cracked a shot off a post after a mix-up in the Hibs defence between Paul Hanlon and Doig.

It was a confident start from Accies, but in a nightmare two minutes they were a goal and a man down.

Hamilton lunged into a challenge on Boyle. He did not seem to make a lot of contact, but the referee deemed it dangerous enough to warrant a straight red.

Before the visitors had the chance to adjust, Boyle found space on the edge of the box, exploited a gap, and picked a spot in the far corner past goalkeeper Ryan Fulton.

Now Hamilton were up against it. A bombardment arrived into their box, and they were not helped by Ogkmpoe hobbling off with an early injury.

And it looked like things would continue to go against them when Christian Doidge took a tumble under David Moyo's challenge and earned Hibs a penalty, but Fulton pushed away Boyle's spot-kick.

Hibs' Chris Cadden shot wide when Boyle laid the ball into his path, then was denied by a fine save by Fulton. And the Accies goalkeeper blocked Darren McGregor's effort, too, at the back post as the home side continued to search for a second goal.

And it finally arrived when Boyle took the ball past Brian Easton and by virtue of a deflection got the ball across to Doig to head into an empty net.

Man of the match - Ryan Fulton

Fulton kept his side in the game with big saves, including one from Boyle's penalty

What did we learn?

Hibs made heavy weather of it at times; but they got the breaks and took their goals at the right time, and are now on a very decent run of form as they attempt to secure third place and European football.

Hamilton head coach Rice was furious at some of the decisions and let both the referee and Boyle know about it. The extra man made a big difference to the game for Hibs, with Hamilton refusing to wilt even when down to 10.

What did they say?

Hibernian head coach Jack Ross: "We had to be resilient. I don't think we had as much control of the game as I would have liked but we carried a threat.

"I think we made Ryan Fulton work often enough during the game and we took two of those opportunities really well."

Hamilton head coach Brian Rice: "I think it shows where we are that we're disappointed not to get anything from a game at Easter Road.

"To play 78 minutes with 10 men, we kept two men up the pitch at all times and had a go. I'm so proud of the boys - disappointed we got beat but delighted what I got from them."

What's next?

Hibernian host Motherwell next Saturday (15:00 GMT), while Hamilton are not back in action until Wednesday, 3 March when they are at home to St Johnstone (18:00).