And at a time when his team needed players to stand up and be counted, it was he who secured a vital victory at New Douglas Park in the closing stages of a gripping encounter.
It’s a result which takes the Ibrox outfit 10 points clear of Celtic at the top of the SPL with the Parkhead team due to play Falkirk later today.
Gers were without several key personnel for a variety of reasons including injuries and suspensions.
Kenny Miller and Lee McCulloch served bans while Kris Boyd sat the game out as he began a month of rehab after a hernia operation.
With Madjid Bougherra at the Africa Cup of Nations and Pedro Mendes, Steven Naismith and DaMarcus Beasley missing too, there was a threadbare look to the visitors.
Indeed, there were only enough bodies to put six players on the bench with the likes of Rory Loy and Jamie Ness present.
Despite their selection problems, the away team started brightest and Steven Whittaker was unlucky his bursting run down the left didn’t lead to more.
Kyle Lafferty also had a chance when he played a one-two with strike partner Novo but he lifted over the bar with Tomas Cerny closing him down.
Back came Accies through Richard Hastings, who was given too much time and space on the left wing by Kirk Broadfoot.
The Canadian defender swung into the box and his cross was met by Marco Paixao but his header flew straight into Allan McGregor’s arms.
While Paixao’s attempt wasn’t a threat, it did give Hamilton confidence to come forward and Mickael Antoine-Curier’s drive forced a corner soon after but it came to nothing.
The pitch was clearly playing a part in the game, just as it did in the original Scottish Cup tie between the sides at New Douglas Park last week.
Billy Reid’s team adapted far better to the slippy surface and began to dominate, with Gers struggling to get out of their own half.
Simon Mensing had the best chance yet when Hastings broke clear from Steven Davis and cut back but Danny Wilson did well to deflect the ball away.
With that, the champions finally had some respite but still couldn’t build much momentum and were too disjointed for manager Walter Smith’s liking.
Hamilton were still having the better opportunities and Paixao broke down the left before threading in Mensing, whose finish was poor and off target.
But then, with half-time approaching, Lafferty and Novo finally combined to good effect and the move should have resulted in the opener.
Davis released his Northern Ireland team-mate down the right flank and he scampered into the corner to chase the pass.
Lafferty did well to gather it and when his low, fast cross found Novo, he had room to place it low in the far corner but scuffed his effort wide instead.
It was Rangers who ended the first period better, having toiled for much to the opening 45 minutes.
But when Lafferty’s angled drive was smothered by Cerny, it seemed destined to be goalless at the break and that was confirmed when Davis drove over the upright.
The SPL leaders continued to press after the restart and Lafferty won a free kick which Cerny was fortunate to see lumped away by his defence.
Whittaker also shot just wide as a change in shape by the Light Blues appeared to be working.
Novo had been shuttled out to the right with Whittaker pushing further forward and Davis taking up a more central role.
That allowed for a much better tempo from Smith’s men but they still lacked the killer touch up front required to go in front.
Broadfoot almost broke the deadlock when Whittaker’s deep delivery dropped to him at the back post but his header was the wrong side of the post.
Rangers were well on top now and Davis showed great tenacity to break clear from defence and set up Whittaker.
But after steadying himself, the former Hibs man shot into the side netting and should probably have done better.
The initial impact of what was said in the dressing room at the midway point soon waned and the game settled down to a more even contest.
Gers still looked more dangerous though and Lafferty had a great chance with a header when Sasa Papac set him up.
But his finish from close range was terrible and instead of nodding down towards goal, the ball spun high off the head and behind.
Hamilton served a warning they could still win themselves when Curier bolted clear to shoot inches past McGregor’s left-hand post.
The Light Blues reacted with a positive substitution, bringing on the more attack-minded John Fleck for Broadfoot with 20 minutes remaining.
And the switch paid off as Gers broke the deadlock just seven minutes later through new father Novo.
Papac burst forward from the back after a neat interchange with Thomson and fed Fleck, who took a touch then forced a good diving save from Cerny.
The rebound appeared set to fall away for a corner but Novo chased it down well and from the tightest of angles, he slotted in the opener.
His reaction was euphoric as he mimicked Bebeto’s famous cradling celebration from the 1994 World Cup several times over.
Lafferty had a chance to double the advantage moments later when he found himself with only Cerny to beat.
But he shot straight at the Czech keeper and the miss summed up his day. It had been an afternoon of endeavour for him but not much else.
Papac was next to have a go as Rangers tried to finish with a flourish and his incredible run took him to within six yards of the upright.
But it was just one step too far for him to score and in the end it didn’t matter as referee Mike Tumilty blew to end a hugely important win for the defenders of the crown.