Gerrard expected Rangers goalfest

win even more emphatically. It has been coming, we have threatened to do that. But the pleasing thing today was that we were very clinical.

“We suffocated Hamilton from start to finish, we stayed on them and never let them… we never took our foot off the gas and you could see the quality throughout the squad.

“I made five changes today, brought five subs on and it didn’t affect our level of performance. That is the most pleasing thing for me.

“Look, we are not at the stage yet where we can play with ego in any game or at any stage. We are trying to become a winning team, a successful team.

“We are in no position to disrespect any opponent or any team. It is about Rangers trying to be as strong for as long as we can and be as consistent as we can.”

After the rout, Brian Rice urged his Hamilton players to use Southampton as inspiration.

The embarrassing defeat leaves Accies bottom of the Premiership, a point behind St Mirren and 11 goals worse off having played a game more.

Rice will look to the way the English Saints responded from their 9- 0 drubbing by Leicester last year as he attempts to rebuild morale and confidence within a squad that were outplayed and out- fought at Ibrox.

“We’ve got to rally round,” Rice said. “It happens. We shouldn’t have lost three quick goals but it’s happening too often.

“Talking about it is dead easy. They’ve got to do it on the grass.

“Listen we are down there bottom of the league for a reason. There’s only one way we can go and that’s up. But you’ve got to want to go up and fight.

“I’ll take the blame for everything. I’ll hold my hands up. I’ll take it. I’ve got to get better and I’ve got to make sure they want to get better.

“It didn’t seem to affect Southampton. That’s what I’d say to the players. They lost 9- 0 to Leicester last season and this weekend were top of the English Premier League. So things can change quickly in football.

“But you’ve got to want to change. You’ve got to do the things right. Some players out there today were doing things that they wanted to do rather than what we wanted them to do.

“That will be addressed. Some people are in their shell. It’s intimidating coming here, even to an empty Ibrox. Take nothing away from Rangers – they were clinical. Every mistake we made they scored. That can happen here. We’re down but tomorrow is another day.”