Skipper Richard Gough steered Rangers into the fourth round of the Tennents
Scottish Cup today with a dramatic last-gasp winner.
Brian Laudrup carved out the opening and picked out Gough in the penalty area.
The central defender clipped a shot over keeper Andy McCondichie, who appeared
to be wrong-footed.
It was heartbreak for Hamilton, who had taken a sensational lead in the 32nd
minute through Steve McCormick. Gordon Durie equalised ten minutes later but
Rangers found the First Division side difficult to break down.
Hamilton went into the match without a win in their last eight league games
and were forced to play the match at Motherwell's Fir Park because of safety
restrictions.
Manager Sandy Clark was forced to field McCondichie between the posts as
regular keeper Allan Ferguson is still recovering from a double hernia
operation.
Rangers were without leading scorer Marco Negri because of an eye injury but
Laudrup returned following a bout of tonsillitis.
Back in 1987 a goal from Adrian Sprott gave Hamilton a famous Scottish Cup
victory over the Ibrox giants.
When McCormick opened the scoring in the 32nd minute the fans were ready for
another long night of celebrations. But their joy lasted only ten minutes.
McCormick steered the ball home for his third goal of the season after Eddie
Cunnington's free kick had been blocked.
Steve Renicks, Paul Ritchie and Paul McKenzie all got touches in the following
melee before McCormick finally beat keeper Andy Goram.
Rangers were rattled but three minutes before the break Durie tapped the ball
home after a good run and cross from Laudrup.
Hamilton keeper McCondichie did superbly well to push away a header from Paul
Gascoigne in the 49th minute and followed this up five minutes later by cleanly
taking a shot from Jorge Albertz.
McCondichie again redeemed himself by hanging on to a header from Durie
following another fine delivery from Laudrup.
Rangers were struggling to find their rhythm and Gascoigne was replaced with
13 minutes to go by Jonatan Johansson. McCondichie then tipped away a 25-yard
free-kick from Albertz but in injury time he was cruelly beaten by Gough.
Gough's goals had been vital to Rangers all over the years and he did a jig of
delight after his dramatic winner.
The home fans could hardly believe it and Hamilton deserved better after such
a gutsy display.
Hamilton: McCondichie, Thomson, Renicks, McEntegart, Cunnington,
Craig, McCormick, Sherry (McQuade 58), Ritchie, Clark, McKenzie.
Subs Not Used: McFarlane, McLaren.
Booked: McKenzie.
Goals: McCormick 32.
Rangers: Goram, Cleland, Stensaas (Albertz 45), Gough, Porrini,
Bjorklund, Thern, Gascoigne (Johannson 77), Durie,
Ferguson (McCall 65), Laudrup.
Booked: Bjorklund, Thern.
Goals: Durie 42, Gough 90.
Att: 11,915
Ref: S Dougal (Glasgow).
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