After the Southampton game Holloway made only one change to the starting eleven. Royce was in goal behind Bignot, Shittu, Santos and Milanese. Ainsworth came in on the right of midfield to team up with Bircham, Doherty and Cook. Moore was released into the attack to partner Furlong.

The first half was an instantly forgettable affair with Rangers turning in a pitiful display of just about everything. That is not to say that Luton were bossing this game. They to were struggling for any sort of fluency and any chances that came were more as a result of errors than brilliance.

Royce had to be alert to deny Warren Feeney the opening goal whilst at the other end Furlong continued his struggles in front of goal. He seemed to have worked a decent opening for himself but fell over the ball as he was shooting.

Luton were certainly coming closer to the opener at this point and had Ahmet Brkovic lifted his head in the box it would surely have come. Luton skipper Nicholls slipped the Croatian in and a pull back to the unmarked Steve Howard looked to be the ball on but the Deuce Bigalow look-a-like dragged a shot across goal instead.

Furlong got on the end of an Ainsworth cross to force Marlon Beresford into his first save of the game. The lino’s flag was up but it was nice to see Furs get a decent effort away. He was booked shortly afterwards for a 50/50 challenge on the keeper. It was a farcical decision but it wasn’t out of keeping from the abject Thorpe. This was the same man that allowed Marcus Bean to punch a goal last season so we should not be shocked at his incompetence.

Nicholls tried his luck from a freekick but it failed to trouble Royce. In the build up to this Shittu was booked for kicking the ball away a nanosecond after the ref had blown a delayed whistle. Harsh does not do it justice. The officials were booed off at halftime and the team were probably grateful as it took some of the heat off of them after a stinking half.

The second half was much brighter from the off and Shittu and Ainsworth both went close, the latter forcing a brilliant save from Beresford with a thunderous header. The keeper made a save from a Furlong fizzer minutes later but this was not so good as he blocked the shot and then lumbered about after like a drunken bum.

Shittu and Santos had knuckled down after an uncertain first half and were firmly slamming the door shut on Howard and Feeney whenever danger threatened. This allowed the midfield to get some decent work done and Doherty was highly instrumental as he picked his passes and tackled hard.

Just before the hour mark Rangers took the lead thanks to Lee Cook. The former Watford man had looked a little tired for much of the game as he continued his comeback from injury. However, when Furlong won a freekick outside the box he was ready to take it. He stepped up and whipped a low curler past the wall and past the unsighted Beresford.

Langley replaced Ainsworth soon after and the majority of the crowd gave him a warm reception. The usual cretins tried to give him some stick but they were shouted down by the fairer minded in the stadium. He was soon into his stride as he got free on the right and bore down on goal. The bouncing ball seemed perfect to volley at goal but instead he pulled it back perfectly for Furlong but he could only hammer his shot into The Loft.

Mike Newell responded by throwing on former Reading man Dean Morgan and Enoch Showunmi who seems to have no control of his limbs! They were now pumping it long to Showunmi and Howard at every opportunity and Shittu really started to come into his own. He was marshalling Santos and Milanese and the three of them were heading anything that came their way.

Rangers were having to be content with hitting them on the break and trying to use the pace of Moore, even though he had been painfully ineffective throughout. With a little under ten minutes left a nothing throw into the box sparked a melee that ended with Tommy Doherty seeing red. He seemed to shove a Luton player but the reaction made it look a lot worse. You cannot raise your hands though and the ref banished him to the changing room. It was a shame as he was my man of the match to that point.

Olly responded by withdrawing Furlong and Moore and sending on Lomas and Nygaard. The lumbering Dane should have put the game beyond doubt when he charged down a clearance and had a run on goal. His dribbling was reminiscent of Devon White; unfortunately his finishing was nothing like his. His run at goal was more a run after the ball than a run with it and his shot was easily dealt with by Beresford.

Langley then had the ball in the net with a sublime lob but the lino’s flag was already up. The late drama continued as Luton pumped the ball into the box and people were throwing everything at the ball to keep it out. After almost six minutes of four minutes injury time the final whistle went and the crowd could breathe a huge sigh of relief.

This was not a classic by any means but the second half was entertaining enough. The first half will worry Olly though as the team as a whole were clueless and the long ball was all too prevalent. When they played it on the deck in the second they created chances and won the game. Which one is better?

Leeds on Saturday will be another tough one. With a bit of luck it won’t be as physical a game as this was and the football on show may be wholly more palatable. Mind you, after recent results, I couldn’t really give a monkeys as long as we win!

simon@qprnet.com