Last updated on .From the section Football

Sean Dillon headed the winner as Dundee United edged Hamilton in a five-goal thriller to go third in the league.

United looked on course for victory at New Douglas Park as they took a two-goal lead through Stuart Armstrong and Gary Mackay-Steven.

Hamilton - playing their first match since the departure of manager Alex Neil - fought back with goals from Jesus Garcia Tena and Ali Crawford.

However, Dillon rose unmarked to head in a corner to seal the win for United.

It means United leapfrog Hamilton and Inverness Caledonian Thistle in the Scottish Premiership table, with Accies slipping a place to fifth.

With the wind swirling around New Douglas Park, both sides were struggling to play their normal passing game or create any clear scoring chances.

Stuart Armstrong opened the scoring for Dundee United against Hamilton

The standard of play was generally poor in the opening 37 minutes until Armstrong provided a moment of real quality to give United the lead.

The midfielder took the ball, turned and drove at the Accies defence. With nobody closing him down, Armstrong fired a sublime strike that flew beyond Michael McGovern from 22 yards.

There were few clear scoring chances in the first half, but after just 21 seconds in the second period, United found the back of the net.

Armstrong played a through ball behind the Hamilton defence for the onrushing Mackay-Steven, who brought the ball under control with his first touch and coolly slotted the ball low past McGovern.

Hamilton were in desperate need of inspiration and it came from their Spanish centre-back. Accies were awarded a free-kick on the edge of the box and Tena stepped up to curl a wonderful effort over the wall and beyond goalkeeper Radoslaw Cierzniak.

Accies were a far more dangerous prospect after their first goal, and they levelled things with 20 minutes remaining.

Jesus Garcia Tena scored a wonderful free-kick to bring Hamilton back into the match

Tony Andreu split the defence with a beautifully weighted pass to Crawford, whose first-effort was blocked by Cierzniak. But the midfielder looped the ball into an empty net on the rebound.

And just when a win seemed possible for Accies, they were undone 13 minutes from time by slack defending.

A corner whipped to the far post found Dillon completely unmarked and the Irishman powered home a header from 10 yards.

Cierzniak was called into action to deny Crawford and Andreu late on as Hamilton's 10-game unbeaten home run was brought to an end.