Hamilton can't cope with rampant Hibs as Edinburgh side run out comfortable winners

Hamilton fell to their first defeat under new boss Brian Rice as Hibs ran out comfortable winners at Easter Road.

The visitors certainly had a go at Hibs, particularly in the first half, but Hibs simply picked them off, and when Accies goalkeeper Gary Woods gifted them the opening goal, it certainly calmed the hosts' nerves as they tried to impress new boss Paul Heckingbottom.

Marc McNulty's penalty made sure of the three points.

Hamilton boss Brian Rice made three changes to the side that beat St Johnstone last time out, with Tony Andreu, Mickel Miller and David McMillan coming in for Dougie Imrie, Steven Boyd and Steve Davies.

Paul Heckingbottom took charge of Hibernian for the first time, but kept faith with the side that ousted Raith Rovers from the Scottish Cup last weekend.

Hibs created the first clear-cut chance in seven minutes hen Marc McNulty darted down the right and he fed Florian Kamberi, but Gary Woods got down well to block his shot at the near post, and the rebound was eventually cleared.

Hamilton created a decent move of their own in 10 minutes, which ended with Tony Andreu's low shot being well taken by Ofir Marciano.

Hibs took the lead in 17 minutes in unorthodox style, a Daryl Horgan's cross from the left bounced through the box, and Kamberi got the slightest of touches to divert it past Woods and into the bottom right corner.

THe hosts nearly doubled their lead in 33 minutes when Kamberi beat Woods to a header at the left post, but the ball hit off the top of the bar and landed in the keeper's arms.

Hibs wrapped up the points in 39 minutes when Lenny Sowah was harshly penalised for a foul on David Gray just inside the box, and McNulty smashed the penalty into the bottom riight corner.

Hamilton tried to hit back in 52 minutes when Mickel Miller went on a run down the right and checked inside, but fired his shot over.

Aaron McGowan cleared a Kamberi shot off the line in 52 minutes, preventing an absolutely certain third goal for Hibs.

Miiller did well again to create space in 55 minutes and set up McMillan for a shot that Marciano did well to punch clear of the left.

That proved to be McMillan's last effort of the game, as he was replaced by Davies, who immediately tested Marciano with a header.

Hamilton kept plugging away and in 71 minutes Miller twisted Paul Hanlon in knots down the right, but Marciano was alert to his shot and diverted it off the right post and to safety.

Sub Stephane Omeonga hit a post from long range as Hibs tried to add a third.

However, Hamilton had defended well for long periods of the second half and held out with no further scoring..

HIBERNIAN: Marciano, Gray, McGregor, Hanlon, Stevenson, Milligan, Slikvka, Mallan, Horgan (Omeonga, 72), Kamberi (Allan, 85), McNulty (Shaw, 78).

Subs: Bogdan (GK), Nelom, Bigirimana, Mackie.

Bookings: McNulty (50), McGregor (63), Mallan (66)

HAMILTON: Woods, Gogic (Mimnaugh, 64), Kilgallon, Gordon, McGowan, MacKinnon, Andreu (L. smith, 75), Sowah, Miller, McMillan (Davies, 55), Oakley.

Subs: Marsden (GK), Penny, Martin, Boyd.

Bookings: Oakley (62), Sowah (74)

Referee: Alan Muir.

Attendance: 16,265.