Waddo made changes from the Palace game as he abandoned the experimental formation for a standard 4-4-2. Jones was in goal behind Bignot, Shittu, Evatt and Rose. Langley, Lomas, Bircham and Cook lined up in midfield with Furlong and Nygaard partnered in attack.

Rangers couldn’t have made a better start to the game and hit the front after only six minutes. Bignot knocked a ball up the line for Furlong and as he flicked it he was barged in the back. The ref played on as the ball had ended up at the feet of Nygaard and he set off like Red Rum toward the Blades area. He saw off Sunderland loanee Neill Collins and skipper Chris Morgan before a heavy touch saw the ball get away from him. Kenny seemed sure to gather before it somehow ended up back with Nygaard and he slotted home for his sixth of the season.

Colin’s men were struggling to get into the game and set pieces seemed there only genuine route to goal. Paul Jones tipped a freekick from Chris Armstrong over the top before some slack defending allowed United an equaliser. A freekick into the box was only half cleared and it ended up with Tonge. He sent in a ball to the far post toward Ade Akinbyi and he twisted his neck muscles and directed the ball past Jones. The defending was sloppy at best; criminal at worst and several players seemed to abdicate responsibility for picking up the hulking striker. In the end Rose failed to make a meaningful challenge on the big man.

There wasn’t long to wait until Rangers gifted a second goal. Once again a set piece proved their undoing as Armstrong swung in a left footed corner. Akinbyi had taken up station in front of Jones and as the ball came in he shoved Bircham in the back forcing the R’s midfielder to head into his own net. The R’s players protested to home oriented; whistle happy ref Mr Friend but to no avail. In truth the ball should never have been allowed to travel that far, the man marking space at the edge of the six yard box should deal with this.

Rangers had two excellent chances to level things up before the break but they weren’t able to capitalise. Firstly Rangers won a freekick just outside the box and Lee Cook stepped up to take the kick. He curled his shot over the wall and it was on target before Kenny launched himself full length to turn the ball away.

Cook was the man involved again shortly after as he strode away from Rob Kozluk and headed for the area. A Blades defender managed to get across him and block off his angle for the shot so he turned inside and slipped a ball into the path of Furlong. The veteran hitman struck the ball right footed but was denied by another good save from Kenny. This time he got down well to parry the ball to safety.

Rangers had no need to be downhearted at the break. They were behind but attacking wise they had certainly been the stronger side, even if some defensive indecision had allowed The Blades to score twice. No doubt the team talk would have been to keep plugging away but all that could have gone out of the window immediately after the restart.

Referee Friend penalised Langley when Tonge tried a trick and fell over. Langley was booked for this apparent foul and the ball into the box looked to be meat and drink for Jones. He gathered the ball at the far post but as he landed he collided with Lomas and spilled it. Morgan and Evatt tussled and the R’s centre half was adjudged to have pulled him down. It was an awful home town decision and the furious reaction of the Rangers players paid testament to this. Shittu was cautioned for his protests.

Former Millwall man Paul Ifill stepped up to take the spot kick. He aimed to Jones’ right but the Welsh stopped plunged low and turned the ball away brilliantly. The follow up effort hit the side netting and that was all the invitation Rangers needed. They regrouped and went on the attack looking to beat the twelve men facing them.

Rangers won a corner on the right and Cook stepped up to send in a near post delivery. Nygaard rose to flick the ball goalward and Chris Morgan attempted to clear the danger. He made a real mess of it though and absolutely hammered the ball into the roof of the net to leave the big boned Kenny helpless to intervene. It was a real hammer blow for Sheffield United and you could see heads dropping all over the park.

Warnock tried to shore things up at the back by bringing on an outfield player even fatter than their keeper! David Unsworth was into the fray at left back with Armstrong pushing up to play left midfield and Tonge pushed inside. Colin had tried to get the overrated Tonge into the game more but all he found in there was the imperious Steve Lomas hammering anyone that came within distance. Lomas has been a great acquisition for us and if we can get him at 100% then he will be massive for us next season.

Nygaard pulled up with a little under twenty minutes left with a hamstring strain. The big Dane had been excellent again, leading the line and showing no little amount of skill on the deck. People really don’t know what to make of this behemoth. Once we have picked up the points we need to stay up he should be mothballed until next season. We should get him fit and find a way of keeping him fit as I have little doubt that he could easily get 20 in this league next year.

Sammy Youssouf came on to replace him and he had barely settled in before Rangers hit the front. Cook launched yet another raid upfield and he once again fed the ball into the feet of Furlong. The ball looked perfect for the first time strike but he chose to take a touch. Morgan faced him so he shifted it and then slotted it across Kenny into the net. The travelling R’s fans exploded as it hit the net and took time out to give Kenny plenty of bird!

Rangers were flooding forward now as they started to cut The Blades to ribbons. Lee Cook worked himself an opening before crashing in a shot that Kenny failed to hold. Furlong pounced on the loose ball but could only hammer his shot off the bar and away to safety.

Then Youssouf came to the party to show what he can do. In the sixteen after an impressive reserve team showing in the week he should have grabbed his first senior goal for the club when he held off the challenge of Collins before striking a shot that Kenny saved well with his feet. As the game entered the dying stages he sent in a volley from the edge of the box that brought a Hollywood save from Kenny.

At the other end United were trying to force an equaliser but they couldn’t hit the target. Jones wasn’t forced into another save as they tried to keep their promotion charge on track. The Bramall Lane crowd were becoming increasingly twitchy but at the final whistle they could have no complaints, they had been beaten by the better side on the day and in truth it could have been a hammering.

This was a terrific showing from Rangers and they caused Sheffield United no end of problems. Jones was solid as were the back four, in the second half at least. In the first period they were shaky under the crossed ball and Rose got murdered by Paul Ifill time and again. The second half was far better though and they didn’t allow the home side a proper sight at goal aside from the pen.

Langley was his usual mixture of brilliance and frustration but the other three played very well. Cook was a constant threat and Lomas and Bircham were solid, with the former the best player on the park. Nygaard, Furlong and Youssouf all caused problems for the Blades defenders and they could all have easily walked away from this game with a brace to their names.

A home game against Wolves is next and they will have been buoyed by their away win at Hull. If we play as well as we did here then I reckon we will win. Nygaard seems certain to miss out so it remains to be seen how big a blow this will be. He is vital for us as he deceives the opposition and creates room for others. Youssouf looked a handy replacement though and we should have Gallen back in the mix. The late injury to Lomas could also be a worry, let’s hope it is just a minor knock and not another setback for him.

simon@qprnet.com