Hamilton boosted their survival prospects while ending Dundee’s hopes of a top-six SPFL Premiership finish with a solid 2-1 win at New Douglas Park.
Gary Harkins’ second-half strike was not enough to prevent Accies’ first home win since September after goals from Ali Crawford and Jesus Garcia Tena.
Hamilton players said in midweek that it was time to fight for survival rather than talk about it, and that certainly seemed to be the case as they took the game to their startled visitors.
Dundee were struggling to cope with Accies’ aggression and Martin Canning’s side took the lead on the half-hour mark when Darian MacKinnon’s cross from the right was poorly dealt with and Crawford controlled, turned and lashed the ball past helpless Scott Bain from seven yards (30).
Hamilton were justifiably ahead by that point and doubled their lead in 41 minutes when Julen Etxabeguren hauled Eamonn Brophy to the deck as he tried to make his way from the left by-line, referee John Beaton immediately pointed to the spot, and Tena smashed the ball past Bain.
Dundee had shown flashes of menace during the first half, but Hamilton had the better chances.
In nine minutes a good sweeping Accies move ended with Carlton Morris setting up Greg Docherty, but his rising shot was brilliantly pushed over by Bain.
Garcia Tena was forced off temporarily with a head knock and while Hamilton were down to 10 men Dundee exploited the gap, with a good cross from the left met with a rasping volley by Paul McGowan, but it flew past the right post after 11 minutes.
After 15 minutes Brophy found himself with some space, but sent a curling effort inches past the right post.
Morris had a go 22 minutes in after a mazy run, but Bain took his shot comfortably enough.
Dundee had their best chance of the game so far two minutes later when Greg Stewart picked up a loose ball and went on a run, Kane Hemmings came in on the overlap and his low shot was pushed past the right post by diving Michael McGovern.
Dundee pulled a goal back in 63 when Hemmings went on a run down the left and slipped in Harkins, who clipped the ball over McGovern and into the bottom right corner for his fifth goal of the season.
The Dark Blues went close again in 71 minutes when Stewart’s free kick on the left was headed at the back post by Hemmings, but McGovern saved it on the line.