'CAN we play you every week?' was the cry from the Hamilton fans.

Motherwell will be glad that the answer is no. Three days after Alex Neil's side knocked their Lanarkshire rivals out of the League Cup on penalties, they secured a second win against them in quick succession.

A spot-kick was involved this time, too, but only to add sheen to a victory that was as deserved as it was comfortable, Mickael Antoine-Curier rolling the ball into the corner from 12 yards before Ali Crawford completed his brace to make it 4-0.

These two clubs may be based only a couple of miles apart across Lanarkshire but there is considerable distance between them in the Premiership standings as Neil's men fly high in second and Motherwell toil in 10th.

Local bragging rights have again been secured for Hamilton, but their manager has no intention of letting that be their only achievement this season. Victory at Fir Park was another step towards top-flight safety and another reason for well-earned pats on the back all round.

"As I say to the players, it is a good start," Neil said. "We have to maintain that as long as we can. We are working hard during the week and it is easy to work with players when they are enjoying their football. We are in a good place at the moment but we know it doesn't last forever in football and we have to work hard to maintain that."

After crowd trouble marred the victory at New Douglas Park in midweek, as objects were thrown from the stands and Motherwell fans set off flares, this was a far more peaceful derby encounter. The outcome remained just as disappointing for those on the claret and amber side of the M74, though.

A group of supporters in the far corner of Fir Park made themselves heard early on, the banging of their drum incessant as they looked to inspire a team that could do with a lift, but there was little for them to sing about.

Hamilton swarmed forward, chances arriving at a regular rate as Motherwell failed to get out of the blocks. Tony Andreu and Stephen Hendrie were the first to try their luck at beating Dan Twardzik, their early efforts allowing the visitors to get their eye in. It wasn't long before they found the target.

After Grant Gillespie failed to put the finishing touch to a mazy run into the area and Crawford scooped his effort over, Twardzik was finally beaten on 34 minutes. Hamilton didn't have to work for their goal, though. No cutting edge was required, only a cool head as Andreu capitalised on a moment of madness from Zaine Francis-Angol to slot the ball home. It was no more than Neil's side deserved and it was to get even better before the end of the half.

Motherwell were once again masters of their own downfall, with Paul Lawson this time the Fir Park villain as he was robbed of possession by Crawford. The midfielder followed Andreu's lead, his shot finding the same corner as Lawson slumped to the ground and Hamilton players wheeled away in celebration.

It was to be the Motherwell man's last contribution of the afternoon as he joined Stephen McManus in the stand for the second half, Craig Reid and John Sutton their replacements as McCall looked to inspire his insipid side.

His half-time message certainly did the trick but the Hamilton net didn't ripple, except when Lee Erwin could only find the wrong side of the post from a Francis-Angol cross. By then the youngster had already seen another headed effort saved while Sutton glanced one wide.

Motherwell's improvement would mean little come the final reckoning. Just as they were looking to launch a comeback, Hamilton clinched the points as Antoine-Curier converted from the penalty spot after Fraser Kerr fouled the onrushing Louis Longridge.

It almost got even better for the visitors just minutes later when Twardzik's scuffed clearance found Crawford but the young midfielder saw his effort go narrowly wide of the far post. He would get his second of the afternoon in injury time, a low finish into the bottom corner capping a fine individual and team performance.

Motherwell were put out of their misery seconds later as a smattering of boos emanated from the almost deserted Fir Park stands. Thankfully for them, they don't have to play Hamilton next week.

"We had four great chances in the second half and if we had got it back to 2-1 it might have been different," McCall said. "But we didn't and, all round, that would have been masking [how we played] because we were second best all day."