Well that was a long time coming wasn’t it? The last time Rangers won a game was the 27^th November 2004 against Cardiff City. That win was off the back of the Leeds drubbing, this game was following hot on the heels of the Nottingham Forest defeat and hopefully this is the first step on the road to stopping the rot that has set in of late.

Given the makeshift nature of the team last week a host of changes were always coming and Olly didn’t disappoint. Royce started in goal having signed on loan from Charlton. The back four consisted of Edghill, Shittu, Davies (on loan from Middlesbrough) and Padula. The midfield four was Ainsworth, Gallen, Santos and Cook, with Cureton and Furlong in attack. There was a welcome return to the bench for Matthew Rose, fit again after his hamstring troubles.

With the world, or at least a very tiny percentage of it, watching on Sky Sports, Rangers set about grabbing the early initiative. Cook looked bright from the off and he quickly created a chance for Furlong. Furs darted to the near post but could only direct the ball into the vast swathes of blue seats that broke up the paltry Stoke following. I don’t know why their turn out was so poor, maybe the fact Birch wasn’t fit meant that they would rather watch this in their favourite working men’s club back at home.

Former Mansfield striker Chris Greenacre has Stoke’s first effort of the game with a bobbler that Royce gathered easily. The game then turned into a fairly scrappy affair with neither side creating much. Stoke’s game plan was clear, hoof the ball to Ade Akinbyi and let him foul players and see if it drops to him. In his first challenge with Andrew Davies he rammed his forearm into his face although that was completely ignored by everyone’s favourite pantomime villain, Rob Styles.

When Akinbyi did find space he treated his marker to a series of the biggest step overs the world has ever seen. He looked like he was a can-can girl and I half expected to hitch up his shorts to show off a personalised garter to match his personalised headband! How big time is this fella? I wouldn’t mind but in layman’s terms he could be best described as crap!

But back to more important matters and in particular, Rangers first goal from open play since Furlong’s second against Ipswich. Santos received the ball in midfield and slotted a ball toward Cureton. Wayne Thomas intercepted but immediately presented the ball to the diminutive striker who back heeled it into the path of Furlong. He immediately shifted it along one more to Cook who took a touch to get it out of his feet and then blasted an unstoppable shot past Ed de Goey look-a-like Steve Simonsen.

Rangers were well on top now and started to shift the ball about with confidence. Cookie was giving Lewis Buxton a real going over and seemed to have the beating of his man whenever he wanted. It was clear that the goal had boosted his confidence and it was about time. For such a promising player he has delivered little this season and it is about time he started to justify the transfer fee.

Shittu and Davies were already forming a good partnership with the ‘Boro man talking Shittu through. It is odd as he is very much the junior partner but Big Dan needs a calming voice in his ear. Georges doesn’t provide that, Davies did. Shittu was clearly benefiting as he was heading everything that came his way and heading it a mile!

Santos should have scored when he got on the end of a Gallen freekick and saw his header fall back at his feet. He snatched at his shot though and it screwed badly wide. He very nearly had another chance after some flowing football saw Ainsworth beat his man down the right side. As Santos made a near post run the ball into him was not struck quite hard enough and the danger was snuffed out.

After the break Davies didn’t appear thanks to a slight hamstring tweak. This meant a return for Matty Rose and he slotted in alongside Shittu and for the first ten minutes they had a little getting to know you session. Whilst they were doing this Cookie was coming close to adding a second at the other end. In an almost identical situation to his goal he found himself in space and crashed a shot at goal. This time Simonsen had it covered but then fumbled it and saw it bounce back off the post and into his arms. If I was him I would stick a quid on the Lotto tonight!

It was all Rangers now as the confidence began to flow through the side. Cook found space again but over hit his cross with Curo waiting at the far post. Ainsworth then found himself through one on one with Simonsen despite appearing to be about five yards offside. His shot beat the former Tranmere keeper but also flew narrowly wide of the far post.

At the other end Stoke finally produced a threat on goal when Akinbyi flicked on and Greenacre ran in behind. He sent in a delicate lob that cleared Royce and landed on the roof of the net. Undeterred Rangers were straight back on the attack and Cook came close again with another angled drive that Simonsen gathered down low.

Rose produced a magnificent lunging block to deny Akinbyi when he seemed well placed to shoot and Royce showed his bravery by coming into heavy traffic to claim a ball at the second attempt. He got a smack round the head for his bother but didn’t seem to mind too much. It was a display of bravado that had seemed badly lacking from the previous incumbent. 

Furlong planted a firm header straight at Simonsen following a Gallen freekick and that seemed to be the last of the chances for Rangers. During the course of the second half we had also been treated to the return of the real Rob Styles. Having been decent for the first hour he then began flashing cards at everyone for everything. He booked Cook for a dive by John Eustace, he booked Furlong for the giant gut of Gerry Taggart bouncing off of him and then he booked Santos for not failing to retreat at a freekick! The Madness of Rob Styles, no doubt that it what this big time ref’s autobiography will be called!

With five minutes left Rangers had a real scare when Stoke broke with form and got the ball in the net. A ball was flashed across Royce and nodded in to the gaping net by Eustace. The lino’s flag was up quickly though and the joy was cut short. The Stoke fans were soon on the phone for their taxi to take them home as Rangers managed to play out the rest of the game without incident.

This was a huge win for Rangers and one that has been a long time coming. We finally managed to grab a slice of luck with the disallowed goal and you never know, maybe this is the end of our terrible run. The next thing is to get this terrible away form improved and with the confidence lifted maybe we can go to Coventry next week a do a job on them.

simon@qprnet.com