Rangers halted the run of successive defeats with a disappointing draw at home to a poor Brighton and Hove Albion. How they didn’t win this game is anybodies guess with the woodwork and goal line interventions spoiling the day. They didn’t quite spoil it as much as Furlong though who was dismissed for a petulant kick out as the final whistle loomed.

Holloway had indicated that changes were on the cards following the defeat by Crewe. He wasn’t kidding either with no less than five changes in either personnel or position. Day was in goal behind a back four of Bignot, Santos, Shittu and Edghill. Ainsworth was back on the right of midfield with Bean partnering Gallen in the middle. Rowlands was on the right with Best and Furlong continuing in attack.

Rangers started like a house on fire and tested keeper Kuipers in the opening exchanges. Ainsworth had a shot saved as did Leon Best. Once again it seemed to be a scuffed effort from Best, as was the theme against Crewe. He seems to be a talented boy but lacking any confidence in front of goal. Maybe he just needs one to go in to set him off but I can see patience on the terraces wearing thin with him already.

Rangers then had a shot hacked off the line, the first of two for the day. Gallen found some space on the edge of the box and sent a placed shot toward goal. He only managed to find Hinshelwood on the line and he hacked the ball to safety. It was then the turn of Marcus Bean to go close. The Brighton defence failed to clear the ball properly and Bean ran onto the ball to steer a shot at goal. Once again Kuipers was in the right place and gathered the ball easily.

Brighton had only mustered one effort on goal in the half, a tame header easily claimed by Day, and were riding their luck big time at the other end. This was no more in evidence than just before the break when the post and a brilliant save served to deny Rangers. Furlong challenged for a ball and it came out to Shittu who met the ball with a sweet drive only to see it crash back off the inside of the post. The ball went straight to Best and he finally made clean contact only to see Kuipers fly to his right to somehow turn the ball away, he even managed to get up and get the third attempt before it trickled over the line.

Brighton will have been made up to get in level at the break such was the one way traffic in the first half. Rangers hadn’t played well in truth but they were infinitely better than a Brighton side that had come for a draw at best. Mind you who could blame them maybe that is a tactic we should look to employ if we don’t want to make it eight away defeats on the bounce at Leicester on Monday!

After the break it was more of the same as Kuipers continued to deny Rangers at every turn. He has this habit of looking extremely flaky and then producing save after save after save. It’s bloody annoying! Furlong was the first to be denied in the second half after he turned a Best through ball toward goal. The two of them seem to be developing an understanding although that will have to go on the back burner after events later in the game.

Mothercare pin up boy Leon Knight had now entered the fray to a crescendo of abuse from the Loftus Road faithful. The little man with the giant kit was up to his usual tricks pretty quickly as he whinged and moaned his way through the game, only stopping to hurl himself to the ground in comedy fashion. When he did this under the slightest challenge from Ainsworth he brought a brilliant reaction from him. Ainsworth stopped what he was doing, turned to run twenty yards back to Knight before hurling himself to the deck. Knight must be embarrassed by his actions and in truth is probably just upset that he didn’t come to Rangers when he had the chance.

Kuipers was beaten for the second time in the game following a foul on Best on the edge of the box. Furlong struck the ball sweetly and it flew through the wall only to find Guy Butters on the line to smash it clear. Best then found the target again, this time with his head following a Shittu flick to a Bignot cross. Kuipers was well positioned and gathered the ball cleanly.

He showed the other side of his game soon though when he came haring out of his box and ran straight past the ball. Unfortunately the angle was so tight once Furs had caught it that he could only smash it across the face of goal. Nobody was on hand to tuck it away and the danger was averted.

In between these two moments our own keeper was called into action for only the second time in the game. Leon Knight showed that he can do something other than fall over when he worked some space on the edge of the box and crashed a fierce effort at goal. Day saved the initial shot and should have held it; fortunately he was up in time to avert the danger a second time.

Referee Andy D’Urso, a self confessed Rangers hater, infuriated the home fans when he failed to take any action following a blatant stamp from Charlie Oatway on Marcus Bean. He seemed to miss it, as did the lino, who was fully two yards away! It seems that it would be a case of violent conduct when it suited from Mr D’Urso, as Furs would find out to his cost.

Bignot had to be at his best to deny Knight with a brilliant challenge in the area before Kuipers denied Furlong again as he struck a McLeod cross in acrobatic fashion from the edge of the area. It only seemed a matter of time before Rangers would score as the pressure was incessant. Ainsworth on the right was playing out of his skin and I am not sure I have ever seen him play better than this. He ran like a loon all day and the bravery of the man is incredible. He sticks his head where most people won’t put their boots and even had a trip into The Paddock for his trouble.

With just under five minutes left Furlong was dismissed. He and Adam Hinshelwood chased a ball and the Brighton man was all over Furs. He was pushing and showing him and it should have been a free kick but as usual, D’Urso saw what he wanted to. As Furlong turned to appeal he flicked out a leg at Hinshelwood and as is customary for a Brighton player he hit the deck in theatrical fashion. D’Urso was quick to send Furlong off even though the Rangers man tried to hang around given this clown referee’s misdemeanour earlier in the season!

It could have been worse as shortly afterwards Brighton won a corner and Oatway was only inches away from heading an undeserved winner. It would have been rough justice for a player that should have already been in the dressing room to score the winner but luckily he is of jockey proportions.

Those who arrived at the ground expecting champagne football will have been disappointed in what was more of a light ale game! Despite the almost constant barrage of pressure on the Brighton goal the performance wasn’t great. Gallen again looked uncomfortable in midfield, although he did look better when he moved into attack. Most people turned in competent of not spectacular performances and hopefully this will have given us something to build on for Monday, although how we replace Furlong is anybodies guess.

simon@qprnet.com