By Clive Lindsay

Canning (right) equalised for Hamilton at Caledonian Stadium

Inverness Caley Thistle and Hamilton edged closer to Scottish Premier League safety after a hard-fought draw that Accies ended with 10 men.

Hamilton goalkeeper Tomas Cerny denied Filipe Morais as Inverness dominated possession in the first half.

The winger set up Richie Foran to fire home 120 seconds after the break.

But Martin Canning headed the equaliser after 61 minutes and James McArthur was sent off five minutes later for a high, lunging challenge on Morais.

The point lifts Caley Thistle above Kilmarnock into ninth place, four points clear of bottom side Falkirk, with Accies still a further two points better off in a five-way battle against relegation.

Hamilton manager Billy Reid had sprung a surprise by resting highly-regarded James McCarthy, with Derek Asamoah coming into the starting line-up and the teenage midfielder dropping to the bench.

Derek Lyle and David Elebert also returned in place of injured full-back Trent McClenahan and on-loan Celtic man Paul McGowan.

Morais was back in the Caley Thistle side at the expense of Andy Barrowman and the Portuguese winger made an immediate impact, delivering a fine cross that was headed a couple of feet wide by Foran.

Alex Neil squandered Hamilton's first chance when he sliced his drive well over from the edge of the box after Simon Mensing's initial effort was blocked.

Inverness should have taken the lead after 19 minutes when Roy McBain crossed for Dougie Imrie, but the forward mis-hit his effort and Foran's subsequent attempt landed on the top of the net.

Only a fantastic save from Cerny then prevented Morais giving his side the lead with a powerful first-time volley.

Hamilton boss Reid was forced to make a change just after the half-hour mark, with McCarthy coming on for the injured Mark McLaughlin.

Foran opened the scoring for Inverness just after the break

McCarthy's presence coincided with more possession swinging Accies' way, but their only real goal threat came on the stroke of half-time, when Richard Offiong flashed a low free-kick inches wide from 22 yards.

Caley Thistle broke the deadlock two minutes after the break when Foran pounced on Morais' overhead flick behind the defence to volley the ball home from 15 yards.

Imrie fired another effort into the side netting after a mazy run as a buoyant Inverness pressed for a second goal, but it was Accies who were next to find the net.

Canning rose to meet Brian Easton's 61st-minute corner to head home from eight yards.

Caley Thistle responded with an Imrie free-kick that was deflected just over before McArthur was dismissed on 66 minutes following his tackle on Morais.

Inverness pressed for a winner, but Offiong ought to have snatched an unlikely victory for Accies when he broke clear only to fire a foot wide from the edge of the box with only goalkeeper Michael Fraser to beat.

Cerny scooped the ball off the goal-line at the other end as Imrie came close to an injury-time volleyed winner.

Hamilton Academical manager Billy Reid:

"We're obviously happy with the point but disappointed with the way we played. But it's a point nearer to safety.

"The sending-off was really, really harsh.

"I know he has lifted his foot up, but I think he's won the ball and the man has not been seriously hurt.

"I think all the Inverness players and management team thought it was harsh.

"He`s gutted. James is a committed player, he's not a dirty player. When I played years ago, that would never have been a sending-off."

Inverness Caledonian Thistle winger Filipe Morais:

"When the tackle first came in, I felt a sharp pain and I was a little bit worried.

"I know James and he's a good lad. I'm sure he wasn't intentionally trying to injure me.

"I was just in pain, I wasn't trying to get anyone sent off. It was unlucky for them but good for us."

"We`re really disappointed, it was a chance to move six points clear of the bottom team.

"We needed to be a bit more composed. Instead of just hitting it long, we should have used our wingers more and got crosses in."

Inverness CT : Fraser, Proctor, Tokely, Munro, Djebi-Zadi, McBain (Barrowman 81), Black, Kerr, Foran, Imrie, Morais (Odhiambo 86).
Subs Not Used: Esson, Rooney, Mihadjuks, Vigurs, Morrison.

Goals : Foran 47.

Hamilton : Cerny, Canning, Elebert (Swailes 55), McLaughlin (McCarthy 31), Mensing, Neil, McArthur, Easton, Asamoah (Gibson 70), Offiong, Lyle.
Subs Not Used: Murdoch, Corcoran, Thomas, McGowan.

Sent Off : McArthur (67). Booked : Canning.

Goals : Canning 63.

Att : 3,623

Ref : C Richmond

BBC Sport Player Rater man of the match: Hamilton's Richard Offiong 8.00 (on 90 minutes).

Please note that you can still give the players marks out of 10 on BBC Sport's Player Rater after the match has finished.

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