With Gavin Peacock back from his three-month stint at The Valley, he was an automatic choice in the centre of midfield. Aziz Ben-Askar returned at the heart of a three-man defence and The Real Danny Murphy was handed his first team debut at left wing back. There cannot be many bigger back threes in the country than Palmer, Shittu and Ben-Askar and the second of these would have a profound effect on the outcome of this game.

Rangers flew at Chesterfield from the off, forcing three corners in quick time. All of these were taken by Murphy and his delivery at times left a little to be desired. You could see though that he was trying different things and it made a change from our usual corner routines of hitting the first defender or clearing the entire penalty area! Despite the early pressure Nathan Abbey in the Chesterfield goal was not troubled. It was soon a similar story at the other end. A period of Chesterfield pressure and Digby this time not called into action.

The majority of the first half possession had fallen to Rangers and our midfield three of Peacock, Rose and Connolly seemed to be working well. It was a surprise when Doudou replaced Connolly after only 29 minutes. Connolly looked to be hobbling, but then he always does, so it was difficult to tell whether injury was to blame. It was Doudou that would ultimately turn this game in favour of Rangers. If it had not been for the wasteful delivery of Terrell Forbes on the right, we could easily have forged a first half lead. Time and again, he was left in acres of space by Chesterfield's defence yet he constantly hit the first defender when attempting to cross. Holloway had spoken during the week of the need for better crosses and it seems that Forbes may need a little extra training in this area.

The second half seemed to be heading the same way as the first when the game suddenly burst into life. Murphy was adjudged to have handled just inside the area and the ref had no hesitation in awarding the pen. We were at the other end so you couldn't really tell if he had handled or not. The whole Chesterfield end went up for it though so I am happy to give the benefit of the doubt. David Reeves fired the spot kick to Digby's right having sent him the wrong way.

The penalty in itself had come as a result of another awful Digby kick. He had sliced the ball wildly all afternoon, whether kicking out of hand or off the floor. Whilst we acknowledge that he is a fine shot stopper he drops his teammates in the shit on a regular basis with his erratic kicking. In a time when the distribution of your keeper is key I am not sure we can let him continue for too much longer. Time for Rhys Evans to take his place in my opinion.

I had said to my mate that I wasn't convinced we could get back into it and just as the words had left my mouth Rangers suddenly clicked into gear. Seven minutes of champagne football led to three quick fire goals. For a reason best known only to themselves the Chesterfield defence thought the best way of handling Doudou was to give him time and space. Wrong! He was now murdering Spireite defenders at will and an incisive run and perfectly weighted through ball put Gallen away in the area. He mugged the Chesterfield defender who foolishly stuck out a leg for Gallen to fall over.

Thomson stepped up to take the penalty, but hold on, who was this taking an interest? Peacock walked over and looked like he wanted it. Things have changed a little since he last played for the Rangers. He was duly sent packing and Thomson dispatched the penalty with minimum fuss to Abbey's left. Four minutes later and it was 2-1. Thomson had burst into the area and gone down under another lunging Chesterfield challenge, it may have been another penalty but all we got was a corner. Murphy swung the ball in from the right and Danny Shittu powered home a header from eight yards. He celebrated by ripping of his shirt, holy shit! One word, animal!

Two minutes later and it was three. Doudou was again allowed the freedom of Saltergate and he provided another cracking ball for Gallen. He was one on one with Abbey, the keeper parried his shot and it fell to Matthew Rose on the edge of the box. He calmly side footed home to send the Rangers fans delirious. This should really have been the fourth as Gallen had missed a routine header after a great cross from Murphy.

The goal of the game came eight minutes later as Chesterfield gave themselves a chance. Jon Howard cut in from the right and unleashed a searing twenty-five yarder past Digby into the top corner. It was an absolute belter and it set up a typically nervy finish. Things got even more fraught five minutes later when Shittu was sent packing. Having been harshly booked minutes earlier for a soft looking foul he committed a foolish thigh high challenge and left the ref little option. He will get at least three games for this staring in two weeks so we may just squeeze the end of his loan spell out.

Chesterfield were now pouring forward with wave after wave of attacks but to no avail. They weren't able to test Digby and were still being caught on the break. Alex Bonnot, who had now replaced Doudou, broke down the right and cleverly cut the ball back to Gallen. His poorly struck shot found its way to Thomson who could only poke tamely at the keeper from six yards.

As the final whistle went Holloway flew onto the field to berate the referee, the Rangers players celebrated and Chesterfield looked thoroughly demoralised. They had been undone by a magical seven-minute burst that lit up a game that looked to be going nowhere.

We looked a more potent attacking force with Peacock back in the side. His clever running served to create space for others, especially Doudou, and with our current personnel, I think this may be our best formation. With the return of Langley imminent, I think he needs to play in a midfield three so he isn't bogged down with too many defensive responsibilities. Assuming that Rose will have to drop into the back three when Shittu goes back to Charlton I think I would partner him with Peacock and Bignot.

Looking to the more immediate future I think that same team, except Doudou for Connolly from the start, should be enough to see of Bournemouth and send us into the festive period full of hope and with one eye on sneaking the play-offs.