The Rangers Football Club

Rangers claimed the first Old Firm derby honours of the season as Celtic old boy Kenny Miller’s first-half brace secured a 2-1 win at Ibrox.

Miller, who spent the 2006/07 season with Celtic, capitalised on poor defending to score twice inside the opening 16 minutes before Aiden McGeady pulled a goal back from the penalty spot.

The reigning champions could have fallen seven points behind their arch-rivals with a defeat on home soil, but enjoyed a dream start by taking the lead after just eight minutes.

Kris Boyd won the ball near the centre circle and his pass sent Miller clear between the Celtic centre-halves to roll his shot beyond Artur Boruc.

And eight minutes later Miller increased the Gers’ advantage as he spun Glenn Loovens and fired a left-footed shot past Boruc after the visiting defence had failed to deal with a long ball.

Celtic were back in the game on 25 minutes when debutant Zheng Zhi was brought down in the box by Sasa Papac and McGeady’s penalty just had enough on it to get past McGregor.

Shaun Maloney missed the Bhoys’ best chance of the second period before Nacho Novo was denied by Boruc when the Spaniard had the opportunity to kill the game off six minutes from time.

Unfamiliar side

Rangers boss Walter Smith was forced to name an unfamiliar side when Madjid Bougherra and Lee McCulloch were both ruled out with a flu bug and Papac was asked to deputise in the heart of defence with David Weir, while youngster Andrew Little was given his first taste of the famous fixture at full-back.

Kevin Thomson also missed out with a knee injury but Miller was able to start up front with Boyd despite fears over a persistent hamstring problem, which will require the attention of a specialist in Germany this week.

Celtic also shuffled their pack. Danny Fox and Barry Robson both picked up knocks in training, meaning a first domestic appearance of the season for Lee Naylor and a debut for new signing Zhi.

Little looked uncomfortable from the outset and allowed Maloney an early chance on goal but McGregor did well to block with his legs to keep the scoreline level in the opening minutes.

Instead, it was Rangers who surged into the lead with just eight minutes gone, taking advantage of shocking defending from Celtic.

Boyd slipped a pass through for Miller, who forced his way past Stephen McManus and Loovens, before dispatching past Boruc into the back of the net as Ibrox erupted.

Celtic then failed in their attempt to win a penalty when Maloney claimed he was fouled in the box by Weir, before picking up a yellow card for diving after going to ground again moments later.

Little had been shifted to centre-forward – the position he plays for Northern Ireland – but his Old Firm debut was over with just 14 minutes on the clock and Novo was thrown into the action.

Miller found the back of the net again two minutes later. This time, a Steven Whittaker ball intended for Boyd was missed by the striker and broke for Miller who shrugged off Loovens before sending a low shot past Boruc.

Dream start

The Scottish champions had enjoyed a dream start to the game but found themselves pegged back after 25 minutes when referee Craig Thomson eventually did point to the penalty spot.

It proved to be a memorable maiden outing for China captain Zhi as he was felled by Papac and McGeady stepped up to claim his first ever goal at Ibrox, despite the best efforts of McGregor, who managed to get a hand to the strike.

There was a further blow for Rangers just before half-time when Boyd was forced out of the action following a clash of heads with Landry N’Guemo, paving the way for Kyle Lafferty to make his first appearance for the club this season after a spell on the sidelines through suspension and injury.

Miller could have claimed his hat-trick shortly after the restart with a ferocious strike which flashed across the face of goal and past the post.

But Celtic also looked dangerous as they chased the equaliser and Scott McDonald tested McGregor with a point-blank shot, which was smothered by the Rangers goalkeeper.

Mark Wilson became the second Celtic player to be booked for simulation, before Maloney squandered a great opportunity to restore parity.

Substitute Pat McCourt’s cross found Wilson out on the right and he teed up the shot for Maloney but he rifled inches past the post when he looked certain to score.

At the other end, Whittaker picked out Novo at the back post with a long ball but he nodded past the upright amid claims of being pushed, before seeing his attempt to lob Boruc swatted out of the danger area by the Celtic goalkeeper.

Sevilla FC took command of UEFA Champions League Group G as four goals in 24 second-half minutes claimed a convincing away victory over Rangers FC in Glasgow.

Second-half goals
After an even first half, Abdoulay Konko broke the deadlock on 50 minutes. It opened the floodgates for the Spanish side with Adriano, Luis Fabiano and Frédéric Kanouté adding to the tally in a devastating spell on a return to the city where Sevilla retained the UEFA Cup in 2007. Rangers substitute Nacho Novo scored a rasping consolation on the 88th minute but it was all over by then.

Rangers change
Following three domestic games without a goal, Rangers manager Walter Smith sprang a surprise by opting for Steven Naismith over Kenny Miller as his lone striker and the Scottish international glanced a Steve Davis cross over early on. However, on a rain-slickened surface, Sevilla soon settled into their passing rhythm and carved open the home defence on 15 minutes. Allan McGregor came smartly off his line to block Kanouté’s goal-bound effort after a smart exchange with Jesús Navas.

Sustained pressure
Naismith was devoid of support but midway through the half Lee McCulloch latched on to a Julien Escudé clearance and unleashed a shot that rose just over Andrés Palop’s crossbar. This prompted a period of sustained pressure from the home side and moments later Kevin Thomson pulled a shot narrowly wide.

Navas close
As a more even contest flowed from end to end, next it was Sevilla’s turn and four minutes before the interval Adriano almost broke the deadlock. Dispossessing Madjid Bougherra on the edge of the box, he unleashed a powerful right-foot shot that McGregor could only parry to Navas. However, the follow-up was lifted over from close range.

Sevilla ahead
McCulloch, too, came close with a glancing header soon after the restart but it proved a false dawn and three minutes later Sevilla were ahead. This time it was Lolo’s set-piece delivery that caused the problems, finding Navas, and the winger expertly picked out Konko to rise unmarked and plant a firm header between McGregor and his near post.

Lead doubled
Back came Rangers and Steven Whittaker slid a teasing ball across the face of the Sevilla goal which just eluded Saša Papac before Thomson forced Palop to tip over from distance. Chasing an equaliser Rangers were now prone to Sevilla’s quick counters and the second goal duly arrived on 64 minutes. Once again Kanouté and Fabiano were the orchestrators, working a one-two before the Brazilian squared to where Adriano was waiting to stroke the ball in.

Further goals
It was now case of damage limitation for the Scottish champions but eight minutes later they were undone again when Fabiano turned in Kanouté’s cross. The Brazil striker swiftly returned the favour when he released Kanouté to put the result beyond doubt before Novo salvaged some pride for the home side with a rasping shot from the edge of the area.

A moment of inspiration from Rangers Algerian defender Madjid Bougherra left VfB Stuttgart disappointed as Rangers FC fought back to earn a deserved share of the UEFA Champions League spoils.

Emphatic equaliser
The hosts dominated the first half, deservedly took the lead through former FC Zenit St. Petersburg striker Pavel Pogrebnyak and looked to be cruising as the teams went in at the break. But a positive response from Rangers changed the complexion of the Group G opener, and after two warnings Bougherra restored parity 13 minutes from time when he advanced, played two clever one-twos with Jérôme Rothen and slammed the ball past Jens Lehmann. A disappointing night almost became much worse for Stuttgart in stoppage time when Steven Davis’ low drive clipped the outside of the post.

Pogrebnyak opener
The Bundesliga side’s early dominance paid dividends on 18 minutes when the industrious Cacau blocked Saša Papac’s attempted clearance before powering into the box and unselfishly laying the ball across to Pogrebnyak who made no mistake. The Russian international finished low past the helpless McGregor from ten metres. Stuttgart continued to pile on the pressure, and even when Rangers finally began to produce some attacking impetus towards the end of the first period, they struggled with their final ball.

Rangers reinvigorated
Walter Smith’s men started the second half with much more hunger and drive, almost snatching an equaliser within two minutes of the restart. Rothen found enough space on the right to deliver a dangerous cross which Papac, getting the wrong side of Christian Träsch after surging forward from left-back, got to first but his diving header flew well wide of Lehmann’s left-hand post. It was a stark warning for the German outfit but they did little to heed it, failing to turn their midfield supremacy into meaningful goalscoring opportunities.

Further warning
Rangers threatened again when new signing Rothen struck the upright with a miscued right-wing cross just after the hour; Stuttgart would not earn a third reprieve, from Bougherra. Rangers continued to press and twice went close late on. Steven Naismith dispossessed Arthur Boka in his own area only for Lehmann to smother the ball before he could release his shot. Davis then shaved a post with a driven left-foot strike, yet Stuttgart held on for the point and now turn their attentions to Romania’s FC Unirea Urziceni in two weeks’ time, when Rangers face a stiff test at home to Sevilla FC.

Motherwell’s Jim O’Brien missed a penalty and Rangers had Madjid Bougherra sent off in a storming finish to a goalless draw at Fir Park.

Kenny Miller blasted over from a good position, while keeper John Ruddy saved well from Bougherra as the SPL leaders had the better first-half chances.

Lukas Jutkiewicz was pulled down by Bougherra, who was sent off, only for Allan McGregor to save the penalty.

It meant that Rangers lost their 100% record for the season, while Motherwell extended their own unbeaten run.

The two sides fielded debutants in direct opposition, with Rangers’ wing recruit from Paris St Germain, Jerome Rothen, up against Yassin Moutaouakil, who is on loan from Charlton Athletic.

It meant Steven Naismith, who impressed for Scotland against the Netherlands, and Stephen Craigan, who played two games for Northern Ireland, were dropped to their respective benches.

Motherwell manager Jim Gannon explained that he had rested his veteran captain because of the rigours of playing two international matches in a week.

But Scotland veteran David Weir started for Rangers and it looked like it might be short-lived as he limped off after an early challenge only to return moments later.

It was a cagey start, with both sides determined to play a passing game, but it was Motherwell who threatened first when John Sutton, who had returned to the starting line-up, could not get enough purchase on a Ross Forbes cross to direct the ball on goal.

Rangers responded and goalkeeper Ruddy did well to clear before the onrushing Sasa Papac was able to connect with a Kris Boyd knockdown from a Miller cross to the back post.

Motherwell missed a chance to test goalkeeper McGregor when a Moutaouakil cross found Sutton unmarked 10 yards out, but the striker could not react quickly enough and the ball bounced off his chest and wide.

Rangers squandered an even better opportunity when the ball fell to Miller 16 yards from goal, but the striker who misfired for Scotland in midweek volleyed a foot over the crossbar.

Ruddy denied Rangers an opener on the stroke of half-time, blocked the ball on the line with his legs after Bougherra rose five yards out to meet a Steven Whittaker free-kick.

Home boss Gannon replaced Jamie Murphy with Steve Jennings at half-time and Well threatened immediately, with McGregor beating away a Stevie Hammill cross that looked like it might creep in at the front post.

The ineffectual Rothen and Miller were soon introduced by Rangers manager Walter Smith, who brought on Naismith and Nacho Novo in an attempt to introduce a greater goal threat.

Naismith was immediately involved in a goalmouth scramble during which Steven Davis twice had stabbed attempts blocked by the defence.

Novo combined with his fellow substitute before the Spaniard forced a parried save from Ruddy following a low drive from the edge of the box.

A superb cross from Moutaouakil found Giles Cope 10 yards out, but the midfielder’s header drifted over.

Motherwell had a chance to break the deadlock on the break after 84 minutes, but Tom Hateley blasted over from 18 yards after doing well to create himself some space.

Jutkiewicz, who had replaced Sutton, gave Well a great chance to win the game when he was tripped by Bougherra inside the box.

The Rangers defender was shown two second yellow cards for his protests, but McGregor threw himself superbly to parry clear O’Brien’s spot kick before both sides settled for a point that was fair on the balance of play.

Rangers manager Walter Smith:

“Performance-wise, it was not our best. The result, over all, with Allan McGregor saving a penalty, was a decent one for us.

“From our own point of view, we are just a little bit disappointed with the way that we played, but we can’t complain about the result.

“Madjid Bougherra made an effort to make a challenge. If he made contact then it’s a penalty. If he didn’t, which he says he didn’t, it’s left to the referee.

“He was maybe a little bit over the top, but if he felt he made contact he is maybe a bit justified.”

Rangers	4 – 1	Hamilton	FT
(HT 2 – 0)
Whittaker 19 Boyd 27 Boyd 65 Whittaker 67		McLaughlin 87

Two goals each from Steven Whittaker and Kris Boyd gave Rangers a comfortable win over Hamilton at Ibrox.

Whittaker slammed home the opener on 19 minutes and Boyd’s simple header doubled Rangers’ lead before half-time.

Derek Lyle’s free-kick almost pulled one back for Hamilton before Boyd turned in Rangers’ third.

A curling strike by Whittaker on 67 minutes put the home side further ahead only for Mark McLaughlin to head a late consolation for Hamilton.

Hamilton, who included debutants Gary Mason and Kevin Welsh in their starting line-up, were caught out by a long ball over the top by Pedro Mendes as Steven Davis got beyond the Accies defence early on.

The Northern Ireland midfielder controlled the ball and had his first shot blocked by goalkeeper Tomas Cerny before eventually firing the rebound into the side netting.

Davis drew another save from Cerny before creating the opening goal.

Whittaker raced onto the low through ball in behind Luis Rubiales and confidently slotted past Cerny.

Minutes later, Lee McCulloch wanted too much time to control a chipped free-kick by Mendes, allowing Martin Canning to clear deep inside the penalty area.

Rangers extended their lead when Sasa Papac’s cross was deflected high into the air and Boyd hovered at the back-post to nod into the far corner of the net.

Hamilton continued to come under pressure from a determined Rangers attack and McLaughlin was adjudged to have won the ball when Kenny Miller went down in the box shortly before the forward fired over from a promising position.

The hosts started the second half as they had finished the first and Madjid Bougherra blazed over at the back post after deftly controlling Miller’s cross.

Hamilton won a disputed free-kick on the edge of the Rangers box following Bougherra’s challenge on Rubiales and Derek Lyle forced Allan McGregor to turn the ball away with fierce near-post drive.

Accies continued to try and carve a way back into the match and James McArthur’s driven cross was clawed away by McGregor, who then tipped the ball beyond the reach of substitute Leon Knight.

But Rangers put the result beyond doubt in the 65th minute when Naismith received Davis’ intelligent pass and cut back for Boyd to stroke into the empty net.

Whittaker then grabbed his second when he played a one-two with Davis and sent a delicate left-foot shot past Cerny from the edge of the box.

Mendes, who was making his first appearance of the season following injury, saw a goal-bound shot tipped away by Cerny before Gregg Wylde was given his Rangers debut as a replacement for Miller.

Knight won a corner for Hamilton after a poor pass-back by Weir and Rubiales crossed for McLaughlin to tower above the Rangers defence and bullet a header in off the crossbar in the closing minutes.

Walter Smith:

“It was always going to be an awkward game, Hamilton set out their stall to keep a few men behind the ball and make it awkward for us.

“We missed a few opportunities in the early part of the game where we might have got a couple of early goals. When it did come, it was a good finish by Steven Whittaker and it was a good header by Kris Boyd to put us two-nil up at half-time.

“In the second half, we struggled a little bit at the start to make any opportunities and then eventually got a couple of other goals to seal the game.

“Steven Davis played exceptionally well today. He has done consistently over the time that he’s been here.

“It was a little bit of slackness all round at the Hamilton goal. A set piece, as I keep warning everybody here, offers the opposition as good an opportunity as they’re likely to get all afternoon and that was the case with Hamilton and they took advantage of that.”

Kris Boyd’s injury-time penalty secured victory for 10-man Rangers in an explosive Scottish Premier League encounter at Tynecastle.

Rangers midfielder Kevin Thomson was sent off for a lunge on Ian Black.
And Hearts took the lead on 31 minutes when David Witteveen’s shot squirmed through Allan McGregor’s grasp.
Lee McCulloch’s header restored parity and substitute Boyd scored the winner after Ismael Bouzid was adjudged to have fouled Steven Naismith in the box.
Following their bruising Europa League defeat by Dinamo Zagreb, Hearts manager Csaba Laszlo freshened up his side, with goalkeeper Janos Balogh coming in for Marian Kello.

Black and Witteveen came in for the suspended Michael Stewart and Marius Zaliukas.
The game erupted within two minutes when Suso and Kenny Miller clashed after the Hearts winger’s crunching challenge on the touchline.
Referee Craig Thomson booked both players as he attempted to keep a lid on the ill-tempered start to proceedings.
Rangers midfielder Thomson was making his first competitive start since November after recovering from a serious knee injury.
But his return to action descended into a nightmare when he was red-carded in the 13th minute following a dangerous lunge on Black.
Hearts pressed to make their numerical advantage count, but the sending off appeared to disturb the rhythm of both sides.

The visitors appealed in vain for a penalty in the 19th minute when Miller tumbled under Jose Goncalves’s clumsy challenge.
Suso struck the post after 24 minutes when Witteveen pinched the ball from Madjid Bougherra and the winger’s shot came back off the woodwork and bounced to safety.
Hearts took the lead eight minutes later with a goal that McGregor will not want to see again.

Kevin Thomson saw red for a lunge on Ian Black
Christian Nade’s pass found Witteveen and his fairly tame effort squirmed through McGregor’s grasp and trickled over the line.
Laszlo shuffled his pack after the goal, with Nade, who had earlier been booked, being withdrawn for Gary Glen.
Sasa Papac conceded a foul on the edge of the penalty area for a foul on Suso, but David Obua failed to profit from the resulting free-kick.
Hearts looked to have doubled their lead in 47 minutes when Witteveen chased down Balogh’s long ball, but the ball came off Bougherra and slipped past the post.
From the resulting corner McGregor brilliantly tipped Goncalves’s header onto the bar and the visitors cleared the danger.
David Weir’s header then sped past Balogh’s left-hand post from Steven Smith’s excellent cross as Rangers tried to force their way back into the game.
Witteveen spurned a great opportunity to double the hosts’ lead with half an hour remaining when he failed to find the unmarked Glen on the edge of the penalty area.
And McCulloch made Hearts pay for their profligacy when he headed Smith’s free-kick past the helpless Balogh.
The equaliser galvanised the visitors, with Smith, Davis and Naismith became more influential as Hearts seemed to panic with the ball and regularly surrender possession.
Suso stung McGregor’s palms with a thunderous shot four minutes from time, as Hearts were left to rue a host of missed opportunities.
Boyd then broke Hearts when he scored from the spot after Bouzid’s reckless challenge on Naismith, as Rangers stretched their unbeaten league run to 12 games.
Hearts manager Csaba Laszlo:
“We played some good football and had some good chances. I have my opinion about the penalty, but the referee gave it and I cannot do anything about it.

“This was a better game than what we showed against Zagreb, but if you have so many young players then you lose a lot of the ball.
“But we were unlucky and we lose the three points. We made too many mistakes in midfield.
“I was forced to save Christian Nade after his yellow card. We had discipline and didn’t make any big fouls.
“But up front we have a big problem.”
Rangers manager Walter Smith:
“I don’t think it was a sending off, but it was an opportunity for the referee to send him off.
“I thought it It looked far worse than it actually was. “I don’t think there was any great contact made and obviously if there had been, the player would never have been able to continue in the manner he did do for the rest of the game.
“In the second half we played better, we imposed ourselves on the game.
“Sometimes when you’ve got 10 men you can play between the opposition a bit better strangely enough. “At the time we took the lead I felt we deserved it for what we had put in to the game in the second half.”

Rangers survived a spirited second-half display by hosts St Mirren to record an important Scottish Premier League victory in Paisley.

Kris Boyd opened the scoring after 12 minutes, slamming the ball into the net at the end of a superb passing move.

Maurice Edu headed his first Rangers goal seven minutes later from a corner.

Andy Dorman pulled one back for St Mirren 11 minutes into the second half and Rangers had to defend stoutly to ensure victory.

The result means Rangers remain three points behind SPL leaders Celtic, while St Mirren are still second-bottom, three points above Falkirk.

Both sides had injury scares in the opening minutes with Rangers’ DaMarcus Beasley and St Mirren’s Gary Mason requiring treatment for head knocks.

Beasley, a surprise inclusion for the visitors, hit the deck again after being caught by the outstretched foot of John Potter and the American briefly left the field before playing a part in the opening goal.

The winger combined with Pedro Mendes to release Sasa Papac on the left and the Bosnian’s crisp cutback was despatched into the net by Boyd.

Nacho Novo was then introduced as a substitute for the limping Beasley.

Rangers missed an excellent chance to double their tally in the 17th minute when goalkeeper Mark Howard flapped Madjid Bougherra’s cross and Novo laid the ball back to Boyd, who dragged his shot wide of the gaping goal.

But it was not long until the visitors found the net again as Mendes’ inswinging corner was bulleted past Howard by Edu.

A late challenge by St Mirren’s Craig Dargo on Papac led to another enforced substitution for Rangers, with Christian Dailly introduced from the bench.

St Mirren began to pressurise Rangers with a series of corners, but some stubborn defending frustrated the hosts before Boyd’s header from a Steven Davis cross was held by Howard shortly before the interval.

Boyd claimed for a penalty early in the second half after his header appeared to strike the arm of Potter before Dargo’s dipping volley was collected by keeper Neil Alexander.

Another incisive Mendes pass set Boyd through on goal and the striker’s first-team shot was claimed by Howard at the second attempt.

The Buddies halved Rangers’ lead when Dorman latched on to Dargo’s weighted pass and side-footed into the net via Alexander’s left-hand post.

That goal revitalised St Mirren and Rangers found themselves under increasing pressure from set plays.

Novo could have relieved the pressure on his team-mates when he raced on to Boyd’s through ball, but the Spaniard’s low drive was powerfully blocked by the advancing Howard.

St Mirren continued to be the more enterprising side but could not unlock the Rangers back four in the closing stages.

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St Mirren manager Gus MacPherson: 
“If you give a team with the strength of Rangers a two-goal start, it’s always going to be an uphill task.

 

“But we made a go of it in the second half and I was proud of the players.

“In the past, we’ve collapsed after losing early goals, but we played with urgency and a good tempo.”

Rangers manager Walter Smith: 
“We managed to get ourselves 2-0 in front and then missed out on a win against Hearts the other week and I felt we were going to do that again.

“But fortunately we managed to hold on after a terrific first half of the match.

“St Mirren became very direct in the second half, they played the ball forward really early and got plenty of players up behind it. That increased the tempo.

“They had a lot of territorial pressure in the first 20-25 minutes of the second half and managed to get the one goal, which was actually an error from ourselves.

“We’re delighted to get three points. When we look at the last two games that we’ve had, Falkirk and St Mirren are both fighting relegation, so they’re not going to be easy teams to play against and I think we’re the first team to win at the new St Mirren Park.

“We just have to keep winning, that will be the main thing in the end.”

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St Mirren: Howard, Ross, Potter (Haining 90), Cuthbert, Camara, Thomson, Dorman, Mason (Hamilton 85), McGinn, Dargo, Mehmet. 
Subs Not Used: Mathers, Brady, Barron, McAusland, Quinn.

 

Booked: Camara, Ross.

Goals: Dorman 56.

Rangers: Alexander, Whittaker, Bougherra, Weir, Papac (Dailly 36), Davis, Edu, Mendes, Naismith, Boyd, Beasley (Novo 15), Novo (Velicka 90). 
Subs Not Used: Graeme Smith, Niguez, Lennon, Fleck.

Booked: Bougherra, Boyd.

Goals: Boyd 12, Edu 19.

Att: 6,231

Ref: E Smith

Trophy holders Rangers eased into the semi-finals of the Scottish Cup with a comfortable victory over Hamilton.

Steven Whittaker opened the scoring with a fine run and shot, only for Rocco Quinn’s strike to level matters.

Kyle Lafferty slotted in a cool, close-range finish and Aaron Niguez converted a retaken penalty before half-time.

Steve Davis evaded a number of weak challenges before picking his spot with aplomb and Lafferty finished off a neat passing move for the fifth goal.

The Ibrox side turned in a dominant display after their surprise midweek defeat to Inverness and their cause was aided by a series of injuries picked up by the visitors, who played out most of the second half with 10 men.

Rangers made a menacing start, with striker Kenny Miller looking sprightly, while Hamilton were forced into an early change as full-back Brian Easton limped off after eight minutes.

The visitors were still readjusting their formation when they fell behind to an outstanding solo goal from Whittaker.

The former Hibs defender cut in from the right flank and danced past two challenges before drilling a low shot in at Cerny’s near post.

Hamilton had shown little attacking intent but found themselves level on 26 minutes, when Gers keeper Allan McGregor failed to collect a cross from James McCarthy in a congested penalty box and Quinn drove the loose ball into the net from 14 yards.

However, the Accies joy was short-lived and Rangers restored their lead nine minutes later.

Whittaker whipped in a cross which was deftly knocked into the path of Lafferty by Miller and the Northern Ireland striker showed a fine touch to round Cerny and slot home.

Hamilton had to reshuffle once again as Mark McLaughlin was forced out of the action with a head knock and replaced by Chris Swailes, who immediately conceded a penalty by chopping Miller down.

Aaron stepped up and saw his effort blocked by Cerny but referee Iain Brines ordered the penalty to be retaken on the advice of the linesman watching the goal-line and the Spaniard converted his second attempt from the spot.

Hamilton used their third and final substitute at the interval; forward Derek Lyle replacing defender David Elebert.

But any chance of a dramatic comeback was quickly snuffed out when Davis waltzed past a number of static opponents to slide a composed finish beyond Cerny.

And there was a further blow for Accies manager Billy Reid, since his team were soon depleted after an injury to striker Richard Offiong.

Rangers were content to knock the ball around in a leisurely manner and were almost caught out by McCarthy but the teenager’s promising thrust from midfield was brought to a halt by David Weir and Madjid Bougherra on the edge of the penalty box.

Quinn squandered a great chance to double his tally, toe-poking a shot on the stretch straight at McGregor and the home keeper was alert to clutch Paul McGowan’s attempted lob from the rebound.

A slick passing move led to Rangers’ fifth goal on 81 minutes, with Barry Ferguson and Whittaker combining expertly to set up Lafferty, who slipped a low shot under Cerny from 10 yards.

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Rangers assistant manager Ally McCoist:
“I felt the most important period of the entire game would be the first ten minutes of the second half.

“Thankfully, we got the fourth goal, which effectively killed the game. 

“You’d need to be a cruel man not to feel something for Accies today. They have been a credit to their manager and their coaching staff. I’m sure they’ll bounce back.

“I hope the injuries aren’t long-term and that they can get their boys back. They don’t have the biggest squad in the world. So far in the league campaign they have been fantastic and good luck to them.”I’d like to have seen Aaron Niguez get on the ball a bit more, be a bit quicker.

“I’m delighted for (Steven) Whittaker, I thought he performed well. (Kyle) Lafferty got another two goals and it was good to have Pedro (Mendes) back as well.”

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Hamilton manager Billy Reid:
“It was one of those days, we were never going to win the game – nothing went right from us, right from the off.

 

“We’re under pressure with injuries at the moment, so we were forced into four changes and played with 10 men for the last 30 minutes.

“But I have no complaints. Even with 10 men we tried to get on the ball and pass it.

“It ask the guys to take responsibility, and they do it in abundance.

“But I have to say Rangers deserved to win, it was one of those days when nothing went right for us.”

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Rangers: McGregor, Whittaker, Bougherra (Edu 72), Weir, Papac, Davis, Mendes (McCulloch 61), Ferguson, Niguez, Lafferty, Miller (Boyd 65). Subs Not Used: Alexander, Beasley.

 

Booked: Papac.

Goals: Whittaker 15, Lafferty 35, Niguez 45 pen, Davis 53, Lafferty 81.

Hamilton: Cerny, Elebert (Lyle 46), McLaughlin (Swailes 43), Gibson, Quinn, Mensing, Neil, Easton (Evans 7), McGowan, Offiong, McCarthy. Subs Not Used: Murdoch, Deuchar.

Booked: Swailes.

Goal: Quinn 26.

Att: 27,588

Ref: I Brines