Rangers exorcised the memory of the walloping handed out by Watford early in the season to run out comfortable 3-1 winners at Loftus Road. At times the football was exhilarating, at other times infuriating as The Hornets went down to ten men and were fortunate not to have been beaten more comprehensively.

Olly decided to make some changes to the side that had played out the dullest of 0-0 draws against Reading last week. Royce remained in goal behind a reshuffled back four of Bignot, Shittu, Santos and Rose. Ainsworth was back on the right alongside Bircham, Rowlands and Cook. Gallen and Furlong continued their rejuvenated partnership in attack.

It was clear from the kick off that Lee Cook was well up for this game. Having heard his name booed by the Watford fans, god forbid someone should want to leave their club at the end of his contract; he absolutely flew out of the traps. His first involvement was a lung bursting break from the half way line that ended with him shooting well wide of Richard Lee’s right hand upright.

Both wings were proving fruitful and on the right Ainsworth easily had the measure of former Ranger Jermaine Darlington. JD was showing that he still cannot tackle and the sheer physical presence of Wild Thing was too much for him. He swung in a cross that Furs sent over the bar and minutes later Cook breezed past Chambers on the other side to create another chance for the veteran striker. This time Furlong found the target with his header only for Lee to intervene.

Furlong then found yet more space but once again managed to head over the bar before Watford finally managed to force some sort of pressure on the Rangers goal. Their attacks had been stumbling thus far due to a lack of support to Heidar Helguson but eventually they managed to break through. Santos hacked a ball into the stand and Spurs loanee Johnnie Jackson took the corner. The marking went to pot and Bruce Dyer headed back across the face of goal, when the ball was played back in Bignot was on hand to affect a rather agricultural clearance over the bar.

Undeterred by this scare Rangers piled back to the other end of the field and were rewarded with a penalty whilst Watford found themselves reduced to ten men. The ball ricocheted around the box before falling into the path of Gallen. He struck the ball cleanly and Lee was well beaten before the arm of Brynjar Gunnarsson snaked out to block the ball. Graham Poll had no other option but to dismiss the Icelandic international and award the spot kick. Gallen stepped up to take it and placed the ball to Lee’s left only for the Watford man to save brilliantly. The ball bounced up and Gallen attacked it again, this time his header bounced off of the bar into the path of Rowlands. With Lee still helpless the Irish international could only nod over.

The goal would have been no less than Rangers deserved such had been their early dominance. What followed now was a period of uncertainty as Rangers tried to figure out how to play against ten men and how to work the space. The game entered a scrappy faze and this was only broken temporarily by the sight of Shittu striding through midfield to crack a thirty yarder just wide of the post. It needed someone to get hold of the ball and dictate the play, that man was Martin Rowlands. Suddenly it all began to click and Watford were getting cut to ribbons.

Watford were still mustering a staccato threat though and sub Neil Ardley swung in a cross that was headed over by Helguson. Shortly after this Rangers took a deserved lead. Unsurprisingly it was Lee Cook that instigated things as he jinked his was past Chambers again and sent a low cross into the box. The ball found its way to Furlong and he made no mistake with a low left footed shot sent straight into the bottom corner.

On the stroke of halftime Rangers doubled their advantage with a fabulous goal. Rowlands collected the ball in midfield and sent a sumptuous fifty yard ball into the path of Ainsworth. He let the ball drop before mugging Darlington and bursting down the line. His low centre was perfect for Gallen and he clipped it past Lee to send an already demoralised Watford side into the dressing room two behind.

Ray Lew decided that he had seen enough of Darlington getting turned over at every opportunity and introduced Lloyd Doyley in his place. He went to right back and Chambers moved to the left. Both wingers now had a new full back to try and turn inside out, just as they had done to their first half foes.

The half started scrappily again and it took a few more minutes for Rangers to start getting the ball down and playing again. When they did it didn’t take long for the third goal to arrive. Cook was the man yet again as he went past Doyley and delivered a low cross. The ball was deflected back to him and his second effort was a beauty. Gallen rose highest and headed past Lee to give Rangers the cushion their utter dominance deserved.

It was almost 4-0 immediately as Cook once again sent in a brilliant cross this time Furlong was on the other end of it. He slid in to meet the ball but could only send the ball wide of Lee’s goal. Rangers should have had a second penalty midway through the half when American Jay Demerit almost picked the ball up! For some reason Poll decided it was ball to hand and that there was no pen. Maybe he was feeling sorry for a Watford side that was seemingly on their last legs. It would have been interesting to see whether Gallen would have stepped up if he had given it.

With the game at Derby in the week in mind Olly made some changes and took off Rose and Furlong. This meant a change of formation and they seemed to be trying a Chelsea style 4-3-3, unfortunately as we failed to get hold of the ball for about ten minutes this quickly became 4-5-1 much to the chagrin of many inside the ground.

Watford were showing some fight now, Rangers seemed to have gotten the cigars out and the men from Hertfordshire were suddenly on top for long periods. The introduction of Danny Webber had given them another option and his pace was causing some problems. Jackson forced Royce into a stunning save with a thirty yard piledriver that was heading for the top corner. At the other end Santos should have crossed the ball after Edghill had found him with an excellent cross field pass. As the ball was dropping though everybody knew what was coming and he controlled and shot into the side netting.

With ten minutes left Watford grabbed a lifeline with a stunning goal from Ardley. The former Wimbledon man controlled a ball on his thigh before sending a wonderful dipping volley over Royce into the net. The goal even drew applause from the Rangers fans such was its quality.

With five minutes left Olly took off Cook to a thunderous ovation. Having been heckled throughout by Watford’s paltry following he turned in his best display in a Rangers shirt. Thorpe replaced him, we went back to 4-4-2 and the balance of play swung back toward Rangers.

Despite having been so comfortable for long periods the final whistle was a welcome sound, only Rangers can have you biting your nails 3-1 up with ten minutes to play! This was an excellent display in places and slightly patchy in others. Olly tried something different during the second half and to his credit changed it when it proved not to be working. If you can’t tinker when you are three up at home then when can you!

This game should give us confidence going to Derby on Wednesday and with the imminent return of Andy Davies things are looking bright. If he does come back I hope Olly doesn’t decide to make the midfield less attacking. Rowly played well in the middle and showed that he can do it, what he needs is a run of games to show this was no fluke.

simon@qprnet.com

Lee Cook. Wing wizardry at its very best. Cookie turned both full backs he played against inside out and to cap it by setting up two of the three goals was perfect.