Hamilton 1-0 Dundee United: Greg Docherty the hero as Accies retain Premiership status

Hamilton have retained their Scottish Premiership status after beating Dundee United in Sunday's play-off final second leg.

Greg Docherty was the hero for the Accies, scoring in the 64th minute to secure a 1-0 aggregate win, following Thursday's 0-0 draw at Tannadice.

The 20-year-old Accies midfielder rifled a shot home to stretch the Lanarkshire outfit's top-flight stay to a fourth year, but at least 12 more months in the Championship could have grave consequences for cash-strapped United.

The hopes of both sides hung in the balance following the goalless first leg at Tannadice and there was an understandably tense atmosphere as the return got under way at New Douglas Park.

Keeper Remi Matthews did well to settle Hamilton nerves when he pushed away Tony Andreu's opening effort just five minutes in.

And it was patched-up Accies - missing the injured duo Michael Devlin and Massimo Donati, as well as the suspended Darian MacKinnon - who settled quicker into something resembling a rhythm on the sticky plastic pitch.

The visitors twice found themselves under self-inflicted danger when Willo Flood and Charlie Telfer gifted away possession and had keeper Cammy Bell to thank for denying Ali Crawford on both occasions.

The one-on-one battle between the United stopper and the Accies playmaker resumed again on the half-hour mark as Danny Redmond's free-kick broke off the wall to Crawford 18 yards out, and his dipping shot seemed destined for the bottom corner until Bell threw himself low to brilliantly palm away with one hand.

At the other end, Matthews was just as alert late in the half as he reacted impressively to keep out a Charlie Telfer cross deflected towards the angle of his goal-frame by Accies full-back Scott McMann.

It was Bell again to the rescue for United after the break as he blocked Dougie Imrie's attempt at the back post.

But there was nothing the former Rangers stopper could do after 64 minutes as Docherty collected 25 yards out before rifling a low shot through the legs of Flood and into the bottom corner.

With so much riding on their promotion hopes, United threw themselves forward but were frustrated when Simon Murray - freed to play after United appealed the double-dive red card he received on Thursday - blazed over when through on Matthews.

Boss Ray McKinnon pushed centre-back Mark Durnan up front in a desperate last throw of the dice but there was no late drama as Hamilton held on.