Hamilton Accies have slipped to 11th in the Scottish Premiership, despite an inspired save from goalkeeper Ryan Fulton helping them earn a point in a goalless stalemate with Dundee United.
Fulton, who was returning from a groin injury, made a stunning point-blank save from Ian Harkes in the first half to thwart the Tangerines in the best chance of a tight game at New Douglas Park.
Brian Rice's men have taken four points from their last three games and kept three clean sheets in their last four outings, but Ross County's shock 4-1 win over Aberdeen has seen the Staggies leapfrog Accies into 10th spot.
Hamilton now sit a point clear of Lanarkshire rivals Motherwell, who host Rangers tomorrow and have two games in hand.
Accies, who discovered last night their 3-0 forfeit win over St Mirren has been successfully overturned by the Buddies and the game will now be played, made four changes from last week’s 2-0 defeat to Kilmarnock.
Skipper Brian Easton and Aaron Martin both returned to the back line, as Ryan Fulton returned from injury to displace Kyle Gourlay in goal. Callum Smith came in for Andy Winter, as Charlie Trafford dropped to the bench along with George Stanger.
Marios Ogkmpoe also made the bench as he returned from a knee injury.
United named the same team that drew 2-2 with St Johnstone in midweek, with Lawrence Shankland leading the line again following his wonder goal at Tannadice to take a point off the Perthshire side.
There was little of note in the early exchanges, but referee Greg Aitken had to call a brief half to proceedings in the 13th minute after taking a sore one to the head when he got in the way of a Ben Stirling clearance.
It was the visitors who enjoyed the bulk of the possession and Micky Mellon's men created the first real opening midway through the first half.
Accies fans may have felt seeing Gourlay lose his place to Fulton after a some good displays between the sticks was harsh on the youngster, but Fulton proved his worth in 26 minutes with a stunning point-blank save.
Dillon Powers whipped in a teasing cross to the back post to find Ian Harkes unmarked and his bullet header was turned onto the roof of the net to keep Accies level.
Scott McMann's looping header called Ben Siegrist into action after 35 minutes and seconds later Callum Smith squandered a great opening when he broke in down the right after a through ball from Ross Callachan and blazed over the bar.
Early in the second half, Lee Hodson forced Siegrist into a good stop when he created space for a shot on the edge of the box and rifled the ball towards the far corner.
The Terrors were screaming for a penalty moments later when Hakeem Odoffin challenged Harkes in the box, but referee Aitken awarded a corner kick.
Both teams were pushing for a breakthrough now and in 52 minutes Odoffin saw a strike deflected narrowly wide before David Moyo missed a big chance at the back post when he fired over from Aaron Martin's knockdown.
A first-time drive from Shankland whistled past Fulton's post in 66 minutes after being teed up by Harkes.
Accies introduced Ogkmpoe for Moyo and he almost made an instant impact when he got on the end of Callachan's corner, but couldn't turn a glancing header on target.
Odoffin got a vital block in to divert Shankland's strike away from danger in 81 minutes, but neither side could find a way to goal and the spoils were shared.
With the Betfred Cup semi-finals next weekend, Accies are now not set to play again until Wednesday, January 27, when the head to Celtic on league duty.
HAMILTON: Fulton, Odoffin, McMann, Stirling, Easton, Hamilton, A Martin, Moyo (Ogkmpoe 68), Hodson, C Smith (Winter 76), Callachan.
Bookings: Hamilton
Subs not used: Gourlay, Trafford, Stanger, Mimnaugh, Munro, Owolabi, Johnson.
DUNDEE UTD: Siegrist, Smith, Powers, Connolly, Reynolds, Clark, Robson, Harkes, Shankland, Appere (McNulty 58), Neilson.
Bookings: Neilson, McNulty
Subs not used: Mehmet, Sporle, Pawlett, Edwards, Bolton, Fotheringham, Mochrie, Smith.
HT: 0-0
Ref: Greg Aitken
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