Rangers beat Hamilton 8-0 to maintain a nine-point lead in Scottish Premiership

Ruthless Rangers recorded their biggest win under Steven Gerrard against Hamilton to keep a nine-point lead atop the Scottish Premiership.

Aribo’s second also took a boost from a defender as lower side Accies worked.

Roofe struck after the break before substitute Brandon Barker came in and James Tavernier contributed a penalty and another strike.

Gerrard’s side have played two more games than Celtic’s closest challengers and have yet to concede a league goal to Ibrox this season.

The margin of victory makes it the biggest victory since the first flight was renamed the Scottish Premiership in 2013, which was also the last year that Rangers won an 8-0 game against Stenhousemuir.

The hosts showed offensive intent early on and Connor Goldson, Ryan Kent and Tavernier were all turned down by goalie Ryan Fulton from the start.

The pressure was revealed in the 16th minute when Jermain Defoe stole possession just inside the half-time from Accies and released Kent with a reverse pass – the winger argues for Arfield to apply the finish.

Tavernier then crossed paths with Roofe to lead his fourth goal of the season. And it got worse for Hamilton when Aribo worked the space to get a long shot, with Scott McMann and Hakeem Odoffin’s spinning ball in the net.

There was no release from the home side and Roofe replenished Aribo, the midfielder’s shot deflected on Fulton by Will Collar.

Arfield came up with another and pulled a Fulton save in extra time and the keeper was called into action early in the second period when Tavernier struck.

McMann almost scored an own own goal as he prevented Arfield’s cross from reaching Defoe, the ball hitting the post and giving Roofe an easy chance for his second goal of the afternoon.

Defoe prepared Kent’s substitute Barker to slip at home and the forward then suffered an Odoffin foul to give top scorer Tavernier the chance to score his 11th goal of the season.

And Tavernier quickly made 12 for the campaign, reacting most quickly in the box after Fulton blocked Roofe’s effort.

Man of the Match – James Tavernier

What have we learned?

Rangers had blurted out a two-goal lead in Thursday’s Europa League 3-3 draw with Benfica and they showed a thirst to right the late failings in Lisbon.

The movement of their forward players constantly stretched Hamilton and without Fulton the rout could have been double-digit, while Bongani Zungu made his debut as a substitute in the second period.

For Hamilton, it was a far cry from March’s 1-0 victory at Ibrox, as their league losing streak extended to four, in which they conceded 20 goals.

Their long list of injuries prompted head coach Brian Rice to add Aaron Martin and Nathan Thomas to his squad in recent days and captain Brian Easton returned after a nine-month absence to spend 90 minutes under his belt during the a difficult afternoon.

And after?

Hamilton continues his League Cup group campaign at Stranraer on Wednesday night and at home against Albion Rovers next Saturday.

Rangers return from the international break against visitors to the Aberdeen Premiership on 22 November, the day after Accies visited Dundee United in the league.