Otherwise the occasion could hardly have differed more from the final of the 1988 European Championships - but that did not stop home supporters among the 2636 in attendance at New Douglas Park yesterday from immediately drawing favourable comparison on social media yesterday between Mickael Antoine-Curier's decisive strike in this match and that of Marco van Basten all those years ago.

While the Frenchman seemed slightly embarrassed by that, not least, perhaps, because he had initially only placed the goal among his own personal top five, he was happy to accept it.

"I need to have a look at it again, but if they compare it to van Basten then fair enough. He is one of my favourite players so I'm very honoured," he said.

In terms of match outcome it was, in a sense, a more important contribution since the Dutchman's had been the second in a two-goal win. Setting such matters aside, Alex Neil, Hamilton's player/manager - who had made a tellingly combative and composed contribution of his own on - was entitled to say that it had brought about the right outcome.

He acknowledged that his team had ultimately scrambled across the line, but prior to absorbing some late pressure following Dundee substitute Greg Stewart's 61st-minute strike, they had been much better than their opponents.

"To be honest I didn't think the game should have ended up that way," said Neil. "I thought in the first half we more than merited our two goal lead and it could have been more with the chances we had.

"We then probably had three or four really good opportunities to put the game to bed, but we didn't get that third goal when we were on top and when Dundee go up the park and get the goal you're then scared of losing what you've got, which gives them a wee bit of momentum."

In the end, though, it was his opposite number, Paul Hartley, who had much the greater cause for concern, not least as a result of an injury-time in which play-maker Gary Harkins, who had already been replaced, earned himself a second yellow card for getting off the bench to square up to Jason Scotland as a result of a hefty challenge on Thomas Konrad that in turn earned the forward a yellow card.

"He's experienced enough to handle that situation. He's got to handle it better - just don't get involved. I'm a player down for next week so that's why I'm disappointed," Hartley said.

Those who are available will also have to handle themselves considerably better, particularly given the way they let Hamilton take control four minutes in when Grant Gillespie's cross from the right was met beyond the far post by Mikey Devlin, who headed it back across for the unmarked Tony Andreu to redirect it past Scott Bain from close range.

Andreu looked to have been sent clear a minute later only to be flagged offside, but the lead was doubled two minutes after the opener by that glorious Antoine-Curier strike which Scott Bain appeared to get both hands to but was unable to keep out.

Thereafter, without doing much to generate excitement, Hamilton looked the more creative team for the remainder of the half, with Dundee restricted to a solitary decent attempt when Jim McAlister fired a left-footed shot that Michael McGovern smothered at the second attempt.

The home side then had a decent claim for a penalty turned down soon after the break and Andreu and Antoine-Curier both came close before Stewart spun cleverly between Ali Crawford and Darian Mackinnon before striking a left-footed shot which swerved in flight, deceiving McGovern and giving Dundee a lifeline.

Neil felt his goalkeeper should have done better, but noted that he has made key saves many times this season. He also made up for the lapse soon afterwards with a good reaction stop after another well-struck shot by Stewart deflected dangerously off Grant Gillespie.