Short of Bradley Fink’s shot wide, it was a wretched first half for Steven Pressley’s hosts.
There was improvement in the second, with Joe Bevan’s delivery deflecting right across the face of goal, forcing Passlack to clear, and Hamilton testing goalkeeper Raphael Sallinger at 2-0 down.
Getting Bevan on the ball more helped Dundee, but they could not recapture the attacking intent of their recent wins over Aberdeen and Dundee United.
The presence of injured captain Simon Murray in the stand illustrates the energy Dundee are missing in attack, and that is one area that Pressley said prior to the match he wants to address before Thursday’s transfer deadline – as well as central defence.
Another game at home, against Tayside rivals St Johnstone, beckons on Wednesday (19:45).