Kilmarnock 2 Hamilton Academical 2

ANGELO ALESSIO admitted he was “angry” with how events turned out at Rugby Park, and he wasn’t the only one.

A smattering of Kilmarnock fans also laid bare their frustrations come full-time after watching their side fail to break down Hamilton’s 10-men to find a winner with the majority of the second half to do so.

Given they had found themselves two goals behind after just 28 minutes, on another day coming back to salvage a point would have been seen as a decent outcome.

Perhaps the recent upturn in form has raised expectations or maybe the home fans just felt

under-siege Accies had been there for the taking.

“I am angry,” said Alessio. “It was 11 against 10 for one hour and we can do better in some situations. In the second half we created some chances to score but we made some mistakes. In the second half we created some opportunities to score but in some situations we made the mistakes. I’m angry but we accept the result.”

His opposite number wasn’t exactly turning cartwheels either. Hamilton had looked on course for a first win in six attempts only for Sam Stubbs’ sending off for a professional foul on Eamonn Brophy and then the concession of a soft goal scored by Mohamed El Makrini late in the first half to derail their progress.

“Am I happy with a point? After 44 minutes I’d have said no,” said manager Brian Rice. “But after 48 minutes I’d have said yes. I have to compliment my lads for the fight and the spirit they showed.”

Kilmarnock’s first goal was really poor from Hamilton’s perspective – goalkeeper Owain Fon Williams should have fielded it comfortably – but the other three goals were all out of the top drawer.

Mickel Miller set Hamilton on their way with a thumping 35-yard drive after just two minutes and then Steve Davies added to that with a smart finish.

Kilmarnock’s equaliser early in the second half was also special. Don Thomas’ corner was headed back by Dario del Fabro to Brophy who launched a volley into the top corner. On the negative side for Kilmarnock, they lost Alex Bruce to a hamstring injury in the first-half.

Ross County 1 Aberdeen 3

DEREK McINNES, the Aberdeen manager, insists Aberdeen’s only focus in the face of Old Firm resurgence at home and abroad can be themselves.

For the first time this season, his side appear to be taking care of matters competently and with a touch of gathering momentum. The comeback from a disastrous start in Dingwall made it three wins in a row for the first time this season. It also took them into third place above Motherwell overnight.

“Our trademark is going on winning runs and unbeaten runs and that’s what we are trying to do again,” said McInnes.

County, like yesterday’s foes, had endured batterings from both halves of the Old Firm and needed to break a run of six matches without a win.

There was genuine hope of that when Lewis Spence strode forward and fed Michael Gardyne to the left of the area, with the winger’s early pot-shot hitting the arm of Lewis Ferguson. What was unclear was whether Ferguson was, indeed, inside the area and whether his arm was in a natural position. Referee Alan Newlands thought so and Josh Mullin scored from the spot.

But the visitors reacted. Niall McGinn struck home a superb dead-ball equaliser after the ball appeared to strike Liam Fontaine’s arm outside the right edge of box.

Inside seven second-half minutes, Aberdeen were ahead. Ryan Hedges curled a 20-yard free-kick invitingly into the six-yard box but as attackers and defenders flailed and failed to connect, the ball spun beyond the rooted Ross Laidlaw into the far corner of the net.

It was 3-1 after 70 minutes when Andy Considine struck a ferocious left-foot strike that bulged the net.

St Johnstone 1 Hibernian 4

Caretaker manager Eddie May believes his fresh perspective helped Hibs register their first Premiership win in three months.

A hat trick from Christian Doidge, scoring his first league goals for the club since his summer arrival, and a Scott Allan strike eased the Easter Road club to a comfortable 4-1 win against

St Johnstone, who netted in the last minute through Stevie May.

May, head of player development at Hibs, was placed in charge on Monday following the sacking of Paul Heckingbottom and made five changes to the team who lost 5-2 to Celtic in a Betfred Cup semi-final last Saturday. He revealed afterwards that he was seeing Hibs in the flesh for the first time this season at McDiarmid Park.

With former Leeds, Liverpool and Australia forward Harry Kewell, who has expressed an interest in the vacant Hibs job, watching from the stand, May said: “The players have set a standard. Hibs should be at the top end of the table rather than where they are currently. One thing I will say is I’ve never watched Hibs all season, so if that [performance] is not normal I don’t know.

St Johnstone manager Tommy Wright bemoaned his side’s defensive display saying: “You can’t win football matches and make mistakes the way we did.”