Hamilton manager Billy Reid hailed his players' endeavour after his 10-man side held Motherwell to a dramatic 2-2 Clydesdale Bank Premier League draw.

Tomas Cerny kept Hamilton in the game following Guillaume Beuzelin's 30th-minute red card with a string of fine saves, including a penalty stop from Ross Forbes.

Simon Mensing then gave Hamilton an unlikely lead on the hour mark and Marco Paixao headed them back in front three minutes after Jamie Murphy's spectacular 78th-minute equaliser.

But Lukas Jutkiewicz struck to add disappointment to the range of emotions Reid experienced, which clearly included dissatisfaction with referee Craig Thomson, who booked Beuzelin twice inside two minutes for fouls on Jim O'Brien and Mark Reynolds.

Reid said: "There are mixed emotions to play so long with 10 men and put in that effort and endeavour and go ahead twice but get pegged back.

"Our goalkeeper has had a great game and I think the sending-off has certainly had an influence on the game.

"Beuzelin was getting on the ball and trying to pick passes and it's only a matter of time before he does pick his pass.

"We were fairly in control and that changes the game but we never sat back."

Reid added: "The character and effort of my team were second to none. For what the players put in, they probably deserved to win. But it wasn't to be.

"Motherwell kept pushing forward. It was virtually five against five at that end and three against three at the other end.

"It was a smashing game but I've got a player in there, Guillaume Beuzelin, who made his debut today and he's sitting there frustrated and gutted."

Reid said there was no point commenting on Thomson's decision to send off the Frenchman, but he had made his feelings plain during the game.

"We're human, we have got emotions and you try to fight your corner for your team," Reid said. "When things go against you, you have got to stand up and be counted."

Hamilton kit man Danny Cunning fought his corner too much and was sent to the stands early in the second half.

"I think it was boiling over because, let's just say, we didn't get too much today," Reid said.

Motherwell manager Jim Gannon, who was unhappy with some reports this week that speculated on players who would leave Fir Park in January, left New Douglas Park without speaking to the press.

But Well striker John Sutton admitted there were mixed emotions in the visitors' camp too after they failed to capitalise on their man advantage but still snatched a late point.

Sutton said: "You have got to give credit to Hamilton, they battled away and scored two very good goals but we're disappointed we never got our noses in front and got the chance to kill the game.

"But we kept plugging away and scored two really good goals, especially Jamie Murphy's one.

"There is good character in the team and when there is only a goal in it, you never feel you're out the game. Although time was against us, we kept going and got the rewards."