Martin Canning has praised his Hamilton players as they won their third straight league game and brought high-flying Hearts’ 100% record crashing down.

In a thrilling game at New Douglas Park, Gramoz Kurtaj gave Accies a deserved lead on the stroke of half-time.

Hearts hit back at the start of the second half to equalise through Billy King before a Callum Paterson volley moved them ahead with 20 minutes left.

The flashpoint of the match came 5 minutes later, as referee Willie Collum sent Paterson off for a reckless challenge on Darian MacKinnon.

The home side took full advantage, striking level through an Ali Crawford stunner and then claiming the points through Jesus Garcia Tena with 2 minutes remaining.

Hearts manager Robbie Neilson blasted Collum for the red-card decision after the game, and claimed it was the reason his side lost the match.

Hamilton boss Canning though had a different take on proceedings.

“The reaction from the players tells me it probably was a red card,” he said.

“But I thought the attitude of our own players was spot on. We managed to be professional and solid.

“Quite a few people have said that was the turning point, and you might say yes because obviously we got back into the game from there.

“I didn’t think we deserved to be behind in the game, but we continued to go about our business, work hard and we got the rewards for a good performance.

“The team were excellent, I thought the boys were different class.

“You can say the sending off was a turning point, but you’ve still got to go and put the ball in the back of the net and we did that.

“The boys have huge belief in themselves just now. They’ve got that belief that they can go and win matches.

“Even when we went 2-1 down, undeservedly in my opinion, we’ve still got the courage and the belief within the squad to come back and win the match.

“I can’t speak highly enough of them. To a man they worked their socks off and they deserve all the plaudits they’ll get for their performance.”

There is now just one place between the sides, with Hearts dropping to third and Hamilton 5 points back in fourth.

Hearts manager Neilson was livid with the sending off after the match, blaming Willie Collum for his side’s defeat.

“I’ve seen a replay of it already and I don’t think it is a sending off,” he said.

“I think Callum has come in from the side and he has hooked his foot around and the boy has come over the top of him. For me it is not a red, but the referee makes the decision. For me, it is a total game-changer.

“The referee makes a decision which totally changes the flow of the game. We try to hang on for a draw and don’t make it.

“It is difficult for the players to take. We are sitting at the top of the league, we are working hard and then the referee makes a decision like that and changes the game, which we end up losing.

“I tried to speak with him [Collum], but he doesn’t listen to you. I spoke to him and the referee’s adviser was in there as well.

“I could say a lot of things about him, but I don’t want to say too much because I’ll end up in the stand and I don’t want to do that.”