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Steve Clarke says opponents now view Kilmarnock as a scalp after Hamilton celebrated a draw with his side as if "they had done something marvellous".

Mickel Miller's penalty earned Hamilton a point after Eamonn Brophy gave the visitors the lead with his eighth goal of the season.

The draw means Kilmarnock drop to fourth - four points behind leaders Celtic - while Accies remain tenth.

"I think everybody's perception of us has changed," Clarke said.

"I've said to the players over the next few games they're going to have to be aware of that, people are starting to treat us a little bit differently."

The visitors missed several chances to increase their lead before Miller's equaliser.

But the goal gave Hamilton fresh belief. Scott McMann hit a post after the break before Kilmarnock's Greg Stewart shot wide when clean through late on.

St Mirren's win over Motherwell means Hamilton's lead over the Paisley club has been cut to two points.

Hamilton perform crucial revival

Hamilton had lost their last three matches without scoring a goal, and Kilmarnock gave them no chance to build their confidence as they flew out of the blocks.

Brophy certainly enjoyed netting against his former club, cupping his hands in the direction of the home support after squeezing the ball across Gary Woods into the far corner as Greg Taylor's deflected cross broke into his path.

Hamilton seemed to wilt and Kilmarnock should have at least doubled their lead. Jordan Jones curled past a post, and Woods had to beat another effort by the Northern Ireland international clear. Stewart's overhead kick also whistled past the frame of the goal.

That was not the totality of their chances either. But as Hamilton's odds of winning seemed to lengthen, they found some confidence and both Darian MacKinnon and Dougie Imrie were denied by Daniel Bachmann.

Then, the break they needed. A McMann cross struck the arm of Brophy and, although MacKinnon then lashed in, referee Bobby Madden pulled play back for a penalty. The returning Miller calmly converted.

The intensity after the break was something to behold, but it was not matched by the quality.

Challenges flew in and Hamilton lost captain MacKinnon, then striker James Keatings, to injury but they battled on, McMann's effort off the woodwork almost giving them the lead just after half time.

At the death, the ball fell to Miller seven yards from goal, but he could not get a clean connection and Bachmann pushed it wide.

Kilmarnock too had opportunities late on, Stewart uncharacteristically missed when he only had Woods to beat, and before that substitute Kris Boyd failed to get the ball under control four yards out.

There was pinball in both boxes at the end but ultimately neither side found a finishing touch.

Brophy enjoyed giving Kilmarnock the lead against his former club

'Hamilton get much-needed break' - analysis

BBC Scotland's Martin Dowden at New Douglas Park

What seemed certain to be a Kilmarnock canter developed into a much closer contest once Hamilton were handed a lifeline. It got a bit scrappy and that suited Martin Canning's side.

The award of the penalty that led to their equaliser was pivotal and seemed a sound decision. Brophy appeared to move his arm to the ball rather than the other way round with referee Madden in a great position to call it.

Hamilton have struggled to score so that was exactly the type of break they have been searching for. Injuries to MacKinnon and Keatings will be of concern ahead of a trip to face Hearts on Boxing Day.

Steve Clarke will likely be frustrated. Kilmarnock had enough chances when ahead to make this comfortable, they pushed hard for a winner but were frustrated.

'We were more than in the game' - reaction

Hamilton manager Martin Canning: "I thought the first 15-20 minutes Kilmarnock started well, as you would expect from a team in form at the top end of the table.

"We grew our way back into the game, and we get our goal through the penalty from Mickel [Miller]. We were more than in the game, I think a draw was a fair result."

Kilmarnock manager Steve Clarke: "I don't think we quite did enough to get all three points, although we did miss some really good chances, one in particular that normally Greg [Stewart] would tuck away.

"The game changes on the penalty decision but I've no great qualms about it, Eamonn [Brophy] moves his arm towards the ball. It gave Hamilton something to cling on to, up until then I don't think they believed they could get anything out of the game."