Martin Canning admitted his relief after tasting victory at the 14th attempt as Hamilton manager.

Goals from Jason Scotland and Ali Crawford earned Accies a 2-0 victory over Motherwell that secured their Premiership status for next season.

Canning said: "I'm not going to sit here and say it doesn't play on your mind when you are not winning games, but I believed over the last month performance levels have been good.

"Tonight we got exactly what we deserved, we were excellent throughout. The boys have never given up, they have always worked hard.

"I said to them many times, if they continue to work, the intensity is there and the performance level is high, the results have got to come because they are a good bunch of players.

"I don't want to downplay it because I wanted to get the win to get it off my back, but tonight is all about the players, let's not forget they have gone through the same run and sometimes they have not got the results they deserved."

The player-manager had to watch the win from the stand as he completed a two-match ban.

"I actually felt quite relaxed because I felt second half we controlled the game and played with a professionalism and experience for a young side," he said.

"I joked that I might keep my suit on and keep myself up there out the road and do my job up there on the phone."

The defeat was hugely damaging for Motherwell's survival hopes as it left them six points adrift in the relegation play-off spot, and manager Ian Baraclough felt his side should have done better in front of goal.

He said: "I'm frustrated that we have created more chances and better chances and to come away without scoring is amazing for me. We just weren't clinical enough.

"We created good chances, there were six or seven at least that I counted, we hit the woodwork a couple of times and their keeper has pulled off a couple of good saves from one-on-ones. That has cost us.

"Their two goals have come from positions of good possession, we have given it away cheaply, they have broken and been clinical. There's the difference.

"We still have to believe we can bridge the gap."