THEY THINK IT’S ALL OVER … IT IS NOW

A quite awful night which, for the Rangers fans, was about as uplifting as reading the coronavirus warnings that were flashed on the big screens. This was a largely insipid performance made worse by the fact that Celtic could only muster a draw at Livingston. Even those clinging grimly to faint hopes of a rally in the title race are flying the white flag now.

If Steven Gerrard was low after the Scottish Cup exit, then he his morale must have deep sea coral growing on it after this. This was a leaderless performance lacking guile and guts. Hamilton were everything Rangers were not. Ryan Kent, dropped to the bench, came on in the second half but a wayward pass which trundled out of for a throw-in summed everything up. The domestic collapse really has been something quite extraordinary.

MODEST RIPPLE GREETS GERRARD

Ok, so it wasn’t one of these stand-rollicking European nights, but the tannoy announcer’s efforts to rouse the locals for this midweek tussle was something of a futile exercise. Upon a “let’s hear it for Steven Gerrard” the muted applause was akin to the kind of modest ripple you’d get when a professor takes to the lectern to deliver a lecture on coastal erosion. The pre-arranged and somewhat cringe-worthy “show your support for the manager” round of hand-clapping in the eighth minute was warmer if hardly robust. By the final whistle the whole notion of it appeared comical. It’s been a wearying few days for everybody it seems.

KISS AND MAKE UP FOR MORELOS

After his ticking off and rap across the knuckles following that late arrival back in Glasgow from a family visit, Alfredo Morelos had been in apologetic mood with a heart-felt message on social media. You half expected him to crawl to the centre circle on all fours in a public show of attrition. Having dropped Morelos for last weekend’s Scottish Cup defeat to Hearts as punishment, Gerrard warned the talismanic Colombian he wouldn’t hesitate in doing the same again if he stepped out of line. An admirable hardline. The problem, of course, is that Rangers simply can’t afford to have him sitting on the sidelines. It may not matter now anyway.

KAMBERI MISSES CHANCE TO SHINE

With all the kerfuffle surrounding Morelos, this was possibly the opportunity Florian Kamberi was looking for to prove his worth. As it turned out, the on-loan Hibernian player endured a night of futility and frustration. He failed to connect with a cross from six yards out and then had a low effort saved by Luke Southwood. His departure in the second half wasn’t greeted with fond farewells.

ACCIES EMBRACE THE PRESSURE

When you’re trying to stave off relegation, you’re under the kind of pressure that just about requires a bathysphere. Brian Rice, the Accies manager, had essentially laughed off claims that Rangers were under the cosh prior to this match by highlighting their second place in the league and a last 16 berth in Europe. With Hearts dunting them to the bottom of the league with victory over Hibs, Hamilton were up against it but, as they tend to do, they showed great spirit, resolve, discipline and defiance as they delivered a Harvey Smith salute to the doubters. This was a fine display and one which rewarded Rice’s bold sense of adventure.