Rangers fans will have always expected to see off Hamilton on Saturday but regardless, their 4-0 win represents a fine start to the Pedro Caixinha era at Ibrox.
Capitalising on the recent good feeling around the club, Caixinha’s team demolished their visitors and never looked like losing across the 90 minutes.
They are now unbeaten in four matches and are in good shape ahead of an international break that will give the new boss a lot more time on the training pitch to effect change in his team.
With a lot of work to do if they’re to catch Aberdeen in second, there’s no room for complacency after a comprehensive win like this.
What did the win tell us about Caixinha’s reign and what does it mean for Hamilton?
These are the FIVE things we learned from the 90 minutes…
Clint Hill is a goal machine
With six goals so far this season, Clint Hill is proving to be an unlikely source of goals for Rangers this season. Incredibly, three of those have come in his last three matches.
He netted against Hamilton two weeks ago, famously against Celtic last weekend and again on Saturday got himself on the end of a delivery to stick it in the net.
At 38 years old, he’s a great shout to win the club’s Player of the Year award, performing to a fairly consistent level across the campaign, putting in some big performances when needed and generally being a character that adds a real steely determination to the side.
Hats off to Hill!
Rangers’ loan heroes have real quality
The additions of Emerson Hyndman and Jon Toral have really added a quality to the Rangers midfield that was missing prior to January. The two loanees look very capable of forging a fantastic career for themselves and were both instrumental in today’s victory with Hyndman knocking in the opener and Toral setting up the aforementioned Clint Hill with a fine assist.
While there’s an inevitability about both returning to their parent clubs this summer, supporters must be hoping that the club are at least exploring options regarding their future, even if on a full season’s loan deal in 2017/18.
Tavernier could shine under Caixinha
James Tavernier’s second season at Ibrox has been a topsy-turvy one, at times looking like the player they need down the right flank and at other times looking like an ill-disciplined, naive defender.
It was the former on display against Hamilton as he set-up Emerson Hyndman to get the Gers in front.
Under Pedro Caixinha’s system, the best may be brought out of Tavernier with the Portuguese manager favouring high pressing and forward thinking full-backs in his side.
It may all come down to whether a midfield can be assembled to cover for his position when he forays forward. It’s been clear so far this season that his area of the pitch can be badly exposed. If Caixinha can find the solution to that problem, then there’s undoubtedly a future for the defender at Ibrox.
Aggressive? Check. Attacking? Check.
Pedro Caixinha noted in his pre-match press conference that he wanted his side to perform in an aggressive and attacking manner. Job done on both counts in the first match.
Rangers didn’t give Hamilton much space on the ball at all and until they noticeably tired later in the game, were very pro-active in achieving their result.
That tiredness is to be expected when changing to such a system and the two weeks work ahead on the training pitch will do them the world of good in getting used to how Caixinha wants them to perform.
The early signs are positive and supporters can have little to complain about so far. It must be pleasing to see Caixinha’s words immediately transfer on to the pitch.
Hamilton are in free fall
Perhaps the only thing that could temper rampant positivity at Ibrox is the state that Hamilton are in right now. They’ve now conceded 14 goals in their last 3 matches and are sitting rock bottom of the Scottish Premiership.
They need to improve quickly if they’re to beat the drop but given they’ve scored just 2 league goals since the start of February, the signs aren’t looking good.
Martin Canning has had a difficult spell as boss and although they’ve produced some big results when required, has he taken them as far as he can?
On this form you get the impression they’d struggle even in the Scottish Championship and supporters must be fearful of the road ahead…
