Hamilton Academical 1 - 3 Rangers

Hamilton 1-3 Rangers

Updated: October 25, 2008, 2:59 PM UK

Kris Boyd answered his critics the only way he knows how by grabbing a double against Hamilton to claim a 3-1 victory for Rangers in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League.

Accies threatened to spring a surprise when Brian Easton opened the scoring for the home side but two goals from Boyd hauled Rangers back into the game before Nacho Novo wrapped up the win.

It was the first game since Boyd's controversial decision to quit playing for Scotland while George Burley remains at the helm, and Novo's even more surprising revelation that he would probably be willing to switch allegience from Spain.

Boyd claimed he was never given a chance by Burley but, with six goals now this season, he was given a chance by Rangers boss Walter Smith today, who drafted the striker into the starting line-up along with DaMarcus Beasley at the expense of Charlie Adam and Jean-Claude Darcheville.

Lee McCulloch, Steven Whittaker, Chris Burke and Steven Smith are all close to a first-team return after injury but none of them made the 18-man squad.

Both teams struggled to settle in the swirling conditions before a set-piece provided Rangers with the first real chance on goal when James Gibson fouled Kirk Broadfoot wide on the right.

Kevin Thomson saw his free-kick flash across the face of goal and wide of the upright with no-one able to get a touch and direct the ball into the back of the net.

The midfielder then delivered a teasing corner into the box and this time Broadfoot did make contact but his header was narrowly off-target from 10 yards.

Rangers had the best of the opening spell and were threatening again when Martin Canning hauled down Boyd just outside the area. The striker had a crack at goal himself but his low effort trundled past the post.

Only the woodwork prevented Accies from taking the lead after 24 minutes when an Alex Neil corner found Simon Mensing whose header crashed off the crossbar from just a few yards out.

Two minutes later, the home side were ahead anyway.

Madjid Bougherra fouled Gibson out on the left and Neil delivered the free-kick beyond a packed box where Easton was waiting at the far post to nod home, despite Bougherra's best attempts to clear on the line.

Rangers were back on level terms three minutes before the break when Trent McClenahan was deemed to have pushed Kenny Miller in the box and Boyd stepped up to confidently rifle home the resulting spot-kick.

Rangers were clearly boosted by their goal before the break and headed into the second half with renewed confidence, taking the lead just five minutes after the restart.

Steven Davis was the provider with a driven cross which was met by the head of Boyd who flicked home from six yards. A hint of offside perhaps explained his cautious celebrations but the goal was given.

Boyd then squandered two opportunities to claim his hat-trick and end any hope of a Hamilton comeback.

He saw a shot from the edge of the area tipped just wide by goalkeeper Tomas Cerny, before nodding narrowly past the post from the resultant corner.

Instead, it was substitute Nacho Novo who wrapped up the points with 10 minutes to go - and five minutes after replacing Beasley - when he took advantage of an error by Canning in the middle of the park before racing into the box and slotting home.