As the fans gathered downstairs for a beer and a Wimpy there were some stunned faces as the team crept painfully slowly across the TV screens. Camp was in goal behind a back four of Kanyuka, Cullip, Stewart and Timoska. Ainsworth, Bolder, Smith and Moore (yes folks, Stefan Moore) were in midfield with Furlong and Blackstock up front.  

Rangers, attacking their own fans in the first half, had the first effort in anger of the game when Adam Bolder strode forward and wasn’t closed down. He took his time and shot but could only screw a shot wide of Andy Marshall’s goal. This seemed to wake the home side up a bit and they immediately went on the front foot, where they would remain for the most part in the first half. 

Senegalese international Khalilou Fadiga seized on a blocked shot from Adebola and drew a fine save from the stretching Camp. Elliott Ward was being allowed all sorts of space at set pieces by an extremely shaky looking Stewart and he should have done better with a free header that was blocked away.  

At the other end Ainsworth should have done better when he worked some space in behind Marcus Hall. His shot flew across the face of goal to safety when he should have at least forced Marshall to worry about it. Camp was then called into action again and he produced a fantastic piece of keeping denying the onrushing Maltese striker Michael Mifsud.  

The little Coventry attacker had burst past a static defence and Camp flew off his line and blocked the ball away with both hands only to see the ball rolling towards Whing on the wing. Camp was quickly back to his feet and got to Whing and executed a superb tackle ten yards outside his box. 

Coventry skipper Ward was still having free reign in the R’s box as Stewart’s shakiness continued unabated. First Ward powered a header over the top from a Fadiga delivery and then he forced Camp into yet another save after he had pulled away at the far post and got a low shot on target. 

In truth Rangers were lucky to go in at the break on level terms and I am sure this is something that the manager would have driven home at the break. There was an awful lot of pressure being brought to bear and despite the good work of Smith and Bolder in the middle of the park the Coventry players were getting to Cullip and Stewart too easily. 

Just as they had done on Tuesday night against Preston, Rangers started the second half with gusto and only had to wait seven minutes for the opening goal. A ball into the box was struck by Furlong but Marshall denied him brilliantly. The ball rolled straight to Moore and he made good contact only for Marshall to appear again and deny him. The ball then fell to Jimmy Smith and he made the most of it, slamming the ball home via the keeper’s hands to give Rangers the lead. Marshall can count himself unlucky but the goal typifies the tenacity that Gregory and Neill have instilled in these players in the last few weeks. 

Dowie responded immediately and sent Leon McKenzie on in place of Andrew Whing with Mifsud moving to the right. To counter this Gregory sent skipper Bignot on in place of Timoska who had performed solidly after sitting out of the first team for a month. 

It was staring to become a real war on the field now with both sets of players rattling into challenges and testing the durability of referee Miller’s whistle. You can tell it is a battling team when Moore and Smith are hurling themselves into real bone crunchers!  

Nygaard replaced the tiring Furlong just after the hour mark and the big Dane got the best reception I have ever heard him get from the R’s support. He immediately started putting himself about and once again proved his value in defensive situations with a couple of towering headers from dead ball situations. 

Kevin Kyle was soon on for the home side and they now had four strikers stretched across the park much as Preston had on Tuesday. With the same back four now in place as that monumental second half most Rangers fans were confident about taking all three points back to W12. Cullip was colossal in the heart of the defence and he was constantly organising those around him as well as hammering Kyle and Adebola whenever the chance came.

Lomas entered the fray in place of the tireless Bolder with a little under twenty minutes left. Rangers had a great chance to double the lead a couple of minutes later as Ainsworth left Hall for dead on the Rangers right and surged into the box. Nygaard was hanging back for the cut back but Ainsworth somehow managed to pass it straight into Marshall’s hands. It was an incredibly amateurish piece of play from a winger that has been in great form in the last couple of matches.  

It was long ball city now for the home side as they tried and failed to dent the Rangers resolve with a sustained aerial bombardment. Cullip seemed to be everywhere as high ball after high ball fell out of the Coventry sky. Adebola finally managed to work some space at the far post and McKenzie’s cross found him but his header was dire and went at least five yards wide. 

The amount of injury time to be played was lengthened when some Coventry idiot decided to come onto the pitch for a trot about only to be completely ignored by the massed ranks of stewards and coppers by the away fans. Cullip tried to shepherd him off but wisely decided not to rough him up. Kevin Kyle wasn’t as bashful though and practically hurled the interloper at the stewards who had finally decided to join in! 

Fortunately for Rangers the four minutes of injury time were played out without incident and Rangers put on back to back away wins for the first time since November. On that occasion their first victims were Luton Town and they are now the next opponents in a game in which victory will virtually guarantee safety. 

This wasn’t pretty and in truth the win was probably a touch harsh on Coventry but you take what you can get in this situation. The pressure the back four soaked up was incredibly and all five players that were involved in the defensive unit did well. Stewart started shakily as he has been prone to do in recent weeks but second half he was on top form. Kanyuka at right back was also immense considering he is not a right back in a million years! 

Behind then Camp continued his magnificent form for Rangers. It is staggering to think that Billy Davies doesn’t rate Camp; perhaps he plays his best football at the club where he feels the most wanted? The board simply have to move heaven and earth to sign him permanently in the summer, although if this form continues there were will be a queue round the block for his signature. 

Smith and Bolder were excellent in the middle of the park. It was easily Smith’s best game for Rangers, he took the goal well as we expect him to but he worked like a dog all afternoon and was constantly involved. Moore also did his part once he figured out what his part was! The first half was a non event but he worked his socks off in the second and was unlucky not to grab the winner. 

A home win on Monday against Luton would be a perfect way to end the week. If we could come out of that game having taken three wins from three games in seven days then I think there may just be time for a little relax before the season comes to a close. 

Man of the Match – Danny Cullip. For the second successive game Cullip was outstanding. Wearing the captain’s armband he led from the front and there is little doubt in my mind that he will be the R’s skipper next season.

simon@qprnet.com