Derby rout gives Well huge lift

Motherwell gave their fight against relegation a much-needed boost with a crushing 4-0 victory over Hamilton in the Lanarkshire derby at Fir Park.Two goals within a minute at the start of the second half from Lionel Ainsworth and a further two inside a minute from John Sutton late on gave the Steelmen a vital three points, and exacted revenge on their neighbours for two heavy defeats earlier in the campaign.Darren Lyon was sent off for Hamilton midway through the second half to compound the visitor's woes, and they are now without a win in eleven games under Martin Canning.The match was slow to get going, but Motherwell began to threaten, with Scott McDonald flashing a shot across goal before Ainsworth ran onto Lee Erwin's lay-off, only to create a tight angle for himself before shooting tamely at goal.Erwin then saw a shot blocked before appearing to be tripped as he went for the rebound, but referee Callum Murray waved away the Steelmen's appeals.A piece of brilliant defending by Jesus Garcia Tena then denied Motherwell the lead as he made a sliding intervention just as Erwin was ready to pull the trigger from close range.The match had come to life, and Hamilton almost snatched the lead as Ali Crawford crossed from the right and Dougie Imrie caught his volley sweetly, only to see the shot clip the post and go wide.There was a heart-in-mouth moment for Motherwell right-back Josh Law as the game approached half-time as his rash clearance when facing his own goal looked as though it could drop for a bizarre own goal, but instead it floated just wide.The second half exploded into life as Motherwell took the lead after 48 minutes. Gillespie hacked down Stephen Pearson 25 yards from goal and Keith Lasley took the free-kick quickly to tap the ball inside to Ainsworth. The winger took a touch before unleashing a rocket into McGovern's top right-hand corner.Amazingly, the home side doubled their advantage just a minute later, and again it was Ainsworth as he bagged his fifth of the season.Johnson drove down the left before delivering an inviting cross. It eluded Erwin but fell for Ainsworth to finish from a tight angle at the far post. Hamilton were dealt a further blow after 64 minutes as Lyon was shown a straight red card for a late, high lunge on Johnson after the Motherwell winger had managed to poke the ball under the young midfielder's challenge.Nigel Hasselbaink came on for Jason Scotland, and he almost dragged the away side back into the match immediately as his direct run ended in a placed effort that just trickled past the post.Ainsworth could have had his hat-trick as Motherwell took advantage of the space Hamilton were leaving at the back, allowing Ainsworth to race from the half-way line, only to place his effort wide of the post.The third goal was not long in coming as Ainsworth turned provider, floating a ball to the back post where Sutton, who had only come on moments earlier, had the simple task of nodding home in the 80th minute.Sutton got his second just a minute later, converting from the penalty spot after Erwin was tripped by Ziggy Gordon as he made his way towards goal, the striker producing a cool low finish to McGovern's right to put the seal on a fantastic night's work for Ian Baraclough's men.