Ross County fell to a 1-0 defeat against Hamilton Accies, in an evenly-contested match at Victoria Park.
There was little to separate the sides, with both sides having a relatively equal number of attempts, but Martin Canning’s sixth minute header proved decisive, however Jim McIntyre’s side remain second bottom after St Mirren were defeated 1-0 by Motherwell.
County made two changes from the side that drew 2-2 against Motherwell last weekend, with Michael Gardyne and Joe Cardle replacing Jake Jervis and Graham Carey in the starting line-up. Following successive defeats, Accies returned to winning ways with a 2-1 win against Dundee last weekend and player-manager Alex Neil named an unchanged side that included himself in the heart of midfield.
Accies took the lead after just six minutes, with the goal soft from the home side’s point of view, as Ali Crawford’s corner was bulleted into the net by the unmarked head of former County defender Canning.
The visitors could have doubled their lead when a tempting low cross by Mickael Antoine Curier was narrowly missed by a ruck of red and white jerseys at the far post, when a faint touch was all that was required to make it 2-0.
County began to creep back into the game, and their best attempt of the first-half came on 19 minutes when Martin Woods sidefooted over a Joe Cardle delivery from 10 yards.
Hamilton began the second-half the brighter of the two sides, and Andreu saw his shot blocked by Steven Saunders just 19 seconds after the break.
County’s should have levelled when substitute Graham Carey pulled the ball back for Joe Cardle, but he blazed his effort harmlessly over in plenty space inside the box.
However, the Staggies saved their best chance for stoppage time, when the ball fell to the feet of Paul Quinn following a free-kick, but the defender lashed over from eight yards, with Accies holding out for the three points.