Hamilton Academical 3-5 Rangers: Windass hits hat-trick

Aided and abetted by defensive deficiencies amid an eight-goal thriller, Rangers duo Josh Windass and Alfredo Morelos maintained their current striking form.

In this crazy victory at Hamilton, hat-trick hero Windass made it nine goals in his last five matches to take his tally for the season to 15.

A goal from striker Morelos made it seven in 11 for the Colombian and 16 in total for the campaign. 

Josh Windass scores his second goal of the game to put Rangers in control against Hamilton

Windass’ goal was the sixth and final one of a thrilling first 45 at The SuperSeal Stadium

It is an impressive combined 31-goal haul now for the attacking pair, who have a bet between them as to whom will finish the season as Rangers’ top scorer.

Yet, ever the hard task-master, Rangers manager Graeme Murty still wants more from Windass and Morelos and is in no doubt that their best form is yet to come.

‘That goals tally between them is a reflection of where Josh and Alfredo are currently,’ said the Ibrox boss. ‘Both should use it as a stepping stone to improve in all aspects. They are young, still maturing and there is still more to come from them.

‘So as happy as I am, they will get better and stronger. This is a lovely marker on their journey in the game but they will improve.

‘You see when Josh opens up and gallops into the final third that he’s hard to deal with. He times his runs well and he finishes well.

‘He needs to work on parts of his game but Josh has the qualities we require to get to where we want to be as a football club.

‘I was impressed by the way we cut Hamilton open today. When we gel together and click, we can be an attacking threat to anyone.

Alfredo Morelos celebrates after restoring Rangers’ lead to make it 3-2 on 27 minutes

David Templeton celebrates equalising for hosts with the fourth goal in opening 22 minutes

Windass finds the back of the net for his first despite the best efforts of Garry Woods

‘We are now showing a clinical nature to our game, and that’s why we need to take points when they are on offer.’

In an entertaining first half more akin to a basketball match, goals initially rained in every five-and-a-half minutes amid comical defending, woeful goalkeeping and scintillating attacking play.

Hamilton took an early lead when former Accies midfielder Greg Docherty swiped at a Ross Jenkins pass but missed. Lewis Ferguson set up Darren Lyon to curl the opening goal beyond Wes Foderingham and into the bottom corner.

Stung into action, Morelos headed a Docherty cross off the bar but Rangers were soon level.

Jamie Murphy finds the back of the net to bring Rangers level in the 10th minute

A move involving David Bates, Morelos and Daniel Candeias ended with Morelos powering to the byline and cutting the ball back for Jamie Murphy to clip home.

When Rangers subsequently took the lead, it was a disaster for Gary Woods.

Windass made himself space on the edge of the box and sent in a powerful drive straight at the Hamilton keeper.

The ball bounced off Woods and spun up over him. In a despairing effort to claw the ball away, he could only turn it up and into his own net.

Incredibly, though, Accies were soon level when Russell Martin’s poor clearance was headed back towards goal by Jenkins.

Former Ibrox winger David Templeton turned and cracked a low drive beyond Foderingham from 20 yards.

Kenny van der Weg, a recent signing for Accies from Ross County, was next to showcase how not to defend.

His woeful infield pass was intercepted by Docherty, who fed Morelos, who, in turn, played Murphy through on goal.

When his shot was saved by Woods, Murphy unselfishly squared for Morelos to find the empty net.

Windass then made it 4-2 when he swept the ball home from close range after a fine, flowing move.

Darren Lyon wheels away from his team-mates after putting Hamilton ahead in the fifth minute

In the second half, Docherty hit the bar before Windass squandered the chance for a hat-trick when put clean through by Candeias, shooting straight at Woods.

But the outstanding Englishman grabbed a deserved treble when Morelos raced down the right then put the ball on a plate 12 yards out.

A wacky game was competed when Ibrox defender Martin handled in the box and gave away a penalty.

Substitute Dougie Imrie cracked the spot-kick high into the net for the eighth and final goal.

‘I would have enjoyed this game if I was a neutral,’ added Murty. ‘There were good goals and some fantastic creativity on display.

‘But we were too slack and lax in the first half. I said to the players at half-time that there were more goals in the game for them. But I also said there were more goals in the game for Hamilton, unless we tightened up and sharpened up.

‘I told the players they had been handed a chance to go second and they couldn’t turn it down.

‘It was vital we backed up what happened to Aberdeen with a good result. We managed to do that and hopefully we can keep pushing.

‘We don’t want second at this stage of the season to be the highlight of our careers.’