Raging Hamilton Accies boss John Rankin was despatched off for having a pop at referee Mike Roncone throughout their controversial Championship draw with Morton.
In his first league match on the helm, Rankin noticed crimson for a half-time rant at Roncone, who had awarded a penalty towards Accies moments earlier and despatched off defender Shaun Need.
Need's problem gave the impression to be exterior the field and it's thought Rankin was venting his frustration on the resolution.
Accies had began nicely and took the lead by Andy Ryan after 11 minutes
However they had been lowered to 10 males in 39 minutes when Need was proven a second reserving for a foul on Jaze Kabia that seemed exterior the field.
Ex-Accies Grant Gillespie transformed the spot-kick and issues solely received worse for Accies when livid Rankin was given his marching orders.
Within the second half, Accies pushed for a winner regardless of their numerical drawback and even had a penalty declare of their very own waved away by Roncone, who dished out 9 yellow playing cards and one crimson on the day, however they needed to accept a degree.
Accies named the identical aspect which carried out nicely in a 1-1 draw with Queen's Park within the Premier Sports activities Cup final week, however they had been with out
A really early scuffle inside 14 seconds when Need went in late on Lewis Strapp prompted referee Roncone to go to his pocket as soon as each units of gamers had been separated.
Each side had been clearly up for the event however it was Accies who struck first.
Steve Lawson floated an out-swinging nook in the direction of the centre of the field to select Brian Easton in acres of house. The Accies skipper powered a header in the direction of the far put up and Ryan was capable of nod the ball dwelling for his third purpose in 4 video games.
Seven minutes later Accies had an enormous escape when a supply into the field induced a scramble within the six yard field. Accies tried to clear their traces and the ball fell straight to Jai Quitongo. Thankfully for Accies, he dragged his effort vast of the put up when he seemed destined to attain.
Quitongo left Easton and O'Reilly for lifeless down the right-wing moments later, selecting out Jaze Kabia in an important place on the sting of the field unmarked however he blazed his effort over the bar.
The guests had been pushing for an qualiser and Strapp despatched a thuming 20-yard strike narrowly over the bar as Ryan Fulton dove in the direction of his prime nook at full-stretch, then former Accies man Grant Gillespie dragged one vast from an analogous place.
And all of it went improper for the hosts within the thirty ninth minute once they had been lowered to 10 males.
Need, already on a reserving, tried to hook the ball clear as Kabia raced in on purpose however he clipped the Morton man within the face in doing so. The foul simply exterior the field however Roncone pointed to the spot and despatched Need for an early bathtub..
Gillespie stepped up and despatched Ryan Fulton the improper means from 12 yards to drag Ton stage.
Accies felt aggreived by the spot kick award and because the half-time whistle went, Rankin marched as much as Roncone to offer him an earful as he tried to depart the sector. The house assist additionally made their feeling clear as Roncone sheepishly made his option to the tunnel.
Within the second half, Roncone had a giant resolution to make when Scott Martin and Kabia went for a 50-50 and each took blows to the shins. Roncone solely incensed the house followers additional when he booked Martin for his troubles and Kabia escaped punishment.
In 53 minutes Morton virtually went in entrance when the ball fell to the damaging Quitongo on the again put up and compelled Fulton into an important cease.
Accies had been nonetheless posing a menace and Brian Schwake was pressured into motion with a strike from distance from Lawson because the hour mark approached.
The hosts went to their bench for the primary time in 63 minutes when Reegan Mimnaugh changed Martin, who didn't shake off his earlier knock.
Regardless of their numerical drawback, as the sport wore on Accies seemed the liklier to get a winner and when a Lawson nook landed proper on prime of the Morton purpose, Easton could not fairly get sufficient on the ball to show it into teh internet from shut vary.
Extra controversy adopted seconds later when Ryan hammered a strike at purpose within the field that hit the hand of a Morton participant, however Roncone waved away the claims. The Accies gamers surrounded Roncone in fury, resulting in Easton selecting up the eighth yellow card of the sport.
In stoppage time Ton ought to have received it when a cross from the proper picked out Robbie Muihead six-yards out, however he headed straight at Fulton to depart either side taking a share of the spoils.
HAMILTON: Fulton, Easton, O'Reilly, Need, Martin (Mimnaugh 63), Doyle, Shiels, Lawson, Ryan, Smith (One 90), Winter.
Scorers: Ryan 11
Bookings: Need, Martin, Ryan, Doyle, Easton
Despatched off: Need
Subs not used: Smith, Owens, McGinn, Newbury, Brown, Ngandu.
MORTON: Schwake, Strapp (King 46), Pignatiello, Baird, O'Connor, Blues, Lyon (Hynes 82), Kabia (Garrity 82), Muirhead, Gillespie, Quitongo.
Scorers: Gillespie 42 (pen)
Bookings: Strapp, King, Lyon, Hynes
Subs not used: Inexperienced, Lithgow, McGrattan, McGregor, Easdale.
Ref: Mike Roncone
HT: 1-1
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