Hamilton Accies 2-0 Hearts

A double by Simon Mensing gave Hamilton Accies a Scottish Premier League win over Hearts at New Douglas Park.

Mensing headed the home side into a 12th-minute lead from Brian Easton's cross before Hearts midfielder Michael Stewart hit the post.

Robbie Neilson fouled James McCarthy in the box early in the second half and Mensing scored the resultant penalty.

Substitute Derek Lyle came close to getting a third for Hamilton with Jamie MacDonald saving the striker's header.

Hamilton's fourth successive league win sees them move up to joint-seventh in the table while Hearts remain fourth.

The Hearts defence, minus the Wolves-bound Christophe Berra, were put under pressure in the opening minutes by a series of Hamilton set pieces.

Hearts midfielder Bruno Aguiar went off the field to receive treatment on a head knock and, in during his absence, Accies opened the scoring.

Easton played a short corner to James McArthur and received a return pass before delivering on to the head of Mensing, who bulleted the ball past keeper MacDonald.

The visitors came close to an equaliser when David Obua's cross created a shooting chance for Stewart and the midfielder's effort hit the post on its journey out.

Andrew Driver then had a run at the Hamilton defence but fired off target from a tight angle.

Paul McGowan had a shot saved by MacDonald as Accies searched for a second goal before half-time.

Stewart threatened the Hamilton goal again when he received Aguiar's pass and volleyed on the turn, forcing Tomas Cerny to make an important save from point-blank range.

David Obua saw his shot tipped over by Cerny near the end of the first half.
Hearts midfielder Michael Stewart
Stewart was continually frustrated in front of goal

Hamilton doubled their advantage from the spot six minutes after the interval.

McCarthy was impeded in the box by Neilson, who was captain in place of Berra, and Mensing fired past MacDonald from 12 yards.

Stewart continued to be Hearts' most prominent threat and his snapshot from the edge of the penalty area drew a save from Cerny.

Andrew Driver and Aguiar's replacement Laryea Kingston were off-target with further attempts as Hearts struggled to create chances to reduce the deficit.

Lyle, who had earlier replaced McGowan, tried to catch MacDonald out with a looping header, but the goalkeeper saved well.

Callum Elliot was introduced for Neilson and the striker's shot drifted over the bar in the closing stages.

The win was Hamilton's first over Hearts since season 1979/80.

Hamilton Accies manager Billy Reid:
"We were deserved winners all over the park. The players worked so hard. They were disciplined.

"The game plan was to get in their faces straight away. We've done that in the last five or six weeks, I think it's working.

"When they did get through, Tomas Cerny had a fantastic save to keep us at 1-0.

"Simon Mensing started off his career in defence. He's now an attacking midfield player and to score two goals is all credit to him. He's a great lad to work with."

Hearts manager Csaba Laszlo:
"We had more ball possession, we tried to keep the game.

"In the first half, after the goal, we dominated the game, we created some chances.

"The decision to give the penalty was very unlucky for us."

Hamilton: Cerny, McClenahan, Canning, McLaughlin, Neil, Easton, McCarthy, McArthur, Mensing, McGowan (Lyle 59), Offiong (Thomas 67).
Subs Not Used: Murdoch, Deuchar, Swailes, Gibson, Gow.

Booked: Offiong.

Goals: Mensing 12, 52 pen.

Hearts: MacDonald, Neilson (Elliot 83), Karipidis, Jonsson, Lee Wallace, Aguiar (Kingston 66), Stewart, Zaliukas, Driver, Obua, Nade (Glen 80).
Subs Not Used: Kello, Thomson, Mrowiec, Templeton.

Booked: Obua.

Att: 3,567

Ref: E Smith

Taken from the BBC