DECLAN JOHN admits Rangers owed boss Pedro Caixinha the performance that earned them a crucial Premiership win over Hamilton on Friday night.

The Light Blues bounced back from their Old Firm defeat with a 4-1 victory at the SuperSeal Stadium as they rounded off another headline-grabbing week on a high note.

Boss Caixinha had to field questions about the harmony in his Gers ranks after a stormy team meeting in the aftermath of the loss to Celtic.

Striker Kenny Miller was left out of the squad that made the trip to Lanarkshire and Caixinha refused to be drawn on what the future holds for the 37-year-old this term.

After John had scored twice to put Rangers ahead against Hamilton, Daniel Candeias celebrated the third goal by sprinting towards the dugout to be with his boss.

A Graham Dorrans penalty rounded off a satisfying night for Caixinha and left-back John was pleased with Rangers’ reaction.

“It’s been fine,” John said when asked about the atmosphere in the squad.

“We knew we needed to come into the game at Hamilton and show that we are together and that we are up for it. I think we did show that.

“We definitely owed the manager a performance and that’s what we did.

“Yeah, of course [the celebration] was telling. We don’t go into any game looking for anything else other than a win.

“Obviously the boys played well, I managed to get two goals, we got another two after that and it was a really good win.

“The celebration after Daniel’s goal wasn’t planned, it was something that just happened.

“We are all together in there. Before training, we are all together - whether that’s in the canteen or in the changing room, having a joke or whatever.

“After training, we might all go for a coffee together or stuff like that. All of the boys are together.

“It wasn’t difficult to focus. You focus on every game you play in and that’s what we did.”