Have your say on our message board
Upload your QPR pictures to our photo gallery
Read a range of opinions on our regular blogs
Check your team's progress in Fantasy Rangers
Stay in touch on the move with QPRnet Mobile
Finally, Rangers managed to do what Rangers never manage to do, comfortably beat a team we should comfortably beat! The performance wasn't great but chances were taken where they are often squandered and all this on a night when other results strengthened our play off position.
For the third match on the bounce Holloway had the luxury of naming an unchanged starting eleven. Day was once again in goal behind Forbes, Shittu, Carlisle and Williams with the midfield consisting of Langley, Palmer, Bircham and Cook. Gallen and Furlong were the preferred attacking partnership. The bench was one of the most attacking I can remember for a long time with Padula the only defender. Griffiths, Thomson, Pacquette and Angell filled the rest of the positions. Despite Cheltenham taking an early lead Rangers had already managed two attempts on Shane Higgs' goal. Twice Gallen went close, the first a shot easily saved by Higgs, the second a header just wide from one of Lee Cook's many crosses. The goal when it came was a well worked affair that caught the Rangers defence napping. Referee Williamson awarded a generous freekick just outside the centre circle. As the defenders concentrated on the men already in the box, both Cheltenham centre backs made late runs on the right. Both managed to isolate Cook and the ball in was headed across goal for Martin Devaney to tap home from five yards. The same set piece almost came off again later on but this time the R's rearguard managed to organise themselves before disaster could strike. Shortly after this, Rangers lost Tommy Williams with what looked like a serious knee injury. He tried to clear the ball and as he did his studs caught in the turf and he twisted awkwardly. To his credit he managed to complete his clearance before collapsing in agony. He was quickly stretchered from the field and replaced by Gino. This was a rotten piece of luck as he was due to fill Cookies boots, lets hope it is not as serious as it first appeared. Despite having little fluency and reverting to far too many long balls Rangers were still creating chances. Bircham had an effort hacked off the line before he clipped the top of the bar with a stunning bicycle kick from eighteen yards. Furlong then had two headers from Cook crosses saved by Higgs and Gallen fired just over the bar before the equaliser finally arrived. Lee Cook set off on a mazy run and waltzed past the same three defenders twice. His low cross to the near post was met by Gallen and he steered a low left footed shot past Higgs and into the bottom right hand corner. It was no more than Rangers' dominance deserved even if some of the football wasn't easy to watch. Just before the break Rangers took the lead thanks to a contender for own goal of the season. Langley beat a man in centre midfield with a sublime piece of skill and sent a ball through for Gallen to chase. Just as it looked as though keeper Higgs was going to get it, in stole Mike Duff to lift the ball over the keeper and home. It was a fantastic finish and one we would have raved about if Gallen had done it. This was a better o.g. than the Blackpool effort earlier this season. After an extra long half time Rangers soon got back into the swing of things, dominating possession from the off. The game was soon stopped again due to another serious injury, this time to goal scorer Duff. He challenged for a header with Furlong and seemed to butt the back of Furlong's head. He hit the deck and there was resuscitation equipment brought onto the field at one point. He was stretchered off to warm applause. With the Cheltenham defence now unsettled Rangers soon added the third. Kevin Gallen tried to bring a high ball under control and get a shot away. The opportunity went but he managed to feed Langley who was making ground on the right. Not for the first time he burst past Jamie Victory and sent a low ball across the box, which was fired home at the far post by Cook. It was no less than his performance on the night and over the past three months have deserved. Dan Shittu nearly scored his seventh of the season from a Langley corner but his header was poor and drifted harmlessly wide. Big Dan is now down to 12/1 for scorer and you come to expect a lot of him in these situations now. The fourth and final goal was only a few minutes away and it came from the deadly left foot of Furlong. Once more Langley was the instigator, finding Furs with a quick freekick that he quickly controlled. He turned and cracked a left footed fizzer past the hapless Higgs. It was his tenth of the season and seventh in his last nine games. With the game well and truly won Holloway took off Gallen and Furlong and brought on Thomson and Angell, it was at this point that the game lost all of it's flow and began to peter out. You could see the player wanted to get Angell a goal but they may have been better served concentrating on the team rather than the individual as a couple more in the goals for column wouldn't have done any harm. This was a resounding victory for Rangers and one that you don't normally expect them to get. An expectant bunch are the R's faithful and this time we weren't disappointed. It was great for Cookie to cap his loan spell with that goal and a man of the match performance. Other performances of note came from Gallen and Furlong who were simply awesome and whilst appearing to lose the ball too often Langley made three goals and mugged his fullback on more occasions than I can remember. On to Wigan now and a different test. Wigan will try and play and we traditionally fare better against this type of side. I fancy at least a point although Rangers will be trying desperately for three as the play off charge continues.
simon@qprnet.com
