HAMILTON Accies are the opponents at Ibrox tomorrow, a club who have struggled to win plaudits and friends in the top flight in recent years.

For me, they have never made life easy for Rangers. You could almost trace the fall of Mark Warburton back to that 1-1 draw on the opening day of last season when Ali Crawford scored an absolute belter of a goal, and nutmegged Joey Barton for good measure.

For a few years, the decline of Accies has been forecast, but 
no-one has got it right – unlike Martin Canning, who against all odds, and no shortage of criticism – has kept Hamilton on the top flight.

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For for this season, that was at the expense of Dundee United. And you only have to look at the effect that had at Tannadice.

Accies are never going to play pretty football, but they can be mightily effective, sitting in, and countering with pace.

The thing on Saturday, when Rangers are going for this elusive third successive victory, is that Accies have come on to some form, with five points in their last three league games, unbeaten in that spell with a win and a couple of draws.

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Indeed, I think they would have been upset that they only secured a draw against Aberdeen, because had they taken their chances, particularly David Templeton, the Dons would have gone back north empty handed. The irony is that Templeton scored with the most difficult chance presented to him.

I think it also goes to show what a dangerous player he can be, cutting in from out wide, when he is fully fit – something he has struggled with over a few years. I hope he has a quiet one at Ibrox.