BARRY Ferguson was born and raised in Hamilton and still speaks about playing for Accies some day, so it was fitting he should choose home turf on which to make his first heavyweight contribution to the Clydesdale Bank Premier League title race.

The Rangers captain has been a largely dormant force since his return from ankle surgery in November, but his 35th minute winner at New Douglas Park yesterday was an indication that he could yet have a crucial role to play. The snarl was back too, as he completed his afternoon with a booking in a late touchline rammy with opposing captain Alex Neil in front of the dug-outs.

The root cause of that incident was Neil's crude lunge on Steven Naismith - presumably because the former Kilmarnock man had had the temerity to suggest during the week that Rangers were capable of repeating their 7-1 victory against Hamilton at Ibrox in December - but the repercussions may yet be more lasting. Amid the mayhem David Weir appeared to be struck by a coin thrown from one of the home areas of the ground, and the club last night announced an investigation into the incident was under way. Further indication that the credit crunch is hitting hard lay in the revelation that the coin in question was a five pence piece.

"Rangers are not making a complaint but we will carry out our own internal investigation on Monday," said Hamilton safety officer Tom Purdie, who confirmed that neither referee Craig Thomson nor fourth official Willie Collum had seen the incident. "You can have the best stewarding and policing in the country but you can't legislate for someone doing that and then disappearing into the crowd. Whether it is a season ticket holder or not he won't be let back in the ground again."

"It looks like somebody has thrown something and if that is the case that's not what this club is about," said the Hamilton manager Billy Reid. "If it has hurt Davie Weir we apologise."

The end result means that Hamilton still haven't beaten Rangers since that famous cup win in January 1987, but reasons for pre-match optimism included the fact they went into the game with a better 2009 record than their visitors, and had taken the lead against them in both previous games this season, both of which they had lost.

Another meeting between the two teams is scheduled for next Sunday, a game in which James McCarthy - again the subject of chants from visiting fans, insisting he "go home" - can expect to become the youngest player in Scottish football to reach 100 first-team appearances.

Both managers attempted to make do and mend in the absence of some key performers. Walter Smith, deprived of Pedro Mendez (hamstring), gave Maurice Edu his third start after underwhelming previous showings against Kilmarnock and Forfar, and the former MLS No 1 draft pick was at least a qualified success.

Reid's answer to the loss of defensive mainstay Mark McLaughlin to a head wound was to put Alex Neil back there. Neither of McLaughlin's fellow defenders Chris Swailes or Martin Canning would last the 90 minutes.

Hamilton hadn't conceded a home league goal since Paul Hartley's late winner for Celtic on November 16. With Rangers including Kris Boyd, Kenny Miller, and Kyle Lafferty from the start, and John Fleck dropping to the bench, however, it seemed that record was likely to be consigned to the history books from the moment Lafferty cut in off the left to force a decent diving save from Tomas Cerny.

The livewire Miller turned Neil and tested Cerny with a right-foot shot; a last-gasp Neil challenge defied Boyd. But the goal duly arrived on 35 minutes, Ferguson steering in a low left-footed shot from 22 yards after Steven Davis and Weir had worked a quick corner routine. Reid felt Boyd had fouled Paul McGowan in an earlier phase of play, but no matter, it was the captain's first goal since an equally vital one against Motherwell at Ibrox last May.

The only real trouble Rangers had to contend with at the other end came when McCarthy's cross-cum-shot deflected off Weir and had to be turned away by McGregor, and then Brian Easton - reportedly being watched by Derby County boss Nigel Clough - ventured forward to lash a long-range effort well over.

The theme of the next hour was Rangers' ill-fated striving to get the second goal which would make the game safe. Before the half was out, Ferg-uson sent a decent right-footed attempt over, then Miller's close-range head flick hit the bar, and the pattern continued the other side of the interval.

A very Boyd-like chance came and went when the striker's finish was too close to Cerny after a nice Davis pass. The same player volleyed wide after a good deep pick out by substitute Steven Whittaker, and Davis clipped wide on a quick break out involving Boyd.

Sasa Papac afterwards claimed Rangers were now showing the "winning mentality" that could take them to the title, but no-one who witnessed the late flare-up - Neil's hack on Naismith leading to a pointless fracas - could accuse Hamilton of not having a go. In fact, it could be said that Hamilton threw everything at their visitors.