Rangers 6-0 Hamilton: Joe Garner nets hat-trick as Gers cruise through

Joe Garner scored a second-half hat-trick as Rangers cruised into the Scottish Cup semi-finals with a 6-0 victory over Hamilton at Ibrox on Saturday.

Martyn Waghorn (33) set the Gers on their way to a place in the last four by notching his 14th goal of the season from the penalty spot.

Substitute Garner (47, 88 & 90) then stole the show, but could well have been sent off for a high challenge on Dougie Imrie shortly after netting his first goal.

Jon Toral (77) and Clint Hill (82) also netted for Rangers, who return to Hampden Park for the second successive season after their biggest win of the campaign.

Rangers caretaker manager Graeme Murty named the same side that defeated St Johnstone 3-2 in the Scottish Premiership on Wednesday and was nearly rewarded with the perfect start, but midfielder Emerson Hyndman somehow contrived to fire straight at Remi Matthews from eight-yards out.

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The Gers continued to control the early exchanges against a toothless Hamilton, though goalkeeper Wes Foderingham will count himself fortunate not to have been penalised by referee John Beaton after collecting the ball outside of his area while under pressure from Rakish Bingham.

Rangers continued to probe in search of the opening goal and nearly took the lead in spectacular fashion in the 31st minute, with Kenny Miller seeing his powerful volley from 20-yards out tipped onto the crossbar from Matthews.

But from the resulting corner, Rangers were awarded a spot kick after Hamilton midfielder Grant Gillespie was adjudged to have upended Toral. Waghorn made no mistake from 12-yards out, sending Matthews the wrong way and his effort to the bottom left corner, to grab his ninth cup goal of the campaign.

Hamilton, who came into the match on the back of their shock 1-0 victory over Aberdeen, failed to register a single shot on target during the first-half and fell further behind shortly after the break.

Rob Kiernan rose highest to meet Barrie McKay's corner from the left and his flick on was met by Garner, who supplied a predatory finish.

Moments later, Garner was lucky to escape a red card for a poor challenge on Imrie, with Beaton deeming a yellow card sufficient, much to the annoyance of the Hamilton bench.

Lee Wallace came close to extending the home side's advantage before Toral grabbed his first goal for Rangers via a deflection off Hamilton defender Scott McMann.

Clint Hill powerfully headed Rangers 4-0 in front, with Garner completing his hat-trick with two goals in the closing stages following some comical defending at the back from Hamilton.