THEY say that the result is the only thing that matters in cup football. It was certainly the most important aspect for Steven Gerrard to take from this fifth round fixture.

The television cameras may have been in town but this tie – a lunchtime kick-off on the plastic pitch at the Fountain of Youth Stadium - was never likely to be a Scottish Cup classic.

In the end, the 4-1 scoreline was fair given Rangers’ dominance overall but it arguably adds a shine to the performance that they didn’t deserve. Gerrard won’t worry about that right now, though.

His side were not at their best but still proved too good for Hamilton as the hosts faded for the second time in a week against Old Firm opposition. A lovely finish from Lewis Smith as he guided a low effort beyond Allan McGregor was the highlight for Accies and they will wonder what might have been if Mikel Miller hadn’t been denied by Glen Kamara with not a second to spare late in the first half.

Hamilton had competed well against Celtic here last weekend but were left on the wrong end of the five goals that were shared. The loss of three players - Steve Davies, Andy Dales and Miller, who had only been on the park for eight minutes - before the break hindered their chances but they just didn't have enough about them overall.

Brian Rice’s side, guided on from the touchline by Guillaume Beuzelin, were able to frustrate Rangers at times but they were complicit in their own downfall. The 23rd minute challenge from Jamie Hamilton on Alfredo Morelos was needless and Scott Arfield soon had Rangers ahead as he converted at the second time of asking after his penalty was saved.

“I don't know if Scott's on penalties after that one,” Gerrard said after seeing another spot-kick missed this term. “I liked his follow-in, though.

“We're still searching for this person to come forward from the front and become our regular taker.

“On the evidence so far, I might have to go back to James (Tavernier). We'll make that decision in due course.”

There may have been a touch of good fortune about Arfield's first goal as the ball rebounded into his path after a smart stop from Luke Southwood but there was nothing lucky about his second as he rounded off the scoring.

Rangers have been notoriously hesitant to shoot from distance this season but the midfielder made no mistake from 25 yards. The strike was sweet and Southwood was helpless.

The game, of course, was won by then. Rangers had huffed and puffed throughout the second half but a moment of quality from Joe Aribo broke Hamilton's resolve as he guided a Ryan Kent cross into the far corner with a deft but clinical touch.

Accies' ambitions of salvaging a replay were faint at that stage. When Alfredo Morelos made it 3-1 with five minutes remaining, there was no way back for Rice's side.

It was a first goal in five games for the Colombian as he reacted first to a Greg Stewart strike that was blocked. As the ball spun in the air, Morelos was able to head it beyond Southwood and he would celebrate by sticking the yellow Mitre up his jersey as his wife prepares to give birth to their first child.

“I think he looked sharp today,” Gerrard said. “He will be disappointed he didn’t score two today because that was a good chance he missed in the first half. But we saw signs of the old Alfredo, at times he was powerful, undefendable.

“He’s ran through the defender to win the penalty and then he was in the right place at the right time to get his goal. It was a deflected cross and he has shown the power in his neck muscles to get it over the line.

“We need him firing as quickly as possible. All forwards, especially No.9s, thrive on goals so hopefully this will have done him a lot of good.”

It may not have been the most entertaining afternoon but it was certainly a pleasing one in the main for Rangers. It was very much a case of job done as a place in the quarter-finals was safely secured.

There was one negative for Rangers, however. Borna Barisic was forced off with 20 minutes remaining and now faces an anxious wait to discover if he will be fit for the trip to Kilmarnock as Rangers return to Premiership duty.

“He is a doubt for Wednesday at the moment,” Gerrard said. “We don’t think it is a big problem but it is definitely something that we are going to have to try and address in the coming days because he is so important to us. It is a concern sitting here right now though.

“It is a bit of a hip-flexor situation. We don’t think he has pulled a muscle, but there is definitely discomfort there.”