Two changes were made to the line up that won so impressively at Chesterfield the previous week. Marcus Bignot replaced Aziz Ben-Askar, with Terrell Forbes slipping into the back three. Doudou started in midfield in place of the lacklustre Karl Connolly. He had earned his place after a sparkling performance the week before.

Rangers flew out of the traps and took an early lead. Marcus Bignot charged down the right and won a corner. Murphy swung the ball in left footed and Thomson, curiously left totally unmarked, headed home unopposed. How the Bournemouth defence could leave a man who had scored fifteen goals so far in so much space is beyond me. He isn't the greatest header of a ball in the world but anybody has the ability to be deadly from six yards.

Doudou's direct running was causing the Cherries all sorts of problems and often the only way they could stop him was to scythe him down. However this seemed to cut no ice with Mr Walton. He seemed totally unaware of what was going on around him and all too often poor challenges went unpunished. Indeed one crude two-footed lunge on Peacock would have earned a red card from many refs, yet he chose only to speak to the player. What a load of bollocks. He did not seem fussed at booking Bournemouth players yet seemed only to happy to brandish yellows at Rose and more significantly Murphy.

Rangers could have extended their lead before the break with Gallen going close and he and Thomson being checked by a trigger-happy linesman on at least five occasions. I am getting a bit arsed off with linesman who do not seem to appreciate the fact that they are supposed to pay attention to when the ball is played rather than when the ball is received. Three or four of the decisions seemed tight at best.

Bournemouth in the meantime were having the majority of possession as they tried to force their way back into the game. Carl Fletcher headed wide when well placed and a series of fine blocks and clearances around the edge of the box ensured that Rangers went into the half time break a goal to the good.

The second period started at a frenetic pace with The Cherries attacking from the off. One good counter attack from Rangers should have seen us double our lead. A fine through ball from Murphy was half controlled by Thomo. His touch took him onto his left foot and he managed to force a fine save from Gareth Stewart. Bignot also fired wide when well placed when he should have squared to the unmarked Thomson.

Two minutes of action then gave us the games main talking point. After 69 minutes Eddie Howe upended Kevin Gallen in the area and Andy Thomson made no mistake from twelve yards. Less than one minute later Rangers were reduced to ten men for the second week running.

Danny Murphy, already on a yellow card, made an absolute blockbuster of a challenge. Or so he thought. Despite the fact that he had taken the ball, the arsepipe of a ref thought that it was worthy of a second yellow. This of course is utter crap. The challenge on Peacock was far worse but he seemed determined to ruin somebody's Christmas and Murph was the unlucky bloke.

I don't think this will be the last red card he receives in a blue and white hooped shirt. The way he plays is reminiscent of a young Julian Dicks and I reckon he can look forward to a red card every season for the rest of his career. I don't mind that as he is not a dirty player just a committed one and as we have seen in the press in recent weeks such players are vilified for their actions.

Up until the sending off Fraser Digby had little work to speak of but this soon changed and once again we were treated to a world class display of shot stopping. At the same time we were being given a Sunday morning display of kicking. He needs to sort this out at it is stopping him winning over large numbers of Rangers fans. On one occasion only the sharp reactions of Shittu prevented the ball being rolled into a gaping net.

At the same time he pulled off saves from Fletcher, Hayter and Feeney that were right out of the top drawer. He could do nothing however to stop Fletcher pulling a goal back. A right wing cross was headed back by the impressive James Hayter and Fletcher was one hand to stab home from six yards in the final minute. This set up a frantic period of injury time which Rangers rode out to claim yet another three points on the road.

We now sit eighth and two points off the play offs, which isn't bad considering the turmoil behind the scenes. The biggest blow to us will be when Danny Shittu has to return to Charlton, as he has been an inspirational figure at the back since the Swansea debacle. Skint or not the board should try and find a bit of money to keep this beast of a centre back.

Two tough home games against Brighton and Wycombe Wanderers await and four points from these two will be an excellent return. Holloway has turned this side from a bunch of players who would roll over at the slightest hint of trouble into a team that will happily battle for the fans and each other. They have passion and no little amount of skill and at the moment I am not sure we can ask for anything more. If we show the sort of commitment seen in the last two away games for the rest of the season there is no reason why we won't make the play offs. And from there who knows…….