Rangers boss backs Josh Windass and Alfredo Morelos to keep improving

Posted Monday, February 19, 2018 by PA

Rangers boss Graeme Murty has tipped hat-trick hero Josh Windass and his strike partner Alfredo Morelos to get better and better after watching the pair shoot down Hamilton.

Windass celebrated signing a new contract this week by scoring three times in Rangers’ 5-3 triumph over Accies at the SuperSeal Stadium.

Morelos, meanwhile, contributed a goal and two assists as Rangers moved back above Aberdeen and into second place.

The pair now have 31 goals between them but Murty says there is much more to come from the duo.

“That tally is a reflection of where they are currently but both should use it as a stepping stone to improve in all aspects,” said Murty, who insists he is relaxed about the on-going transfer speculation surrounding Morelos.

“They are young, maturing and there is still more to come from them.

“As happy as I am, they will get better and stronger. This is a lovely marker on their journey but they will improve.”

Windass’ treble extends his hot streak to nine goals in five games – but Murty joked that the Englishman should not have been awarded his first effort in Hamilton after Accies keeper Gary Woods fumbled his strike into his own net.

“Are we giving him the second goal?” he asked. “I’m harsher than you lot – I wouldn’t give him it!

“When Josh opens up and gallops in the final third, he’s hard to deal with.

“He times his run well, he makes great lines and he finishes well. He needs to work on parts of his game but I am glad we tied him down on a new deal.

“Josh has the qualities we require to get to where we want to be as a football club.

“I’m pleased with the win. I told the players that they’d been handed a chance to go second and they couldn’t turn it down.

“It was vital that we backed up what happened with Aberdeen yesterday with a good result. We managed to do that and hopefully we can keep pushing.

“We don’t want second at this stage of the season to be the highlight of our careers – we want it to be a stepping stone to where we want to go.”

Murty was not pleased, however, with his side’s first-half display.

Greg Docherty’s mistake gifted Darren Lyon the opener after just five minutes but Morelos set up Jamie Murphy for an instant response.

Windass then had Rangers ahead when Woods blundered but Accies hit back again when David Templeton swept home on 22 minutes.

Rangers eventually took command, with Morelos and Windass putting them two up at the break, with the latter claiming the match ball with his third after the break, leaving Dougie Imrie’s late spot-kick as mere consolation for Hamilton.

Frustrated Accies boss Martin Canning said: “If someone had said to me before the game we would score three goals against Rangers I’d have expected to take something from the game.

“But when you defend like we did today that makes it hard. Four of their five goals were avoidable.

“I have got sympathy for Woodsy (Gary Woods), though, because he almost never makes mistakes. Hopefully he puts it behind him and gets back on with it next week.”