Raging Hamilton Accies boss John Rankin was sent off for having a pop at referee Mike Roncone during their controversial Championship draw with Morton.
In his first league match at the helm, Rankin saw red for a half-time rant at Roncone, who had awarded a penalty against Accies moments earlier and sent off defender Shaun Want.
Want's challenge appeared to be outside the box and it is thought Rankin was venting his frustration at the decision.
Accies had started well and took the lead through Andy Ryan after 11 minutes
But they were reduced to 10 men in 39 minutes when Want was shown a second booking for a foul on Jaze Kabia that looked outside the box.
Ex-Accies Grant Gillespie converted the spot-kick and things only got worse for Accies when furious Rankin was given his marching orders.
In the second half, Accies pushed for a winner despite their numerical disadvantage and even had a penalty claim of their own waved away by Roncone, who dished out nine yellow cards and one red on the day, but they had to settle for a point.
Accies named the same side which performed well in a 1-1 draw with Queen's Park in the Premier Sports Cup last week, but they were without
A very early scuffle inside 14 seconds when Want went in late on Lewis Strapp prompted referee Roncone to go to his pocket once both sets of players had been separated.
Both sides were clearly up for the occasion but it was Accies who struck first.
Steve Lawson floated an out-swinging corner towards the centre of the box to pick out Brian Easton in acres of space. The Accies skipper powered a header towards the far post and Ryan was able to nod the ball home for his third goal in four games.
Seven minutes later Accies had a huge escape when a delivery into the box caused a scramble in the six yard box. Accies tried to clear their lines and the ball fell straight to Jai Quitongo. Fortunately for Accies, he dragged his effort wide of the post when he looked destined to score.
Quitongo left Easton and O'Reilly for dead down the right-wing moments later, picking out Jaze Kabia in a great position on the edge of the box unmarked but he blazed his effort over the bar.
The visitors were pushing for an qualiser and Strapp sent a thuming 20-yard strike narrowly over the bar as Ryan Fulton dove towards his top corner at full-stretch, then former Accies man Grant Gillespie dragged one wide from a similar position.
And it all went wrong for the hosts in the 39th minute when they were reduced to 10 men.
Want, already on a booking, tried to hook the ball clear as Kabia raced in on goal but he clipped the Morton man in the face in doing so. The foul looked to be just outside the box but Roncone pointed to the spot and sent Want for an early bath..
Gillespie stepped up and sent Ryan Fulton the wrong way from 12 yards to pull Ton level.
Accies felt aggreived by the spot kick award and as the half-time whistle went, Rankin marched up to Roncone to give him an earful as he tried to leave the field. The home support also made their feeling clear as Roncone sheepishly made his way to the tunnel.
In the second half, Roncone had a big decision to make when Scott Martin and Kabia went for a 50-50 and both took blows to the shins. Roncone only incensed the home fans further when he booked Martin for his troubles and Kabia escaped punishment.
In 53 minutes Morton almost went in front when the ball fell to the dangerous Quitongo at the back post and forced Fulton into a great stop.
Accies were still posing a threat and Brian Schwake was forced into action with a strike from distance from Lawson as the hour mark approached.
The hosts went to their bench for the first time in 63 minutes when Reegan Mimnaugh replaced Martin, who failed to shake off his earlier knock.
Despite their numerical disadvantage, as the game wore on Accies looked the liklier to get a winner and when a Lawson corner landed right on top of the Morton goal, Easton couldn't quite get enough on the ball to turn it into teh net from close range.
More controversy followed seconds later when Ryan hammered a strike at goal in the box that hit the hand of a Morton player, but Roncone waved away the claims. The Accies players surrounded Roncone in fury, leading to Easton picking up the eighth yellow card of the game.
In stoppage time Ton should have won it when a cross from the right picked out Robbie Muihead six-yards out, but he headed straight at Fulton to leave both sides taking a share of the spoils.
HAMILTON: Fulton, Easton, O'Reilly, Want, Martin (Mimnaugh 63), Doyle, Shiels, Lawson, Ryan, Smith (One 90), Winter.
Scorers: Ryan 11
Bookings: Want, Martin, Ryan, Doyle, Easton
Sent off: Want
Subs not used: Smith, Owens, McGinn, Newbury, Brown, Ngandu.
MORTON: Schwake, Strapp (King 46), Pignatiello, Baird, O'Connor, Blues, Lyon (Hynes 82), Kabia (Garrity 82), Muirhead, Gillespie, Quitongo.
Scorers: Gillespie 42 (pen)
Bookings: Strapp, King, Lyon, Hynes
Subs not used: Green, Lithgow, McGrattan, McGregor, Easdale.
Ref: Mike Roncone
HT: 1-1
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