His first - which put Rangers back in front after Accies youngster Lewis Smith had cancelled out Ryan Jack's early opener - was the pick of the bunch as he dropped a shoulder before unleashing an unstoppable left-footed drive into the top corner.

Kent went on to rubber-stamp the victory with a cool stoppage-time finish but his boss was unhappy with the way his team stepped off the gas after half-time.

Rangers winger Ryan Kent celebrates scoring his second goal. Picture: SNS

However, he had nothing but praise for his match-winner.

"I thought Ryan was terrific today for large parts of the game," said Gerrard, whose team now match leaders Celtic on 34 points. "His first goal was an absolute world-class strike. In any game, if you score a goal like that on your so-called weak side, you deserve a lot of credit for it.

"The second one was a composed finish which we have been working on a lot with him. That's what he's got to keep doing, providing those moments which help his team-mates get maximum points.

"I know everyone will get excited about his two goals today, he will get the headlines and rightly so.

"But we still have to be patient with him because he is still searching for match fitness and sharpness, 100 per cent being at it. They are his own words.

"So once we get him a little bit more tuned in and sharper, you will see more moments and displays like today.

"But that's the exact reason the fans all wanted him here and why we were desperate to get the deal done - he is such an important player to us."

Rangers boss Steven Gerrard praises 'world class' contribution but urges patience