Mickael Antoine-Curier volleyed a debut goal against former club Hibernian as Hamilton claimed their first Clydesdale Bank Premier League points of the season.

The on-loan Dundee forward gave Hibs a mountain to climb as early as the 12th minute after Simon Mensing had netted a penalty.

Hibernian struggled to find room against a hard-working Hamilton side and their hopes of a comeback evaporated when Derek Riordan had a late penalty saved by Tomas Cerny.

John Hughes' men also had Colin Nish sent off in the closing seconds as they missed the chance to go third in the SPL.

Hamilton had conceded 10 goals in three SPL defeats but they had a more experienced look today, with former Inverness left-back Richard Hastings also making his debut and right-back Trent McClenahan making his first appearance of the season following hernia surgery.

Billy Reid's men harassed Hibernian from the start with an energetic display that allowed Hibs little time or room to create opportunities for their three-man strikeforce of Riordan, Nish and Anthony Stokes.

James Wesolowski and Gary Mason prevented Hibs breaking forward and James McArthur made Accies tick in attack.

Hughes went for an experienced line-up, bringing in Nish and Ian Murray for youngsters David Wotherspoon and Darren McCormack but they struggled from the opening moments when Mensing had a 20-yard drive saved by the diving Graham Stack.

Mensing was gifted an easier chance in the ninth minute when Nish was penalised by David Somers for handling at the back post after Mark McLaughlin got a glancing header to Hastings' corner.

There were few appeals for a penalty but Nish did not protest and Mensing slotted into the corner just past Stack's outstretched hand.

Mensing turned provider three minutes later when he headed Derek Lyle's free-kick from near the halfway line into the path of Antoine-Curier, who volleyed into the corner from 14 yards.

A shell-shocked Hibs were only able to threaten from Riordan free-kicks in the first half - one curled just wide, one just evaded Sol Bamba at the far post and a 43rd-minute strike forced Cerny to scoop the ball wide.

The visitors, meanwhile, needed a goalline clearance from Murray to stop Hamilton benefiting from another Hastings corner.

Hibs were unchanged for the second half and there was no shift in the pattern of play. Mensing was inches away from connecting with McArthur's whipped cross before Lyle shot at Stack from a tight angle.

Hughes made a double switch on the hour mark, giving former Celtic midfielder Liam Miller his debut and bringing on Merouane Zemmama for Patrick Cregg and Kevin McBride.

With Zemmama now forming part of a four-man attack, Hamilton responded by bringing on defender David Elebert for midfielder Gary Mason.

Hibs were showing better movement and left-back Paul Hanlon was played in only for Cerny to come off his line well to block.

Stokes drove just wide from 30 yards before Hamilton sub Marcos Paixao had a shot diverted over by Bamba after good work by McArthur.

Hibs were given a lifeline when the referee's assistant flagged for a penalty after McClenahan had cleared Murray's header off the line following a John Rankin corner.

McClenahan had used the corner of his arm and chest to clear and Accies furiously argued against the decision, which prompted no card for the full-back, while Riordan was further delayed by some jostling on the edge of the box.

Cerny pulled off a superb double stop when the penalty was taken in the 80th minute, parrying Riordan's effort before getting up to divert Nish's follow-up over the bar.

The saves sparked an exodus of the large travelling support and Hibernian's misery was compounded in injury-time when Nish was sent off.

The striker had been booked in the 83rd minute for a foul on Martin Canning and he received a second yellow card for an aerial challenge on McLaughlin.

Teams

Hamilton Cerny, McClenahan, Canning, McLaughlin, Hastings,Mason (Elebert 66), McArthur, Wesolowski, Mensing,Antoine-Curier (Marco Paixao 72), Lyle (Louhoungu 83).

Subs Not Used: Murdoch, Evans, Knight, Wilkie.

Booked: McLaughlin, Wesolowski.

Goals: Mensing 9 pen, Antoine-Curier 12.

Hibernian Stack, Hanlon, Hogg, Bamba, Murray,McBride (Miller 60), Cregg (Zemmama 59), Rankin,Stokes (Byrne 89), Nish, Riordan.

Subs Not Used: Ma-Kalambay, Stevenson, Wotherspoon, Galbraith.

Sent Off: Nish (90).

Booked: Riordan, Nish.

Att: 4,023

Ref: D Somers (Scotland).