Anyone expecting Rangers to finish the season in style would have been sorely disappointed with this lacklustre performance. Half of the team seemed to thinking whether they had bought enough Ambre Solaire and the majority of the rest just couldn't be arsed.

Leroy Griffiths and Andy Thomson both returned to the staring eleven in place of the now injured Thomas and Dominic Foley. Youngster Pat Gradley was named on the bench for the first time in his fledgling career. For Oldham, it was nice to see former Rangers favourite Paul Murray line up against the team he supports.

In the early stages, it looked as though Murray was going to cut us to ribbons. Playing in a central role, one that he filled all too little for the R's, his movement and passing were excellent. Three times in the first ten minutes he made forward runs that weren't tracked properly. Only a timely intervention from Shittu prevented him from opening the scoring. Our central pairing of Rose and Peacock seemed well off the pace and this wouldn't change for the entire game.

The Latics scored the games only goal after ten minutes. A quick throw on the left found gangling centre half Fitz Hall unmarked. He had all the time in the world to turn and pick out the onrushing Juilan Baudet. Baudet's shot wasn't the best but it had enough on it to beat the desperate dive of Rhys Evans.

This seemed to inject a bit of life into Rangers and we managed our best spell of the game soon after. Oldham keeper Miskelly (daughter of first choice Gary Kelly, sorry, puerile gag!) made a sharp save from a Peacock drive. Andy Thomson fired a stinging volley just wide and Leroy had an effort hacked of the line.

All the while Oldham never really looked like they would concede, so poor was the majority of our play. The game, already pretty poor, wasn't being helped by yet more fussy officiating from referee Laws. Some of his decisions were downright poor, but to be fair he was poor for both teams so we cannot really complain.

Half time didn't bring any changes to either side and as a result, the start of the second half was as poor as the end of the first. After a while Holloway attempted to liven things up with the introduction of Junior Agogo for Leroy. He had grabbed a couple in the reserves during the week and Olly must have hoped he could carry this form up a level. To me he still doesn't seem fit and he had little impact on the game aside from a miss-hit cross that Miskelly had to turn over.

Rangers survived two second half scares when Carlo Corazzin twice managed to head wide of an open goal. The first came after Colusso's lobbed effort came back off the bar, the second when he was unmarked six yards out with only Evans to beat.

As the game neared a conclusion with neither team really creating any chances Holloway threw Danny Murphy and Dominic Foley into the equation. Murphy had an immediate impact and the whole team got a lift as he embarked on his now trademark surges from left back. Surely, he has to be the first choice next year. Although Biggy is sound defensively he doesn't offer enough going forward, if Murph can improve his defensive qualities he will be some player.

Foley on the other hand did little to suggest he could turn the game. After an initial showing against Notts County after which I was full of praise, he has done nothing. For a big man who is obviously good in the air he barely leaves the ground. He is like an Irish version of the Hammersmith Horse, but with less ability. Hopefully he will return to Watford in summer and that will be that.

The game ended in a whimper and it was a shame. I am sure the players would have liked to sign off with a win today but the majority of them failed to show up. The only players that can emerge from the game with any credit are Langley, although he was quiet by his own high standards, and my man of the match Terrell Forbes.

I though it was strange that Gradley didn't get at least ten minutes just to give him a taste of first team action. He has the potential to be an important player for us next term and this could have proved invaluable. The fact that we were chasing the game will have dictated this move but it was still a shame.

With the players that we have at our disposal, we should be able to challenge for automatic promotion next year. The current side should be used as the nucleus as with players of the quality of Carlisle, Burgess, Doudou and hopefully Chris Day to some in we will be as strong as we can be. The refinancing should go through soon and we will be able to start bringing in a few Bosman frees as well.

With the club still in negotiations with Thommo, we must be hopeful that he can stay. We must try to bring in a genuine goal scoring midfielder who can chip in fifteen. Add that to a potential thirty from a fit Thommo, fifteen over the campaign from Gallen and twenty that Langley and Burgess are more than capable of scoring between them we could be in for one hell of a ride.