Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
ACCIES GET DUMPED BY FIERY GERS
RANGERS finally found their shooting boots without the suspended Alfredo Morelos as a first-half rout helped them to a 5-0 Premiership victory at Hamilton.
Steven Gerrard’s side had not won any of the five previous matches which Morelos missed through suspension this season and drew a blank in the first two games of his current three-match ban.
But goals from Ryan Jack, Jermain Defoe and Scott Arfield plus James Tavernier’s penalty made the second half a formality at the Hope Stadium.
Substitute Kyle Lafferty added a fifth in the 88th minute.
Gary Woods made a good early stop but Accies left themselves far too open and Rangers scored twice in 60 seconds to set up a comfortable afternoon.
Jack was allowed all the time and space he needed after receiving Ryan Kent’s pass 25 yards out to curl into the far corner in the 16th minute and Defoe then converted a free header from close range after being picked out by Daniel Candeias.
It was soon game over as Arfield made it three goals in eight minutes when he steered the ball into the top corner.
Rangers got their fourth in the 43rd minute after Ziggy Gordon went in late on Kent as the winger cut the ball back. Referee Nick Walsh pointed to the spot and Tavernier sent Woods the wrong way.
Lafferty came close on a number of occasions before slotting home a square pass from Candeias.