MX23RW : Tuesday, March 19 03:04:05| >> :600:5149768:5149768:
[monks data]
Attendance: 49,055
Rangers logo
Scottish Premiership | Gameweek 18
Dec 16, 2018 at 3pm UK
 
Hamilton logo

1-0

FT(HT: 1-0)

Candeias goal restores Rangers to top spot

The striker notched inside three minutes of play against Hamilton.

Rangers returned to the top of the Ladbrokes Premiership table as Daniel Candeias’ early strike was enough to secure a 1-0 win over Hamilton at Ibrox.

Steven Gerrard’s side moved to the front of the pack with victory over Hearts a fortnight ago but then relinquished the lead with stumbles against Aberdeen and Dundee.

However, Celtic’s defeat to Hibernian gave Rangers the chance to reclaim top spot and they did not falter as Candeias struck the winner within three minutes.

They now lead Kilmarnock on goal difference while the Hoops sit a point back in third with a game in hand.

Accies remain 10th, four points above the drop zone, but victory was the perfect response for Gerrard’s men to Thursday’s Europa League exit at the hands of Rapid Vienna.

Gerrard will be concerned by his side’s continuing lack of cutting edge having now managed just one goal from open play in the last six games.

Events in Leith made it imperative the Light Blues made no repeat of the slow starts that cost them five points against the Dons and at Dens Park last week.

But Gerrard got the early breakthrough he was looking for.

It took just two and a half minutes for Candeias to pounce but remarkably they should have been in front even before that.

Kyle Lafferty – in for suspended top-scorer Alfredo Morelos – forced a corner when he caught Accies goalkeeper Gary Woods dallying on the ball outside his box.

But the Northern Irishman somehow failed to bury his header from a yard out as James Tavernier swung over a perfect delivery, instead nodding against the back post.

Kyle Lafferty was guilty of missing one of the big chances
Kyle Lafferty was guilty of missing one of the big chances (Graham Stuart/PA)

Gerrard had no time to lament that miss as his side did grab the lead within a blink of the eye. Borna Barisic released Eros Grezda down the left. Lafferty’s shot was blocked by Matt Kilgallon as the striker got onto the Albanian’s cut-back, but there was no stopping Candeias’ follow-up strike.

That was just the start Rangers were looking for as they looked to take advantage of Celtic’s Easter Road slip-up.

But despite dominating the rest of the half they could not build on their lead before the break.

Candeias saw another effort blocked amid a goalmouth scramble, while Woods had to pull off a smart near-post stop after Aaron McGowan fired a clearance straight at Grezda.

The keeper was impressive again as he pushed away Gareth McAuley’s header just before the half-time whistle.

Scott McMann registered Accies’ first attempt early into the second half as he raced past Tavernier but Allan McGregor was never troubled.

Woods rushed a clearance at the other end but redeemed himself by blocking Grezda as Rangers sprang forward looking to kill off the visitors.

His fingertip save high to his right on 65 minutes to keep out a Lafferty save was even better.

But the longer Rangers led by one, more the Ibrox faithful grew nervous. Connor Goldson had to produce a last-ditch tackle to keep out visiting substitute Fredrik Brustad while McGregor barked at his team-mates to sharpen up.

There were some jittery moments as Accies sensed an opportunity to nick a draw late on but this time Rangers stood firm.

ga('create', 'UA-72310761-1', 'auto', {'name': 'pacontentapi'});
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'referrer', location.origin);
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension1', 'By Andy Newport, Press Association Sport');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension2', 'd5963862-a1d6-48b1-9a4f-0a2df484e69d');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension3', 'paservice:sport,paservice:sport:club-news,paservice:sport:football,paservice:sport:match-reports');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension6', 'story');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension7', 'composite');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension8', null);
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension9', 'sport:football');
ga('pacontentapi.send', 'pageview', { 'location': location.href, 'page': (location.pathname + location.search + location.hash), 'title': 'Candeias goal restores Rangers to top spot'});

ID:344396: cacheID:344396:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:8806:No Data Analysis info
Restore Data
Share this article now:
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1FalkirkFalkirk29236071185375
2Hamilton AcademicalHamilton29177560223858
3Alloa AthleticAlloa2814594844447
4Montrose2913795144746
5Cove Rangers29127104543243
6Kelty Hearts2887133549-1431
7Stirling AlbionStirling2987143146-1531
8Queen of the SouthQotS2986153748-1130
9Annan AthleticAnnan2969144055-1527
10Edinburgh CityEdinburgh2925223281-495

Subscribe to our newsletter


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!