Source: Team_Talk
Miller bags again as Gers stay perfect
Kenny Miller continued his goalscoring streak with a last-minute winner as Rangers maintained their 100% SPL start with a 2-1 win at Hamilton.[LNB] The signs had looked good for Walter Smith's men when Nikica Jelavic netted his first goal for the club, but Accies looked set to earn a deserved point thanks to an own goal from Madjid Bougherra.[LNB]However Rangers ensured all three points would be returning to Ibrox when Miller came off the bench to grab a dramatic last-gasp goal.[LNB]Jelavic made his first start for Rangers, after making a cameo appearance in the last outing against St Johnstone, but Richard Foster had to settle for a place on the bench.[LNB]Jelavic, Kirk Broadfoot, Maurice Edu and Kyle Lafferty - back from suspension - were all drafted into the starting line-up for the visit to New Douglas Park.[LNB]Steven Whittaker missed out through injury and, perhaps mindful of the midweek clash against Manchester United, Miller, Lee McCulloch and Vladimir Weiss were all among the substitutes.[LNB]Accies handed a debut to Jim Goodwin but fellow new recruit Damian Casalinuovo started on the bench for the home side.[LNB]Hamilton made an early claim for a penalty when Nigel Hasselbaink went to ground in the box after finding himself sandwiched between David Weir and Sasa Papac but the pleas were ignored by referee Alan Muir.[LNB]Instead, it was Rangers - in their new all-black third choice kit - who surged into the lead with just six minutes gone when Jelavic claimed his first goal for the Scottish champions.[LNB]Lafferty displayed some fine play, slipping the ball through the legs of Andy Graham, and racing down the left flank before picking out the big Croatian striker who bulleted home a header at the back post from 10 yards.[LNB]Accies could have levelled when a full-stretch Allan McGregor only just managed to tip an audacious long-range shot from Marco Paixao over the crossbar, before the Rangers goalkeeper was called into action to smother a deflected effort from Jon Routledge.[LNB]Broadfoot had taken a knock earlier in the game and was withdrawn as Foster was thrown into the action for his debut a few minutes from half-time.[LNB]However, his attempt at a clearance fell to the feet of Hasselbaink and the Rangers man breathed a sigh of relief when McGregor pushed his effort past the upright.[LNB]Hamilton continued to push for the equaliser after the restart and were rewarded for their efforts when they drew level after 56 minutes.[LNB]Flavio Paixao played the ball out to his twin, Marco, on the left and he whipped a speculative cross into the box which was bundled into his own net by Bougherra at the near post.[LNB]With an hour gone, Hasselbaink was withdrawn and Casalinuovo made his first appearance since completing his move to the Lanarkshire club, before McCulloch replaced James Beattie for the visitors.[LNB]Steven Naismith tested Tomas Cerny with a point-blank effort which the Accies goalkeeper did well to block, as Rangers desperately tried to restore their advantage.[LNB]But the home side also appeared unwilling to settle for the point and Flavio Paixao was not too far away with a curling effort which fell just inches wide of McGregor's left-hand post.[LNB]With the champions now toiling in front of goal, Miller - who had netted in every SPL game so far this term - was thrown into the action in place of Lafferty and quickly set up Jelavic but he could find no way past Cerny this time.[LNB]Just when it appeared all hope was gone for Walter Smith's men, Miller grabbed the winner with a minute to go. The striker ran on to a McCulloch ball before lobbing the goalkeeper and, despite getting a touch, Cerny could not prevent the goal.
