SUSPICIONS that Hamilton's early-season splendour was a fleeting phenomenon have been quashed.

Accusations that they are not quite the fully-rounded Premiership force they need to be also looked dead in the water in Dingwall.

Accies, says player-manager Alex Neil, proved they could win ugly as well as with verve as Martin Canning's thumping early header proved decisive in the Highlands.

Victory took the visitors up two places to third behind Aberdeen and Celtic with three points full of grit and good work ethic.

Three victories out of four is a sharp recovery from a team supposedly heading down after a sparkling start to the campaign.

"That's the one thing that has probably been called into question for us this year," Neil admitted. "Everyone knows how well we can play when we're at it, but people have questioned if we can roll our sleeves up and do the dirty work.

"I felt we did that today.

"A week or so ago, people were saying we were on a bad run, but that's three wins out of four games now."

The win was Neil's first away since stunning Celtic back on October 5.

County were also craving a big result knowing something had to give between St Mirren and Motherwell.

But a twin habit of shooting themselves in the foot defensively and missing good chances reared its head again.

The hosts were in disarray at the back six minutes in. From the game's first corner, delivered by Ali Crawford, Martin Canning's towering leap and arcing header flew past Toni Reguero into the right corner of the net.

All the best early play was from Accies and the pressure continued as Mickael Antoine-Curier powered the ball across the face of goal from the right. Stephen Hendrie slid in to score but narrowly failed to connect.

The 20th minute brought the Staggies' best move of the half.

A fine quick-passing sequence saw Jamie Reckord and Woods play a one-two before Joe Cardle speared a pass inside from the left only for Martin Woods to shoot just over from eight yards.

Accies, though, always looked the stronger side in the first period and were quickly on the front foot after the break.

The hosts began to look more threatening midway through the second period, but still the killer touch eluded them.

After 73 minutes, substitute Graham Carey waltzed away from his marker on the right and cut back to find Joe Cardle, who fired over with a clear sight of goal inside the box.

Yoann Arquin then got a header that almost brushed the top of the bar from Brittain's cross. McGovern also had to fend off two Jake Jervis headers late on and Paul Quinn belted a chance over the bar in stoppage time.

Home manager Jim McIntyre was deeply unhappy.

"The first-half was unacceptable - and probably the worst since I've come to the club," he said.

"Hamilton scored an early goal, but we've got to show a bigger reaction to that goal. It wasn't good enough."