Dundee United 1 Hamilton 3

Grant Gillespie scored his first top-flight goal to move Hamilton towards Premiership safety with a 3-1 victory over a doomed-looking Dundee United.

Gillespie struck from 20 yards as Hamilton dominated the first half at Tannadice and Carlton Morris scored twice on the rebound after the break.

United did not get going until half-time and thousands of fans had already left when Simon Murray netted in the 89th minute, as they remained eight points adrift.

Mixu Paatelainen's side now cannot catch Hamilton, who moved seven points ahead of Kilmarnock and gave themselves the chance to banish all thoughts of a relegation play-off when they host the Ayrshire side next Saturday.

United could get relegated at Dens Park on May 2 if Killie win at New Douglas Park.

Kilmarnock's early defeat at Inverness should have given both sides a pre-match lift but only Hamilton took it into the game. They were first to the ball in the opening stages and pegged United back.

Dougie Imrie forced an early stop from Eiji Kawashima but the Japanese goalkeeper was beaten all ends up in the 12th minute.

Morris laid the ball along the 18-yard line to Gillespie, whose vicious first-time strike with his left foot bounced in off the near post. It was the wing-back's first goal since August 2013.

Ali Crawford shot wide of the near post after Gillespie's pass and Kawashima kept United in it just before half-time, leaping to push away Lucas Tagliapietra's header after the Hamilton defender had easily beaten Guy Demel to Crawford's chipped free-kick.

United offered absolutely nothing as an attacking force before half-time, with Hamilton goalkeeper Michael McGovern's main tasks being to clutch a handful of poorly-delivered corners.

Paatelainen brought on Edward Ofere to beef up his attack but Tagliapietra had the first chance of the half, shooting straight at Kawashima after a good turn.

United created their first chance when Paul Dixon forced his way down the left wing and crossed for Billy McKay, who headed off the post. The Northern Ireland striker looked certain to score the rebound but McGovern produced a brilliant stop.

Accies soon went further ahead in the 52nd minute. Crawford accelerated a good spell of possession by releasing Imrie down the right wing and his cross was looped on to the top of the bar by the head of Greg Docherty. The rebound fell to Morris, who had time and space to head into an empty net.

McGovern produced a solid save after Scott Fraser's solo run and a brilliant reaction stop to push Ofere's flick on to the bar.

But United's comeback ran out of steam and Morris netted again in the 73rd minute after outmuscling Demel to latch on to a long ball.

The former West Ham player seemed more intent on wrestling Morris than meeting the ball and the on-loan Norwich striker turned him to set up Crawford, before following up the midfielder's saved shot.

United's consolation came out of the blue as Murray lofted the ball over McGovern from 12 yards.