Mickael Antoine-Curier returned to haunt his old club as he and his Hamilton Academical team-mates recorded a 2-0 victory this afternoon at New Douglas Park.The home side were quickest out of the traps - and they caught Hibernian cold with early goals from Mensing and the former Hibernian striker.The visitors pushed hard for a way back into the match but they could not find a way past Tomas Cerny in the Hamilton goal on what was a frustrating day for the large travelling Hibernian support.

John Hughes made two changes to the side defeated at home last weekend by Celtic, out was Darren McCormack and David Wotherspoon who were replaced by Ian Murray and Colin Nish.Hamilton were the first to carve out an opportunity when a run and shot from Mensing was well saved at his near post by Stack.The home side continued to push hard for an early goal and it came after Rankin was caught in possession and the home side broke forward to win the first corner kick of the game.

From the set piece on 7 minutes Hamilton were awarded a penalty kick after Nish was ruled to have handled in the area - and although Stack guessed right, he was unable to keep out a powerful low drive from Mensing.It then went from bad to worse when Hamilton doubled their advantage just four minutes later.Former Hibernian player Antoine-Curier was in acres of space 16 yards out when he volleyed the ball into the back of the visitors net on his debut for the New Douglas Park club.

The quick-fire double proved a disastrous start for John Hughes men who looked second best to almost every ball from the kick off.If there was a positive to take it would be that the goals came early providing Hibernian plenty of time to rectify the situation. Free kick specialist Derek Riordan was not too far away from immediately cutting the deficit but his set piece effort ended just the wrong side of the near post with goalkeeper Cerny scrambling across his goal-line.

Hibernian had another chance on 23 minutes when the ball was played deep to the back post by Riordan where Bamba headed wide from close range.The Hibernian defender perhaps did not expect the ball to reach him as McLaughlin looked to have the ball covered only to let it go.Hamilton continued to have the better of the play however and McArthur attempted to beat Stack from distance but was off target with his effort. Five minutes from the half time break and Murray had to head clear from under his own cross bar from yet another Hamilton corner kick before McArthur smashed the rebound wide of goal on the half volley.

Anything promising that Hibernian was producing in attack seemed to be coming through Riordan, and he almost pulled a goal back with a wicked free kick that was spilled by Cerny for a corner kick.That was the final action of an extremely disappointing first half where Hibernian looked second best for the majority of the time.John Hughes would no doubt be delivering some tough talking to his players at the interval and a big improvement was needed for the second 45.

Half Time: Hamilton Academical 2 Hibernian 0

There were no changes during the break as Hibernian got the action underway again - this time towards the huge following from Edinburgh who had once again backed the club in numbers.

Hamilton were first to carve out an attack in the second period when McArthur's out-swinging cross was just beyond the reach of the diving Mensing.The home side should have put the game beyond Hibernian when Lyle burst into the penalty area and with McArthur unmarked in the middle he instead opted to go alone and his angled drive was well saved by Stacks.Most of the efforts at goal from Hibernian were coming from set pieces and they had a free kick awarded to them just outside the Hamilton penalty area after Riordan had been brought down.This time the striker stepped aside and allowed Rankin to take responsibility, but the midfielders shot was poor and struck the defensive wall.

On 59 minutes John Hughes made his first changes of the afternoon when Cregg and McBride were withdrawn to allow Zemmama and new signing Miller to come into the action.The home side also made changes with Elebert replacing Mason.The Edinburgh men's best chance of the afternoon arrived on 70 minutes when a long ball forward from Hogg was flicked on by Nish to Hanlon who found himself with only the goalkeeper to beat.The full back was in a very unfamiliar position and lacked composure with his shot straight at a grateful Cerny.

Hamilton immediately set off on the counter attack which was only stopped by Riordan pulling down McClenahan.That earned the Hibernian striker a yellow card and he could have few complaints with that decision.Hibernian had finally appeared to snap into life and Stokes was not far away from a first ever goal for the club when his turn and shot was pushed around the post by the diving Cerny.Referee Somers then infuriated the Hibernian players and supporters by giving a goal kick.

Paixao replaced goal scorer Antoine-Curier and he wasted no time in getting involved, forcing Stack to divert his close range shot away for a corner kick.It was certainly not shaping up to be Hibernian's afternoon and even when decisions went for them, they somehow went against them.On 75 minutes Hibernian were awarded a spot kick when Murray's goal bound header was stopped on the line by the hand of a Hamilton defender.Referee Somers immediately pointed to the spot but appeared to forget who had handled.After speaking to all of his officials he was still none the wiser and instead of going down to ten men, Hamilton were let off the hook.

And the home side must have known it was there day when Derek Riordan stepped up to take the penalty after a long delay - and his low shot was saved by goalkeeper Cerny, who appeared to be around the six yard line at the point of saving the shot.The rebound fell kindly to Nish but his powerful drive was pushed over the top by Cerny who was quick getting back to his feet.

For the closing minutes Byrne replaced Stokes but there was little the substitute could do in such a short space of time to spark any sort of comeback.Deep into injury time Nish compounded a day of personal misery when he picked up a soft second yellow card and was dismissed by referee Somers.A bitterly disappointing afternoon then for John Hughes and his men who arguably lost the match in the opening quarter of an hour.Some decisions on the day had most certainly gone against Hibernian but Hamilton deserved the victory.

Hamilton Academical: Cerny, McClenahan, Hastings, Canning, McLaughlin, Wesolowski, McArthur, Antoine-Curier, Lyle, Mensing, Mason.Subs: Murdoch, Evans, Louhoungou, Paixao, Elebert, Knight, Wilkie.

Hibernian: Stack, Hogg, Murray, Cregg, Nish, Riordan, Rankin, McBride, Stokes, Hanlon, Bamba.Subs: Ma-Kalambay, Zemmama, Stevenson, Galbraith, Wotherspoon, Byrne, Miller.

Referee: David Somer.

Attendance: 4,023