Both sides were unchanged and competed hard in the
middle of the park as the game started at a high tempo.
Kilmarnock began to push the visitors back but they
were finding it hard to create chances, although referee Crawford Allan
inadvertently set up their first opportunity in the 20th minute.
Tony Stevenson's clearance cannoned off Allan and
went behind, leaving the referee no option but to award a corner.
Mehdi Taouil found Frazer Wright six yards out but
the defender's header under pressure was just too high.
Chris Swailes headed over following a Stevenson
free-kick and both sides came close to carving out openings with some
slick moves as the game opened up.
Graham continued a fine run after a reverse pass from
Simon Mensing but his ball across the goalmouth evaded his team-mates.
A one-two between Conor Sammon and David Fernandez
almost put the Irishman through but Swailes intercepted.
The chances continued to improve and Killie winger
Danny Invincibile volleyed over after James Fowler's cross found him 12
yards out.
Graham shot wide from 20 yards as Hamilton attacked
in numbers and Alan Combe had to backtrack to push over Stevenson's deep
free-kick.
Tomas Cerny made a point-blank save to deny Simon
Ford after Sammon headed on Taouil's corner but the Czech keeper was
beaten seconds later.
Taouil
delivered to the back post this time and Manuel Pascali
rose to head down and into the net, for his first SPL goal! (above).
Hamilton manager Billy Reid brought on striker Joel
Thomas for his debut, switching to a 4-4-2 system as holding midfielder
Alex Neil went off.
Taouil almost set up Killie's second when his cross
found Craig Bryson eight yards out, but Mark McLaughlin threw himself in
the way to divert the midfielder's header over.
Killie captain Garry Hay took a yellow card for a
trip on James McCarthy but the alternative could have been more damaging
as the breaking midfielder had Thomas unmarked to his left.
McLaughlin had to limp off in the 50th minute with an
injury picked up in his goal-saving challenge, with David Elebert coming
on.
Killie protected their lead by keeping Hamilton on
the back foot and Bryson again came close midway through the half.
He picked up the ball 10 yards inside the Accies half
following impressive hold-up play from Sammon and bore down on goal, but
he flicked the ball just past the far post as Cerny came out to narrow
the angle.
Accies enjoyed a fine spell of unbroken possession
involving most of their team, which ended with Stevenson crossing for
Richard Offiong, but Wright diverted his header behind.
Their comeback hopes were shattered in the 78th
minute when Graham was handed a straight red card for fouling Pascali
from behind after losing possession.
Killie handed on-loan Coventry striker Donovan
Simmonds (left) his debut as they sought a second goal.
Taouil flashed a shot wide after good skill on the
edge of the box and Cerny blocked Invincibile's low strike as Killie
made their extra man count.
The Australian then headed wide at the far post and
Taouil again shot wide after some eye-catching skill on the right.
45
mins
