Just when you thought the Lanarkshire derby on Hogmanay could offer no more, in walked Motherwell striker Scott McDonald to the post-match press conference to add another layer of mirth and intrigue to what had been a riotous old afternoon in Hamilton.
The sides had shared a goal apiece, with Alex D’Acol striking early in the second half for the hosts after Lee Lucas of the visitors had been red-carded for a two-footed lunge on Massimo Donati during the opening period.
Numerous chances came and went at either end before Louis Moult popped up in the 93rd minute to head home and snatch a point from the jaws of defeat for Motherwell. The scenes in the opposing ends could hardly have contrasted at the final whistle just seconds later, with the away end kicking off their New Year party while the home supporters buckled down for what is likely to be a prolonged hangover from this result during the long winter break.
As fans spilled into the pubs to digest what they had witnessed, Motherwell’s McDonald gave his own tuppence-worth on the events of the day, and in particular his second-half flashpoint with opposing midfielder Gramoz Kurtaj, which ended with the Australian on the deck and both players cautioned.
While McDonald was none too pleased with the actions of Kurtaj, he saved some particularly scathing words for Euan Anderson’s refereeing team, with far-side assistant referee Stuart Stevenson taking the brunt of the verbal assault.
“[Kurtaj] poked me in the eye,” McDonald said. “It's just one of those things. I was booked for simulation. Fair enough, if the referee wants to do that.
“The thing that I have to say about referees, they got the red card right so we can't complain, but in terms of trying to talk to them they were the worst I've had this year. The arrogance of them was incredible.
“In terms of the game itself, it wasn't too bad. In terms of trying to speak to them, the linesman was deplorable at times. Just awful. You don't mind them having a go back because you give them a bit. But when it comes to it, if you get asked a question, answer it. You're not asking much of them.
“They run away and tell you to shut up and get on with it. I asked him what he booked me for and he wouldn't tell me. I wanted to know why he'd booked me. I didn't understand. It happens. They didn't make it nice throughout the game."
McDonald taking the officials to task jarred conspicuously with the general tone around the Motherwell camp after Moult’s last-action heroics. A point at the Superseal Stadium may not normally be something to celebrate so wildly, but the nature of how the draw was earned after seemingly grafting in vain for over an hour while a man light sparked scenes reminiscent of a trophy win.
“It was a bit like a cup final celebration,” McDonald admitted. “If you go into the winter break, having lost that, then they get a little bit closer.
“We were down to 10 men for the majority of the game but we worked hard. We created some chances. They were going to get chances too when you're trying to push up the park but they never killed it off. So the game was always there and we grew in confidence.
“We were fighting to the last minute trying to win every single ball. Scoring that late, it almost felt like a win.”
As well it might. The Steelmen were on top early on in the game with McDonald going close with a header from a few yards out that Gary Woods did brilliantly to touch over. They were still in the ascendency when Lucas had his rush of blood to the head and chopped his way into the needless challenge on Donati that deservedly saw him hit the showers after just 27 minutes.
Accies then took control, and Martin Canning sacrificed defender Giorgios Sarris for Kurtaj at the interval as he pushed men on in an attempt to grab a precious three points for just the third time this season.
When D’Acol headed home from close range after a clever cross from Ali Crawford, he must have thought their first victory since September was in the offing, but the chances that his men squandered to bury their rivals must have planted a familiar seed of doubt in both he and his players’ minds.
Crawford in particular had a gilt-edged opportunity in the last couple of minutes, receiving the ball unchallenged 10 yards out but seeing his effort hooked off the line by Ben Heneghan after Craig Samson had done well to take the lustre off his strike.
As the game ticked into injury time there was an unmistakable edginess creeping in all around, with clearances being needlessly shanked into touch and the Hamilton defensive line being pushed deeper and deeper by the valiant efforts of Mark McGhee’s depleted ranks.
When the goal duly arrived just seconds before the death, there was a brief collective sag in the home end before an outburst of vitriol rained down on the beleaguered Canning.
The players at least, according to crestfallen goalscorer D’Acol, are still behind him. But even he concedes that time is running out for Hamilton to put their house in order if they are to scrap their way out of a relegation dogfight.
"I have no words other than to say that we are frustrated,” D’Acol offered. “They have scored a goal in the last second and it was everyone's fault. We also should have killed the game but we didn't do that. For us, it feels like a loss.
"We have to stand by the manager. He will keep working to put this right.”
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