Hamilton and Inverness Caledonian Thistle cancelled each other out in a tight Championship contest, as missed chances were rued in the 1-1 draw.
Josh Mullin handed the home side a merited lead after a strong opening quarter but Caley Thistle retaliated through Sam Pearson's strike before half-time.
A scrappier second half ensued and Mullin hit the post in search of his and head coach Stuart Taylor's side getting a crucial goal. David Moyo then missed a key chance as Accies were again made to pay for missing their opportunities.
No winning goal was found to seal a fourth draw in five league games for the New Douglas Park side while Inverness manager Billy Dodds' side are without a win in 10 games.
Taylor's men are sixth while Inverness sit third.
Taylor was without injured goalkeeper Joe Hilton and versatile defender Jamie Hamilton. Ryan Fulton came in for Hilton while midfielder Steve Lawson came into play at right-back for Hamilton, where he can also be deployed.
Inverness made five changes from last weekend's defeat to Ayr United. Captain Sean Welsh returns alongside Danny Devine, Aaron Doran, Austin Samuels and Lewis Hyde.
It was a first start from the home side against a team they had dispatched 2-1 home and away already this term. A great run from Kai Kennedy found Mullin on six minutes but his header sailed over the bar.
But the Livingston loanee wasn't prepared to let that slide as he atoned for his chance six minutes later. Inverness failed to deal with a ball across their box and the playmaker lashed a shot high into the net.
It was what the home side deserved in an opening where Caley Thistle didn't get going. They did begin to show some threatening signs but nothing concrete.
Samuels had a decent opening on 21 minutes but his effort was deflected over the bar. It was a fiery affair at times too, with cynical fouls from Dan O'Reilly and Reece McAlear not going unnoticed by referee Alan Muir.
After Kennedy got into a threatening - but offside - position for Accies on 26 minutes, the Highland visitors went up the other end to level.
Doran's initial shot was saved by Fulton but Pearson was on hand for a simple tap-in on 30 minutes. It didn't deflate Accies too much, with Lewis Spence unlucky not to score with his powerful 33rd minute attempt.
Caley Thistle were appealing for a penalty three minutes later but Robbie Deas' tumble in the box wasn't deemed spot-kick worthy.
Taylor witnessed positive signs from his team in the first half but one moment of defensive slackness had cost his men a lead going down the tunnel.
Another opening just before that could have had them ahead too, Kieran MacDonald's flashed cross into the box missed by Moyo and Marley Redfern as a tap-in loomed.
Dodds' side then missed a huge chance after Accies dominated possession early in the second quarter. Billy McKay escaped attention after a defensive muddle and Fulton's hand was needed to deny the striker on 53 minutes.
Samuels was behind again on 60 minutes but after a delay, was ruled offside when a free attempt at goal from four yards out looked likely.
A chaotic 69th minutes almost provided the game's third goal but it still proved elusive. First Scott Martin had an Accies effort denied by goalkeeper Cameron Mackay, who went route one with a long kick to McKay. Fulton stood tall to deny the Caley chip.
Lawson continued the Accies advance with a cross on 71 minutes but Inverness' counter-attack should have put them ahead, ending Pearson feathering the ball wide from all of a few yards out.
MacDonald had another attempt for Hamilton a minute later as action picked up after a scrappy second half. It almost ignited for Hamilton on 73 minutes but Mullin could only hit the post following scrambles in the box.
Moyo's shot on 81 minutes was the most glaring miss for head coach Taylor. Kennedy showed some great feet on the left but the striker couldn't convert from a couple yards and only the goalkeeper to beat.
Hamilton XI: Fulton, Popescu, MacDonald, Spence (Martin, 69), Mullin, Kennedy (Winter, 85) Mimnaugh (Ryan, 78), Moyo, Lawson, Redfern (Brown, 69) O'Reilly.
Subs: J. Smith, Easton, Hughes, Shiels, Nicolson.
Booked: O'Reilly.
Inverness: Mackay, Welsh, Deas, Devine (Harper, 61) Pearson (78, Hardy) McKay, Doran (Sutherland, 68) Broadfoot, McAlear, Samuels, Hyde.
Subs: Esson, Sutherland, Walsh, Hardy, L.Nicolson.
Booked: Deas, McAlear.
Referee: Alan Muir
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