THE steam hissed from the Tannadice pressure cooker as Dundee United found a win for the first time in eleven games, their woes eased through Chris Erskine's solitary goal 20 minutes from the end to continue Hamilton's difficulties as their tally of 13 matches without the sniff of a victory.

Yet, if Erskine was feted for his winner, plaudits must also go to Radislaw Cierzniak, a blundering goalkeeper in the midweek defeat to city rivals Dundee, proved a heroic figure with a series of exceptional saves in the second half to keep a lively Accies side at bay.

It was a display that did not go unrecognised by Simon Donnelly, the United assistant manager, who confirmed how difficult everyone at the club had found matters.

"It hasn't been easy," he conceded, "but this win will help us kick-start the last few games of the season.

"It was a well-worked goal with a good finish while Rado was great today.

"He had three or four save in quick succession in the second half that were vitally important and gave us the kick-on to get the goal.

"This was the result we've been looking for in a long while.

"We have one game in hand against Inverness and two games still to play against them. So, it's in our hands to chase them down.

"Most importantly, the boys stood up and put in a real team performance."

In a first half offering little excitement, it took half-an-hour before that issue was addressed and, for the home supporters, it came at the wrong end.

Michael Devlin's header from a corner-kick was flicked-on by Nigel Hasselbaink and but for the presence of United's Paul Paton on the goal-line, the visitors would have taken the lead.

Until then, play was quite even with only a ferocious 12-yard show from United's Nadir Ciftci to test Michael McGovern in the Accies goal a few minutes before the break.

However, for Martin Canning, the Accies' player-manager, unable to participate because of suspension, there would have been satisfaction at the way his side performed during those opening 45 minutes.

They were better than the Arabs who couldn't unsettle a stoic Hamilton defence, while a fast-moving manoeuvre down the left by his players five minutes after the re-start nearly brought an opener for them with Stephen Hendrie agonising as he watched his prodded effort with the outside of his foot hit the base of Cierzniak's far post.

United, at least until that stage, offered little in response and concern in the home dugout grew midway through the second half as the visitors ensured that the United goalkeeper's mind did not wander.

First, Cierzniak stopped Louis Longridge's close-range shot low at the post; then blocked a strike from Jason Scotland, who had replaced Nigel Hasselbaink moments earlier. His diving save to push Crawford's sizzling 25-yard free-kick on to the post was spectacular, before he effected another acrobatic stop, this time from Doug Imrie, all of these within a few minutes.

Suddenly, the Polish keeper was in the frame for the man-of-the-match award.

It was almost as if he was challenging his team-mates to produce something equally meaningful.

Which they did in the 70th minute as Chris Erkskine, collecting the ball 22 yards out, caught McGovern unawares with a stinging strike into the Hamilton net to dampen Lanarkshire enthusiasm and had Mario Bilate converted Cifci's low ball across goal at the far post moments from the end, it would have been the killer blow Jackie McNamara, their manager, and the Tannadice fans sought.

Canning hailed Cierzniak as United's match-winner, as he added: "They had one shot on target and they scored from it.

"Our run hasn't been good, but in terms of our club, we're in a great place.

"For Hamilton Accies to be in the Premiership and guaranteed, because of a great start, to stay there, shows we're in a good position and we can look forward and build again in the summer."

Dundee Utd (3-2-4-1): Cierzniak; McGowan, Souttar, Morris; Paton, Telfer; Spittal (Bilate 63), Connolly, Erskine (Muirhead 84) , Dixon; Ciftci. Subs not used: Szromnik, Dillon, Butcher, Smith, Anier. Booked: Souttar 77, Telfer 85.

Hamilton (4-4-2): McGovern; Lyon, Gordon, Devlin, Hendrie; Longridge, McKinnon (Brophy 80), Gillespie, Crawford; Imrie, Hasselbaink (Scotland 57). Subs not used: Hill, Watson, MacDonald, Brophy, Redmond, Tagliapietra. Booked: MacKinnon 12, Crawford 22, Devlin 32.

Referee: A Dallas.

Attendance: 5,243.