Rangers 5 - 0 Inverness Caledonian Thistle

Rangers 5-0 Inverness CT

Updated: November 1, 2008, 5:17 PM UK

Barry Ferguson finally made his long-awaited comeback - but his return was overshadowed as Rangers ran riot against Inverness to go top of the Clydesdale Bank Premier League with a 5-0 win.

Nacho Novo opened the scoring before Kris Boyd helped himself to a hat-trick - making it six goals in seven days - and Kenny Miller completed the rout in what proved to be a breathtaking opening 45 minutes.

It proved to be the perfect match for Ferguson - who started the game on the bench - to make his first appearance of the season after recovering from ankle surgery in the summer.

Inverness actually carved out the first chance of the game with less than a minute gone when Don Cowie's free-kick was blocked by goalkeeper Allan McGregor, who fumbled the ball before quickly recovering.

But any confidence the Highlanders might have taken from that early opportunity was quickly shattered in emphatic style when Rangers embarked on a goalscoring spree which delighted the Ibrox faithful.

If Walter Smith had one complaint about his team, it was not coming out of the traps quickly enough this season. Not anymore.

The opener arrived after just seven minutes when Boyd was fouled by Ross Tokely on the edge of the area and dusted himself off to have a go with a long, low free-kick.

Goalkeeper Michael Fraser blocked but failed to gather the ball and could not prevent Novo from stabbing home the rebound from a couple of yards.

Rangers doubled their lead seven minutes later when Pedro Mendes released Miller into the box and he laid off to Boyd in plenty of space. The striker was able to pick his spot and slot into a gaping net.

Inverness were clearly rattled and only some desperate defending prevented them falling further behind when Miller met a Steven Davis corner with a glancing header which was cleared off the line by Richard Hastings.

But a mistake from Russell Duncan gifted Rangers their third of the day after 19 minutes when he was robbed of possession by Mendes, who slipped the pass through to Boyd in the box to lash home from 12 yards.

Boyd had completed his hat-trick by the time the game was 28 minutes old when referee Crawford Allan pointed to the penalty spot after Miller was tripped in the box by David Proctor.

With confidence already sky-high from his two earlier goals, Boyd left the goalkeeper with no chance when he unleashed a ferocious shot to cap a thoroughly miserable opening half hour for Caley Thistle.

Miller may have been the architect of two goals but he was denied the opportunity to add his own name to the scoresheet shortly before the break when Boyd teed up the shot only for his fellow striker to blast over when it looked easier to find the target.

But Miller was celebrating on the stroke of half-time when he lashed home a superb volley after Novo had supplied the cross from the byline following a decent ball down the right flank from Madjid Bougherra.

The moment Ferguson had been dreaming of for five months arrived 11 minutes into the second half when he finally made his long-awaited comeback to a rapturous reception from the home crowd.

With five goals already in the bag, there was also a debut for youngster Rory Loy, who was thrown into the action along with the returning captain.

There was little hope of a fightback from Inverness but they did almost pull a goal back when a full-stretch McGregor was forced to make a decent save to tip an Ian Black shot just over the crossbar.

Boyd must have thought he was set to add to his own tally when he threw himself in front of a Kirk Broadfoot cross from the right, only to see his point-blank header smothered by Fraser.

It proved to be his last chance to find the back of the net as he was withdrawn for DaMarcus Beasley with 15 minutes to go, having now hit double figures for the season.

Sasa Papac also came close with a shot that flashed across the face of goal and wide as Rangers were forced to settle for five goals.