Queen of South are still sitting rock bottom of the first division with just two points.
And while their defeat at the hands of Hamilton came in only their third home game, the danger signs are flashing, particularly with their lack of a killer punch in front of goal.
Hamilton broke the deadlock after six minutes with almost their first raid as Scott Tunbridge cut the ball across from the by-line. Pat Keogh and Paul Burns both missed it, and it ran clear to Graeme Jones who slammed home an angular drive.
Hamilton were unlucky when Steven Thomson put in a perfect cross which Keogh, with the goal at his mercy, just failed to connect with. Then Mark McLaughlin headed narrowly over from a corner.
Queens had another let-off when McLaughlin cracked in a drive following a corner and Steve Bowey headed clear off the line.
But the game suddenly came alight after 63 minutes when Queens were awarded a penalty. Scott McKenzie brought down David McNiven and John O'Neill made no mistake from the spot for the Dumfries side's first home league goal of the season.
But Hamilton regained their lead after 77 minutes when the Dumfries defence failed to clear a corner and Marvyn Wilson chipped the ball over the defenders for Tunbridge to head home.