Aberdeen missed the chance to go second in the Ladbrokes Premiership as Dougie Imrie netted his fifth goal in eight games to seal a 1-1 draw for Hamilton at New Douglas Park.

Kenny McLean gave Aberdeen a fourth-minute lead with a well-taken volley and the Dons survived some sustained first-half pressure.

They looked set to move five points behind Celtic after tightening up after the interval but Imrie scored on the rebound with 20 minutes left to earn Hamilton a point.

Both sides had reported pre-match injury doubts and Hamilton playmaker Ali Crawford and defender Jesus Garcia Tena missed out, along with Aberdeen skipper Ryan Jack.

Hamilton, who were wearing France away kits in memory of the Paris attack victims, went close twice before the opener. Ash Taylor gifted Imrie a glorious first-minute chance when his misplaced pass sent the winger clean through but Danny Ward stood up well to block.

Grant Gillespie soon went close with a well-struck volley but the visitors scored with their first attack.

Shay Logan sent Niall McGinn away down the right wing and his cross ultimately fell for McLean, who cut across the ball to fire a volley in off the bar.

An excellent challenge from Jamie Sendles-White stopped Peter Pawlett doubling the lead on the break but Accies then created a series of chances, the best coming when Greg Docherty mis-kicked after Imrie's cutback.

Docherty soon hit a much better effort just wide from 30 yards, an Imrie curler deflected away from goal and Ward saved shots from Docherty, Gramoz Kurtaj and Carlton Morris, who also went close from two headers.

Aberdeen threatened with a succession of crosses before Hamilton missed another good chance when Darian MacKinnon scuffed a volley from 18 yards.

Michael McGovern kept the home side in the game just before the break when he pushed McLean's curling 22-yard shot past his far post.

Jonny Hayes missed a good headed chance for Aberdeen inside a minute of the second half, and then both he and Rooney drew decent saves with drives from outside the box.

Hamilton were struggled to create chances but they were not short on effort and they forced their way back into the game out of the blue.

Kurtaj managed to turn inside the box and get a low shot on target and Ward could only palm it into the path of Imrie, who tapped home.

McGovern parried a powerful long-range effort from Hayes before Logan handled on the edge of the box, Kurtaj being booked by Willie Collum for going over the top in his protest that the offence had been inside after the referee awarded a free-kick.

Both sides pushed for a winner but neither could fashion a clear chance in the latter stages, although a Hayes cross hit the bar.