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Steven Gerrard hailed his rampant Rangers as they finally delivered the massive beating they have threatened to inflict throughout the season.
The Light Blues scored eight goals in the top flight for the first time since 1981 when the hapless Hamilton was beaten 8-0 at Ibrox.
But it came as no surprise to the GERS boss, who saw signs his team was preparing to unleash an assault on their domestic rivals mulling over the past few weeks.
Scott Arfield put Gers ahead on 16 minutes before Kemar Roofe and Joe Aribo followed him with two quick shots as the hosts scored three goals in three minutes.
Aribo made it 4-0 at half time with his second while Roofe got his second right after the final change.
James Tavernier took his campaign tally to 12 with another double soon after Brandon Barker had also scored as the Light Blues took a firm hold of their nine-point lead at the top of the leaderboard.
“It was a really impressive performance, a strong win and another clean sheet,” said Gerrard. “The thing that pleased me most was the standards we maintained from start to finish.
“I’ve talked to these players, probably too much with them, about maintaining standards regardless of where the game is. I was pleased at half time that we continued to try to score goals and win even more decisively.
“It’s coming, we threatened to do it. But the nice thing today is that we have been very clinical. We choked Hamilton from start to finish, we stayed on them and we never took our foot off the gas and the quality was evident throughout the team.
“Look, we’re not at the stage yet where we can play with the ego in any game or stage. We are trying to become a winning team, a successful team. We are unable to disrespect any opponent or team. It’s about Rangers trying to be strong for as long as possible and to be as consistent as possible. “
Gerrard made his Bongani Zungu debut at half time and was impressed by his first look at the South African national team in the blue jersey.
He said: “It came into play at a good time. It will only get stronger, fitter and better.
“But you can see his range of passing, you can see his profile, you can see his aggression. He can play, he will have no problem. He will give us another really strong option in midfield.
“It was great to give Jermain Defoe a full game today, as it was with Kemar. We are bringing Jermain, Kemar and Aribo very close to full form now, which is a real help for me.
“Aribo is a top player. He’s been out for 11/12 weeks, so it always takes half to get your sharpness back, but I think he’s getting really close to that now.
“There were flashes against Benfica that his quality was back. And today you saw that when he is in full swing it is difficult to stop.
“Hopefully he gets back in shape from international service and is 100% ready to shoot.”
The result was another painful day for Brian Rice’s basement boys, but he challenged Accies to take inspiration from Southampton, who suffered a 9-0 defeat to Leicester last season but moved on this weekend. at the top of the Premier League for a spell.
The deflated boss said, “Listen, we’re at the bottom of the chart for a reason. There is only one way we can go and that is. But you have to want to go up and fight.
“I’ll take the blame for everything. I will raise my hands. I’ll take it.
“I have to get better and I have to make sure they want to get better.
“But it didn’t seem to affect Southampton. This is what I would tell the players. They lost 9-0 to Leicester last season and this weekend were the first in the English Premier League.
“So things can change quickly in football.”
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