JESUS Garcia Tena was removed from Hamilton’s teamsheet in the Lanarkshire derby after being caught in traffic and almost missing the kick-off, but Motherwell’s supporters would probably now gladly trade the experience of watching their side at New Douglas Park for an hour and a half in gridlock staring at tail-lights.

A Dougie Imrie goal 18 minutes from the end of a scrappy affair was enough to condemn Motherwell to their fifth defeat in six against their near neighbours, with four of those defeats coming over the other side of the Clyde. Indeed, they have failed to score in any match here since Hamilton were promoted, and that even includes a humiliating cup exit at the hands of Albion Rovers a couple of seasons ago.

Motherwell captain Keith Lasley couldn’t hide his disappointment for the fans who made the short journey to experience their own tortuous form of Groundhog Day.

He said: “I’m annoyed that our supporters are going home disappointed. It was a typical derby game with lots of tackles but maybe the quality was not great.

“We have not won here since 2009. But we have to move on and the good thing is that we have a cup game with Morton to do that on Tuesday.”

If those fans approached the game with any trepidation though they hid it well, with pyrotechnics being let off in both ends prior to kick-off, but the fireworks on the pitch took a little longer to materialise.

The visitors almost got their first goal at this venue in seven matches when Lionel Ainsworth did well to pick out Theo Robinson with a neat cut-back, only for his side-foot effort to find the grasp of the well-positioned Michael McGovern.

Hamilton’s best moment came from the fleet-footed Ali Crawford as the midfielder almost produced a carbon-copy of his goal here against Hearts, but this time his long-range rocket crashed off the crossbar.

The second period had few moments of quality, although Robinson could have nicked a goal for Motherwell but dallied in the box allowing Lucas Tagliapietra to block behind.

Hamilton slowly began to gain the upper hand, and they duly grabbed the winner on 72 minutes.

There appeared little danger when Antons Kurakins sent in a looping cross to the back post from the left, but Imrie simply wanted to get to the ball more than his direct opponent, Motherwell left-back Joe Chalmers, and he rose above him to drop his header across Connor Ripley and into the net.

Hamilton saw the game out in relative comfort after that, despite a late penalty claim for a Jesus Garcia Tena handball, but Motherwell manager Ian Baraclough thought his side should have got something from the game.

“To see the goal and the manner it went in – a speculative cross that should have been defended better at the back post – being the difference between the teams it is hard,” he said.

“We had the better of the chances. First half in particular we had numerous chances.

“They were restricted to long-range efforts and big Connor has not had much to do. I will analyse it and wonder why we lost a game when we should at least have had a point.”

For Hamilton boss Martin Canning, it was a welcome win on the back of defeats on the road to St Johnstone and Aberdeen.

Despite being far from satisfied with his team’s overall performance, he thought they did enough to merit yet another win.