Motherwell vs Hamilton Academical. Scottish Premiership.
Fir Park.
Accies suffered three successive defeats to start their season but they bring run to a halt
Saturday 22 August 2020 21:50, UK
Hamilton secured their first victory of the Scottish Premiership campaign as Hakeem Odoffin scored a dramatic late winner in the Lanarkshire derby against Motherwell.
Accies suffered three successive defeats to start their season but they brought this run to a halt with a victory over their local rivals to haul themselves off the foot of the Premiership table.
Odoffin, a new recruit from Livingston, bagged his first goal for the club as he powered home an 86th-minute winner.
Motherwell are still striving for their first league win of the new season as they were unable to break down Hamilton's resolute defence, with goalkeeper Ryan Fulton pulling off some impressive saves from David Turnbull.
Hamilton were first to threaten after 12 minutes when Marios Ogkmpoe outjumped Motherwell goalkeeper Trevor Carson as they contested a lofted Declan Gallagher back pass and nodded towards goal. The striker, however, was unable to get enough power on his header as Gallagher got back to clear the danger.
The visitors then had a chance on the counter-attack when David Templeton released Justin Johnson but the winger was hesitant as he tried to get past Allan Campbell and the opportunity was snuffed out.
Motherwell began to pose more of an attacking threat as the first half wore on with Mark O'Hara seeing a drive deflect off Odoffin and spin just wide of the post.
Then just before the half-hour mark, Turnbull drilled in a low shot from 25 yards that was heading for the bottom corner but Fulton managed to turn it round the post.
Two minutes before the break, Fulton pulled off an even more impressive save as he once again denied Turnbull.
The Motherwell midfielder got on the end of Ricki Lamie's cross and his glancing header looked destined for the back of the net until Fulton got a fingertip to it to push it behind.
Six minutes after the interval, Fulton denied Turnbull for a third time as the midfielder once again tried his luck from range as he let fly from 25 yards with a powerful drive but the keeper was well positioned to tip it over the crossbar.
Hamilton then had a chance when Motherwell defender Stephen O'Donnell failed to deal with a Lewis Smith cross and the ball broke to Ross Callachan but the midfielder just could not sort his feet out in time as Carson came off his line to block.
Accies maintained the pressure with a some teasing crosses as substitute Callum Smith came within inches away of turning one in at the far post.
Hamilton should have taken the lead when Reegan Mimnaugh's driven corner flashed across the face of goal but Odoffin was unable to apply the finishing touch from a couple of yards out.
The defender, however, made it up for that miss as he notched the opener with just four minutes remaining.
Once again the threat came from a Mimnaugh corner, which the defender met with a powerful header at the near post and beyond Carson to seal the three points.
Motherwell boss Steve Robinson: "It was frustrating the whole game. We must gave had 70 per cent possession - that's Rangers and Celtic stuff - and I don't know how many balls across the six-yard box. All the stats in the world don't mean anything when you don't get the result.
"The difference between the teams was the desire to go and score a goal. We didn't show enough desire to finish the game off or defend in our own box. We can't keep saying it's bad luck, you make your own luck by being brave and we were not brave enough to finish the game off."
Hamilton boss Brian Rice: "Just before the goal went in we had three or four dangerous crosses into the box and Hakeem missed one that was probably easier to score. But he deserved his goal. Since he came into the club he's been immense for me. I brought him in as a right-back and moved him into centre-back and I've been absolutely delighted with him.
"He's only 22 but he's a leader in that young team. So him to get his first goal in a derby match, I'm sure he was delighted. I felt we started the game well but Motherwell grew into it and they were the better team in the first half.
"But I felt in the second half when we changed the shape and brought the young ones on, they got hold of the ball, got us up the pitch. They have energy and enthusiasm but they can also play. They had a big part to play in us winning today.
"We're the smallest club in the league but the players have all got heart and will run through a brick wall for the club."
Motherwell host Glentoran on Thursday in the Europa League Qualifying First Round at 7.45pm before they travel to face Celtic in the Scottish Premiership next Sunday at 3pm.
Hamilton host Rangers next Saturday, live on Sky Sports; kick-off is at 5.30pm.
