Hamilton Academical 1-4 Rangers
- Published
Defender Declan John scored a double as Rangers came from behind to beat Hamilton Academical in the Premiership.
Danny Redmond fired Accies ahead after a minute but John's brace and Daniel Candeias' drilled effort made it 3-1.
The visitors had Ryan Jack sent off for two bookings before Graham Dorrans extended their lead with a penalty after Alex Gogic fouled Jason Holt.
Accies' Rakish Bingham then had a penalty saved by Wes Foderingham after Ross McCrorie downed Botti Biabi.
The win takes Rangers into third spot in the table on goal difference, with 14 points from eight games. Hamilton remain in eighth place with seven points.
Much of the pre-match talk centred around Kenny Miller, or to be precise the absence of the experienced striker, after he was dropped from the Rangers first team by manager Pedro Caixinha.
There was also plenty of talk about the importance of this match for the Ibrox manager following last week's Old Firm defeat.
Hamilton Accies were looking to end a run of three successive Premiership defeats and they could not have hoped for a better start to the match.
Bingham wriggled away from Fabio Cardoso on the left side of the box and got a shot away, only for Foderingham to make a block. The hosts were quickest to react, however, and Redmond produced a composed finish to send his side ahead.
Rangers were rattled but on-loan Cardiff City left-back John, back in the side following an injury, came to their rescue.
After 21 minutes the Welshman raced at the Accies back line and as they backed off he cut in and unleashed a right-foot shot that beat Darren Jamieson and nestled in the bottom corner.
John made it 2-1 four minutes later after excellent link-up play with Josh Windass, but Jamieson should have done better at his near post.
Rangers had found a nice rhythm and after Alfredo Morelos had an effort well saved by Jamieson they added a third.
Dorrans' delightful lob over the Accies defence was perfect for Candeias, who rifled the ball beyond Jamieson from an angle.
Redmond and Louis Longridge passed up chances as Accies enjoyed a period of possession before half time.
The visitors thought they had scored a fourth when Carlos Pena finished at the back post, but referee Andrew Dallas rightly ruled it out as the Mexican had turned the ball in with his arm.
Midfielder Jack was sent off after his challenge on Greg Docherty earned him a second booking, but it was the visitors who were soon celebrating again.
Gogic's tug on substitute Holt earned the penalty award and Dorrans coolly clipped the ball home to make it 4-1.
Hamilton failed to take advantage of their extra man, with Biabi and Gogic passing up reasonable chances.
They had a gilt-edged opportunity on 71 minutes after McCrorie brought down Biabi, but Foderingham was equal to Bingham's spot-kick.
The visiting keeper was in good form and with time running out he made an excellent stop to deny Steven Boyd.
Accies had the chances to make the game a lot closer but it was exactly the result Rangers and their manager craved.
- Published29 September 2017
- Published28 September 2017
- Published28 September 2017