The Lanarkshire Derby proved to be a tense, tight affair as ten-man Motherwell held out for a point that suited them much more than struggling rivals Hamilton Accies.
Brian Rice's side desperately needed the the points in their battle to avoid relegation, but they couldn't find a way past Mark Gillespie in the Motherwell goal.
Here's a look at the talking points from an Accies perspective...
Wasteful Hamilton blow chance to pile the pressure on Jambos
It was certainly two points dropped for Accies and Brian Rice admitted as much after watching his charges fail to strike a killer blow and open up a gap from idle Hearts at the bottom of the table.
Chris Long’s stupid sending off for Motherwell gave Accies the initiative to go and make it back-to-back wins against their Lanarkshire rivals, but they were sorely lacking quality in the final third.
From 16 shots on goal, just three found the target and only Ogkmpoe’s fourth minute effort really troubled Gillespie.
David Templeton worked his way into good positions on several occasions, only to fire well over or chose the wrong option on an exasperating afternoon for the Accies fans.
It is the first time in 10 games Accies have failed to score, but with their next league game away to Rangers it was a huge opportunity missed to claim three precious points.
Rice returns to the dugout
After serving a five-game touchline ban for breaches of gambling rules, Brian Rice returned to the dugout and that seemed to have an instant impact.
Accies looked sharp early on and a defence splitting pass from Blair Alston into Marios Ogkmpoe after just four minutes should have delivered the opening goal.
Rice was back rallying the troops and they seemed to respond.
The Accies boss had to slot star man Alex Gogic into the centre of defence alongside Shaun Want and the pair formed a formidable partnership on the day as they snuffed out the visitors. Holding midfielder Gogic again highlighted his qualities with yet another assured display.
If anything, the red card worked against Accies, who were much more threatening 11 v 11.
Welcome break for Accies as injuries mount
The injury list is piling up at the Fountain of Youth Stadium - and Rice was forced to fill his bench with youngsters.
Acccies' Academy graduates Andy Winter, Lewis Smith, Charlie Reily, Marley Redfern and Reegan Mimnaugh - who came on to make his first league appearance of the season - all made the bench and that emphasised how stretched his squad is.
Captain Brian Easton has already been ruled out for two months after dislocating his shoulder against Aberdeen, while Scott McMann had to pull out of Accies' intended starting 11 due to illness.
Sam Woods hobbled off in midweek and missed out, while George Oakley Andy Dales, Steven Davies and Mickel Miller are also sidelined.
Rice will be able to wrap his players in cotton wool for a week or so, with Accies not involved in next week’s Scottish Cup quarter-finals.
A midweek trip to Ibrox to face Rangers on March 4 now awaits.
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