Rangers 7 Accies 1

Accies slipped back to the foot of the league on Saturday when they were hammered 7-1 by Rangers at Ibrox. James McArthur got Accies off to a great start after just a couple of minutes with a fine goal, but that was as good as it got for Accies on a dismal day that featured a red card for Martin Canning and a hat trick for Kris Boyd. Tomas Cerny conceded 7 goals but had a fine match in the Accies goal.

Rangers 7 Hamilton Accies 1

Ibrox Stadium, Glasgow

Saturday, 6th December 2008

Clydesdale Bank Scottish Premier League

There's no avoiding the obvious fact that Accies were outclassed by Rangers at Ibrox. Accies went to Ibrox and had a go, but ultimately that had no answer to the quality of the Rangers team, particularly up front where Kris Boyd and Kenny Miller tore the Accies defence apart. Billy Reid made just one change to the team that defeated Kilmarnock the previous week, with Joel Thomas replacing Richard Offiong, whose girlfriend was due to give birth.

Accies certainly stunned the big Ibrox support by grabbing a shock lead with less than 2 minutes on the clock. This goal came from an error by Rangers goalkeeper Alan McGregor, who flapped at a cross from Chris Swailes on the right. The ball fell kindly for James McArthur, who showed great composure in lobbing the ball over Madjid Bougherra on the line before celebrating in the eerie silence of Ibrox Stadium. It was a wonderful start for Accies but sadly this was to be the only highlight of the game for Accies.

Rangers were not slow in coming back into the game and Kenny Miller very nearly equalised a few minutes later when his powerful shot from outside the area was parried away by Tomas Cerny. It was a magnificent save, but unfortunately the ball was played back into the area and Kenny Miller lashed it low into the corner after another cross into the box hadn't been cleared properly. Accies weren't too disheartened by the loss of this goal and Joel Thomas came agonisingly close to restoring their lead when he made an excellent run into the area and rounded McGregor before Bougherra blocked his effort on goal. Thomas was Accies best attacker and he had another close thing when McGregor just beat him to the ball inside the area.

Rangers were dangerous every time they went forward, however and Kenny Miller almost put them in front when he stretched to reach a Beasley cross but could only put the ball wide. It seemed to be just a matter of time before another goal came along and it duly arrived after 28 minutes when Kris Boyd fired past Cerny after more good work by Kenny Miller. The Accies goal had a couple of close shaves in as many minutes, with Tomas Cerny saving a close range effort from Barry Ferguson and the crossbar stopping a piledriver from Kris Boyd after he beat the offside trap.

After Simon Mensing and Madjid Bougherra were cautioned for fouls, Chris Swailes nearly levelled the game but his powerful volley from 12 yards went just over the top. At the other end, Tomas Cerny made and excellent save from Kenny Miller after Brian Easton had given the ball away. so the home team led at the interval but Accies had contributed to an entertaining first 45 minutes.

Of course, the second period was to be a completely different story as Accies were steamrollered by a rampant Rangers side. The turning point of the match came after 52 minutes, when Martin Canning was adjudged to have impeded Kris Boyd inside the area. Referee Murray awarded the penalty and red carded Canning, his second ultimate punishment against an Old Firm team in recent weeks. Boyd lashed the spot kick past Cerny to end the game as a contest.

After this, the goals came thick and fast. First of all, a suspiciously offside looking Steve Davis squared the ball for Boyd to complete his hat trick. Just after this Rangers had two efforts headed off the line as they tried to increase their lead. Billy Reid then made an audacious triple substitution, with David Graham, Derek Lyle and James Gibson coming on for Trent McClenahan, James McCarthy and Joel Thomas. David Graham was prepared to try to run at the Rangers defence and he was to win Accies only corner kick of the game shortly afterwards. It was sent over to the back post but the Rangers goal wasn't seriously threatened.

Accies were now being stretched all over the place by the Rangers attacks and their fruitless attempts to attack Rangers created big gaps at the back. In one move, three Rangers players charged down the unprotected right hand side of the Accies midfield. Further goals were scored by Kyle Lafferty, Nacho Novo and Steven Davis and it was one of those matches where Rangers looked likely to score every time they went up the park. Many of their fans had left by this time; if Accies were scoring goals and winning well I know I would want to stay to the end.

So it was a painful afternoon for Accies on a day that started out so well. Clearly, it's hard to be positive after the team takes such a drubbing. Best in the hoops were Joel Thomas and especially Tomas Cerny, without whom it could easily have been 10. James McArthur deserves credit too for coming out to speak to the assembled press men after the game. That can't have been easy. Accies have now gone back to the foot of the table after St Mirren's win at Falkirk but the bottom of the league is still really tight.

We're far from down but the team will have to lift their spirits before the trip to Easter Road next week. The only good news is that, after 5 games against the Old Firm in the last 8 weeks, they now don't have to deal with them until the end of February.

Rangers: McGregor, Whittaker, Bougherra, Weir, Papac, Davis, Mendes, Ferguson, Beasley (Aaron 79), Boyd (Lafferty 76), Miller (Novo 67).

Subs Not Used: Alexander, Edu, Broadfoot, Little.

Booked: Bougherra.

Goals: Miller 11, Boyd 28, 52 pen, 62, Lafferty 80, Novo 88, Davis 90.

Hamilton: Cerny, Canning, Swailes, McLaughlin, Easton, McClenahan (Graham 71), McCarthy (Gibson 71), Neil, McArthur, Mensing, Thomas (Lyle 71).

Subs Not Used: Murdoch, Elebert, Akins, Ettien.

Sent Off: Canning (51). Booked: Mensing.

Goals: McArthur 2.

Att: 48,282

Ref: C Murray

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