Today Rangers host Hamilton at Ibrox in the SPFL. In a game that will mean a lot for the rest of the season. Rangers look to go further ahead at the top of the table as they push towards their 55th league title.
Hamilton look to move away from the bottom of the table as they attempt to survive another season in the top flight of Scottish football.
Rangers come into this one unbeaten since the start of the season. They had a tough midweek fixture against Benfica which ended in a 3-3 draw. A win here will take them nine points clear at the top of the table.
Hamilton are yet to get a win this season and have struggled in their first 11 games. Their last fixture was a 4-2 defeat away to Aberdeen. They do have a shining light however scoring the fourth-most goals in the league this season.
Starting Lineups
Before the game kicks off there is a two-minute silence in order to remember those who lost their lives in battle. The captains of each side place a reef in the centre circle for Remembrance Day.
Embed from Getty Images Embed from Getty ImagesKick Off – Hamilton get the game underway.
1″ James Tavernier with a good run down the right-hand side. He puts the ball into the box and it is cleared away for a Rangers corner.
2″ Two dangerous Rangers corners. The first makes its way to Borna Barisic who puts the ball in. Cleared out for a second corner. The second goes right over the top however so no threat to Hamilton.
Rangers look dangerous from set-pieces and put in many dangerous crosses from the wings. Tavernier and Barisic see lots of the ball and often put dangerous crosses in. They are bound to create a lot of chances in this one.
8″ A stunning long ball from Connor Goldson finds Ryan Kent who gets in behind. A slightly poor touch means the ball runs off and the shot is scuffed. A good chance for Rangers who are already looking dangerous
12″ Good shot from outside the box from Tavernier. It tests Ryan Fulton who makes a good save
13″ Jermain Defoe has his first attempt of the game from outside the box. Fired just wide.
Defoe will get plenty of game time this season in the SPFL I’m sure. Especially after being left out of the Europa League squad. He will be in confidence as well having scored his 300th career goal against Livingston a few weeks ago.
15″ GOAL! Rangers 1-0 Hamilton. Scott Arfield puts Rangers into the lead. Hamilton have a bit of a mishap with a lack of communication costing them. Defoe won the ball and picked out Kent who made a good run. Kent had options and picked out Arfield arriving to put the ball in the back of the net.
17″ GOAL! Rangers 2-0 Hamilton. Rangers with a brilliant goal. Tavernier with a terrific cross into the box and Kemar Roofe leaps above the rest to put his header into the back of the net. Second goal in quick succession. Roofe scoring his fourth Rangers goal since signing in the summer.
19″ GOAL! Rangers 3-0 Hamilton. Rangers with yet another goal. The third goal in a matter of minutes. Arfield finds Joe Aribo whose shot is slightly blocked but finds the back of the net nonetheless.
22″ First yellow card of the game goes to David Moyo. I would expect more with Hamilton being the team who have picked up the most yellows in the league this season
25″ Ross Callachan picks up his fifth yellow card of the season. His next yellow card in any fixture will mean a ban so he will need to be careful.
27″ Good chance for Rangers. Ryan Jack finds a nice pass to Kent who has a good effort. It was hit low and hard to force a decent save from Fulton in goal.
30 minutes in now and Rangers appear dominant. Steven Gerrard is on the touchline signalling for more, surely showing Rangers won’t look to slow down. Their biggest victory so far this season was a 4-0 win vs Dundee United. Hamilton have scored nine goals so far this season but have failed to create anything so far in this game.
33″ Chance after chance for Rangers. Kent finds Roofe who has a good effort blocked. It falls for Barisic who’s volley is just wide.
35″ GOAL! Rangers 4-0 Hamilton. Tavernier puts a threatening ball in which just misses everyone. Roofe recovers the ball and finds Aribo yet again who puts it in the back of the net. Another big deflection but Rangers won’t care as they go further in front. Could end up with a cricket score in this one.
Embed from Getty Images39″ First effort for Hamilton after they win a free-kick. It is easily claimed by Jon McLaughlin in goal though.
45″ Lovely bit of play once again from Rangers as the ball is sprayed around. It eventually comes to Arfield who’s touch was poor but got the shot away. Good save from Fulton.
HALF TIME – Rangers 4-0 Hamilton
A perfect first half from Rangers who have absolutely dominated the opening 45. Three goals in five minutes and then a fourth from Aribo, later on, has emphasised the perfect Rangers performance.
Hamilton must be frustrated with this one, not being able to get on the ball or create many chances at all. They are going to struggle in the second half but they do score goals so if there is any hope for them going after the break they will need to dig deep to get it.
Just before the half kicks off Rangers make changes. Bongani Zungu makes his debut off the bench.
45″ Rangers get the second half underway.
46″ Zungu already been on the ball a few times and picking out some great passes. Not quite getting to any dangerous chances though but definitely testing the Hamilton backline.
49″ Huge chance for Rangers to increase their lead. Goldson picked out a nice little flick over the top to Tavernier who’s shot is saved well.
53″ GOAL! Rangers 5-0 Hamilton. Yet another Rangers goal. Kent lifts a brilliant pass towards Defoe. His chance strikes the post and falls at the feet of Roofe who slots it in for his second of the game.
Embed from Getty Images53″ This is the first time in almost a year that Rangers have scored five-plus goals. Last time they did so was against Hearts in December 2019. They certainly aren’t looking as though they will stop or slow down.
60″ We hit the hour mark and this game has been all Rangers. Hamilton can’t get into the game at all. They do score goals but having not created any real significant chances it’s looking less and less likely. Rangers dominant!
61″ GOAL! Rangers 6-0 Hamilton. This is ruthless from Rangers. Nice play to get up the field again. The final pass from Defoe finds goalscorer Brandon Barker who makes an impact off the bench.
Embed from Getty Images63″ Penalty Rangers! Goldson picks out Defoe with a great pass. Defoe goes down and gets a penalty.
64″ GOAL! Rangers 7-0 Hamilton. Tavernier steps up and scores from the penalty spot yet again. His seventh goal in the league and yet another goal from the penalty spot. His 11th for Rangers as a whole this season. It takes him to second in the goal-scoring list impressive from a full back.
68″ GOAL! Rangers 8-0 Hamilton. Tavernier gets another goal for his personal tally and for Rangers. The counter-attack started with Tavernier clearing the ball out of the Hamilton box. The ball gets up the pitch. Roofe hits it and it is well saved but Tavernier scores the rebound from close range. He is now joint top goalscorer in the league.
Embed from Getty Images69″ 1981 was the last time Rangers scored eight in the top flight of Scottish football vs Kilmarnock. This performance is incredible and just emphasises their right to top spot. Long way to go in the season yet but definitely a case of Rangers playing at their finest.
74″ Tavernier is standing on the side of the pitch asking the team for more. Rangers really don’t want to be slowing down any time soon in this one. Hamilton definitely look beaten even without the scoreline being so emphatic.
76″ Rangers coming close again. Ianis Hagi finds Arfield who plays it into the box. Roofe played it round trying to get his hat-trick. He lost the ball and it fell for Defoe who hits the post again.
80″ Hamilton now seeing the most of the ball they have had all game but still unable to create chances. They will be very disappointed with this performance. Especially in the fight to survive in the division.
85″ The game has slowed down these last 10 minutes. Rangers trying to just hold it for the points which they were guaranteed a long time ago.
86″ Calvin Bassey picks up the ball on the wing and whips in a stunning cross. Tavernier was arriving but his chance goes over the top. He is clearly annoyed with himself. Can’t get the hat-trick quite yet.
Embed from Getty Images88″ Roofe has another attempt from outside the box and it drags well wide. Despite that Roofe has played outstanding in this one getting two goals and creating lots of chances. Giving Alfredo Morelos a run for his money in the fight for the attacking position.
90+2″ Zungu picks a great pass yet again but the cross from Bassey defended well.
FULL TIME! Rangers 8-0 Hamilton. What a game for Rangers. As for Hamilton, it is very disappointing. Four goals in each half and just an overall dominating performance means that Rangers glide past Hamilton and go nine points clear at the top of the table yet again. Hamilton looking more and more in trouble at the bottom of the table and still unable to register a win. Rangers cruise past Hamilton and continue their hot run of form with this ruthless performance.
Embed from Getty ImagesFor more Overtime sport content click here and for more football content click here.
