Rangers made it two wins on the bounce with a classic away performance against an extremely average Crewe side at a rain sodden Gresty Road. Although this was not a sparkling attacking display we were solid and played very well on the counter attack and that was more than enough to claim the points.

For the first time this season Olly had the option of naming an unchanged side for this one. Day was in goal behind a back four of Bignot, Rose, Santos and Padula. The midfield four was Rowlands, Bircham, Bean and Cook. Furlong and Gallen were named in attack.

The game didn’t start brilliantly for Rangers as they saw Marcus Bignot go into the book after only four minutes for a fairly agricultural challenge on Steve Jones. The fact that it was a soaking wet night didn’t cut much ice with mini ref Ray Olivier and it would be a night when the first offence would earn a card on more than one occasion. From Lunt’s freekick Beany dove in at the near post to head the ball to safety.

Rangers were next to go close when Furlong unleashed a fierce effort that former Manchester United keeper Ben Williams fumbled over the bar. It was shocking piece of keeping from the youngster, what he was doing trying to catch a wet ball and that speed I have no idea. Chances were at a premium though with Crewe making a lot of the running but there much heralded striker Dean Ashton getting little change out of Rose and the imperious Georges Santos.

With a little over 20 minutes played Rangers hit the front courtesy of the in form Paul Furlong. Marcus Bignot’s forward run was stopped by Kenny Lunt and the referee gave a very soft free kick. Rowlands, Gallen and Furlong all stood over the ball before Gallen rolled it to the side and Furlong hammered the ball past the hapless Williams to send the travelling R’s into a frenzy. It was a fabulous goal from a striker that is in supreme form at the moment, it is great to see that at least one of last seasons form players has managed to make the transition to the higher standard.

Crewe came within a whisker of equalising shortly before the break. A long ball found its way into the path of Ashton who was through one on one with Day. He tried to take the effort first time but could only steer the ball onto the base of the post and away to safety. Moments later Steve Jones managed to wriggle free of Bignot but he could only smash his shot wide of Day’s goal also.

Rangers seemed to start the second half as the better side. Cook was now beginning to launch marauding runs down the left and some of his deliveries carried real menace. Gallen sent a couple of efforts wide of the goal and although he seemed livelier he still looks very hesitant to me and short of confidence in front of goal. One example of this was when he was played in for a left footed effort but was forced to take two of three touches and get it onto his right only to see it blocked away. A form player just strikes the ball when it arrives.

Midway through the second half Rangers doubled their lead via the hitherto inspirational Georges Santos. Rangers won a right wing corner and Gallen’s out swinging delivery was met at the far post by Santos for an easy header into the corner. It was clear to see what the goal meant to both the man and his team mates as he was mobbed. It was great to see a player that had been vilified by many before he had even set foot on the pitch scoring a goal and turning in yet another excellent display.

Beany was next to trouble the keeper when he strode onto a ball dropping twenty five yards from goal. He met the ball with a crashing volley that keeper Williams did well to scramble away. Crewe now decided it was time to try and make a decent fist of the game and they began to exert some pressure on the Rangers defence.

Santos found his way into the book for a challenge on Steve Jones on the very extreme of the penalty area. It looked to me as though Jones had just run into the big man but enough damage was done to see the Northern Ireland international carried from the field. The resulting freekick was poor though and the danger was easily averted. Then in the final minute Rangers were counting themselves very fortunate not to be down to ten men.

Crewe sub Varney managed to steal a march on Gino and seemed destined to get his strike in before the Argentine snaked out a leg to send the Alex man crashing to the floor. It seemed a certain red card to me as the covering defenders didn’t seem close enough to be able to close him out before the shot came in. Referee Olivier decided that a yellow was punishment enough though and Padula can consider himself a lucky boy. When the freekick came in Ashton found space at the far post only to see Day turn his volley onto the upright and secure the clean sheet.

At the final whistle the players celebrated hard and it was great to see the subs flooding onto the field to join them. It would have been easy for them to trot off down the tunnel but they came on to congratulate their team mates, with Gnohere in particular making a beeline for Santos.

This was a very good display from Rangers and the three points were well deserved despite what Dario Gradi may think. We kept it tight at the back and took our chances when they came, for me that it the classic away display. It might not have been pretty at times but it was damned effective. The game was littered with excellent showings all over the pitch with Day, Bignot, Rose, Santos, Bean, Cook and Furlong all looking in fine fettle. I found myself disappointed with Padula’s distribution, Bircham’s fitness, Rowlands’ application and Gallen’s finishing though. All four were lacking at points tonight so there is room for improvement before a tough game at Brighton on Saturday.

As the happy R’s fans were pouring out of the ground the theme from The Exorcist was playing over the tannoy, which was odd as based on that display it was clear that Crewe new very little about possession! They were outplayed, out defended and outclassed.

simon@qprnet.com