Hamilton 0 Inverness 1

Inverness defender Danny Devine netted his first Premiership goal to boost Caley Thistle's hopes of finishing seventh.

The Northern Irishman's quick-thinking at a 41st-minute set-piece sealed a 1-0 win over Hamilton at New Douglas Park in front of just 1,516 fans.

Hamilton's hopes were hit in the 75th minute when Darian MacKinnon was shown two yellow cards within seconds of each other, but they gave their visitors some anxious late moments.

John Hughes has urged his side to secure as much prize money as possible to allow him to offer new contracts and the victory moved Inverness above Dundee into seventh.

Inverness were the better team in the opening half hour, putting some decent passing moves together and had the ball in the net in the 12th minute, but Danny Williams was just too eager to get ahead of his man as he netted from Miles Storey's low cross and was flagged offside.

Accies, who guaranteed their safety on Saturday, improved and threatened several times. Carlton Morris sent a dipping shot just over from 25 yards, Steven Boyd fired wide of the near post on his first start, and Grant Gillespie got a strike on target.

But Caley Thistle caught their hosts out with a free-kick inside the Hamilton half.

After spotting Devine's run, Iain Vigurs played the ball along the ground as most people anticipated a lofted ball into the box. The defender got across his man and reached the ball before Michael McGovern, stabbing it underneath the goalkeeper and into the net.

McGovern saved his team after the break when Ross Draper played Liam Polworth through, the Northern Ireland international coming off his line to block.

Accies pushed for an equaliser but substitute Greg Docherty had a shot deflected just wide before blazing over from close range.

MacKinnon was booked for a foul on Vigurs before being sent off after referee Stephen Finnie took exception to his protests. The midfielder was pushed up the tunnel by assistant manager Guillaume Beuzelin as he continued to argue.

Accies still threatened but Owain Fon Williams saved Danny Redmond's free-kick before Eamonn Brophy's dead-ball effort was deflected wide with Gillespie booked as he complained over an alleged handball in the wall.

Hamilton continued to press but Inverness withstood a series of late corners.