Boyd at the double as Gers win - Sport in brief - Evening Standard
       

Boyd at the double as Gers win

Kris Boyd answered his critics the only way he knows how by grabbing a double against Hamilton to claim a 3-1 victory for Rangers in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League.

Accies threatened to spring a surprise when Brian Easton opened the scoring for the home side but two goals from Boyd hauled Rangers back into the game before Nacho Novo wrapped up the win.

It was the first game since Boyd's controversial decision to quit playing for Scotland while George Burley remains at the helm, and Novo's even more surprising revelation that he would probably be willing to switch allegiance from Spain.

Both teams struggled to settle in the swirling conditions before a set-piece provided Rangers with the first real chance. Kevin Thomson saw his free-kick flash across the face of goal and wide of the upright with no-one able to get a touch and direct the ball into the back of the net.

The midfielder then delivered a teasing corner into the box and this time Kirk Broadfoot did make contact but his header was narrowly off-target from 10 yards.

Only the woodwork prevented Accies from taking the lead after 24 minutes when an Alex Neil corner found Simon Mensing whose header crashed off the crossbar from just a few yards out. Two minutes later, the home side were ahead anyway.

Madjid Bougherra fouled James Gibson out on the left and Neil delivered the free-kick beyond a packed box where Easton was waiting at the far post to nod home, despite Bougherra's best attempts to clear on the line.

Rangers were back on level terms three minutes before the break when Trent McClenahan was deemed to have pushed Kenny Miller in the box and Boyd stepped up to confidently rifle home the resulting spot-kick.

Rangers took the lead just five minutes after the restart. Steven Davis was the provider with a driven cross which was met by the head of Boyd who flicked home from six yards. A hint of offside perhaps explained his cautious celebrations but the goal was given.

Boyd then squandered two opportunities to claim his hat-trick before substitute Nacho Novo who wrapped up the points with 10 minutes to go - and five minutes after replacing Beasley - when he took advantage of an error by Canning in the middle of the park before racing into the box and slotting home.

Sport in brief in Pictures

Don't Miss
Dog save the Queen: Corgis surge in popularity

Dog save the Queen

Corgis surge in popularity
London gets ready for the Diamond Jubilee - in pictures

Diamond Jubilee

London gets ready - in pictures
'He’s a better ex than he was a husband', says Boris Johnson's ex wife

A better ex than husband

We talk to Boris Johnson's ex wife
TV Baftas - in pictures

Best of the Baftas

Stars on the red, white and blue carpet
You big softie: Has Giles Coren put down his poison pen?

You big softie

Has Giles Coren put down his poison pen?
Pop star Paloma Faith, former Labour minister and Tory blogger back gay marriage video

Gay marriage

Pop star, former Labour minister and Tory blogger back gay marriage video
Promethipedia: the lowdown on Ridley Scott's new blockbuster Prometheus

Promethipedia

The lowdown on Ridley Scott's new blockbuster Prometheus
Prints charming: patterned trousers for summer

Prints charming

Patterned trousers for summer
Bob Geldof on grandchildren, activism and the state of music

Grandpa Bob

Bob Geldof on grandchildren, activism and the state of music
The Middletan: Kate Middleton has the most requested tan in London

The Middletan

Kate Middleton has the most requested tan in London