Scottish Premiership: Nick Ross on target as Inverness win 2-0 at Hamilton

Nick Ross was on target as Inverness cemented third in the Scottish Premiership with a solid 2-0 win over Hamilton at New Douglas Park.

A crowd of 5,089 were charged just 10p to get in as a tribute to departed manager Alex Neil and his assistant Frankie McAvoy, but the Accies failed to mark the occasion with a victory as they slumped to a fourth straight league defeat.

There was a nervous moment for Inverness goalkeeper Dean Brill in the opening five minutes when he saw an attempted clearance cannon back towards goal off his own team-mate - but the danger passed.

Jesus Garcia then sent a free-kick over the bar while at the other end, Michael McGovern had to react quickly to keep out a sharp effort from Greg Tansey on the quarter-hour mark.

Brill was also back in action before half-time - holding a decent strike from Tony Andreu - and after Tansey had flown an effort well wide of the mark, the sides headed for the half-time dressing room goalless.

Grant Gillespie saw appeals for a Hamilton penalty turned down early in the second period and Inverness were quick to assert themselves thereafter - the defender putting through his own net at the other end in the 53rd minute after Graeme Shinnie had forced McGovern to parry.

McGovern produced a sharp stop to prevent McKay from doubling the lead on the hour and the stopper had already produced another impressive stop from the forward by the time Ross finally made the game safe with a quarter of an hour remaining.

McKay and Ross Draper were the architects - combining down the left to provide an inviting cross that Ross duly slammed past a helpless McGovern.

Aaron Doran passed up a late opportunity to add gloss to the scoreline before Inverness saw the game out for a fifth win in a row, but there was concern just before the final whistle when goalkeeper Brill was carried from the field on a stretcher.