It was a bitterly disappointing night for United as first half goals from the Paixao brothers Flavio and Marco were more than enough to take the points after what was the home side's worst performance of the season at Tannadice.
United threatened inside the first couple of minutes as a through ball from Gomis was neatly flicked into the path of Daly by David Goodwillie, however the early shot from the Irishman was straight at Hamilton goalkeeper Tomas Cerny. Unfortunately for the United fans in attendance this was as close as their team would come during the opening 45 minutes as Hamilton won the battle in midfield and as a result looked the sharper team throughout. They took the lead after 24 minutes when Flavio Paixao lofted a slightly mishit shot high into the net which caught out goalkeeper Dusan Pernis. After surviving a couple of scares, United looked to be heading into half time with only a single goal deficit but right on the stroke of half time the Paixao brothers combined to put the visitors 2-0 ahead. Firstly Flavio saw a header saved by Pernis before Marco poked the ball high into the net much to the frustration of all connected with United.
Something needed to change drastically for United and with that in mind Peter Houston withdrew Daly and Conway in place of Casalinuovo and Myrie-Williams at half time. There was a great chance for Prince Buaben after 51 minutes when good work by Goodwillie on the left followed by a well timed cut back resulted in the Ghanaian lifting the ball high over from 6 yards out. Andis Shala was thrown on up front in place of Mihadjuks as Houston went for broke with a 3-4-3 formation with just over half an hour left and immediately Shala could have put his team back in it, but Cerny saved superbly from his close range header. Gomis then set up Goodwillie inside the box and the striker brought out a decent save from Cerny with his low drive. A driving run from Myrie-Williams ended in a foul at the edge of the box which allowed Swanson the chance to make a United breakthrough but his free kick dipped just over the bar in the 67th minute before Myrie-Williams then struck a decent shot from 20 yards which sailed just over. After looking like working their way back into the game for a spell after half time the game just petered out again as Hamilton went on to take a deserved three points and deal a blow to the Tangerines European aspirations.
Full Time Summary: It was simply a night to forget for United. Despite performing better in the 2nd half the damage done prior to that was too much for them to recover from after producing what was there worst performance of the season at Tannadice.
United: Pernis, Dillon, Dods, Conway (Myrie-Williams 46), Daly (Casalinuovo 46), Swanson, Buaben, Gomis, Mihadjuks (Shala 57), Kenneth, Goodwillie. Subs not used - Banks, D Robertson, Cameron, McCord.
Hamilton: Cerny, McClenahan, Canning, Wilkie, McArthur, Easton, F Paixao, M Paixao, Imrie, Elebert, Mensing. Subs not used - Murdoch, Hastings, Van Zanten, Elliot, Thomas, Crawford, McQueen.
Referee - Alan Muir
Attendance - 5598