Gregory’s efforts at securing a right back on loan had been thwarted late on so he had to have a slight reshuffle. Paul Jones kept his place in goal despite his Welsh nightmare and was behind a back four of Lomas, Stewart, Rehman and Bignot. Jimmy Smith made his full debut alongside Bircham with Rowlands and Cook on the flanks. The youthful first choice front two of Blackstock and Ray Jones was once again in evidence. 

As they had at St. Mary’s a couple of weeks ago, Rangers got off to a terrible start. Norwich were making pretty triangles outside the box but there didn’t appear to be any danger until the ball was fed into Robert Earnshaw. He seemed to try and control it but the ball ran under his foot and Huckerby broke into the box. He took a touch to steady himself before sliding the ball under the hopelessly exposed Jones. 

Jimmy Smith had a half chance to equalise almost immediately but he wasn’t able to generate sufficient power to unduly worry Norwich keeper Paul Gallacher. Norwich looked like a real threat though and they tried to take advantage whilst the inquest over the opener was still in full swing. 

Huckerby’s poor corner ended up back with him but he made a much better effort of the second ball and it found Earnshaw in acres of space eight yards from goal. He met the cross with a firm downward header and was ready to wheel away to launch into one of his dappy celebrations when Jones hurled himself low to his right to pull off a stupendous save. Such was the quality it even drew applause from referee Marriner! 

With the immediate danger having been repelled Rangers were able to try and grab a foothold in the game. The ball was starting to move along the deck with much greater ease now and Smith in particular was popping up all over the field looking for work. Cook lashed a shot wide from long range after a delicate ball from Stewart put him in space on the edge of the box.  

With twenty four minutes played Rangers were on level terms thanks to the on loan Chelsea teenager. The ball was knocked up to the ever threatening Cook and he took it on a few yards before slipping the ball into the path of the advancing Smith. The energetic midfielder walked onto the ball and planted a firm side footed shot past Gallacher to make it a full debut to remember. It was a great finish, so many players would have had a lash at the ball but all he was concerned about was hitting the target. 

As the half drew on Rehman found his way into referee Marriner’s little black book for the third foul on Earnshaw. Earnie had been clever, he was using his body in such a way that Rehman had to go through him to get to the ball but he needs to be a bit cuter. If you can’t win it then don’t just ram your way through the bloke, it was all very Karl Ready at times! From the resulting freekick Earnshaw curled the ball over the bar without troubling Jones. 

Blackstock almost grabbed his fourth of the season with a snapshot after a Lee Cook corner had bounced down to him. He connected sweetly but the ball whistled over the top, I’m not sure it would have beaten Gallacher anyway. As the game entered one minute of first half stoppage time Rangers hit the front with a Rowlands screamer. 

Jason Shackell had a Rehman moment and felled Blackstock on the edge of the box. He was booked for his trouble as Rangers set the free kick up. The home fans knew what was coming as Bircham touched the ball off and Rowlands ran in and belted it goalward. He picked the gap on the end of the wall perfectly and the ball arrowed past Gallacher to give Rangers a halftime lead. 

The lift that gave the players going into the break was certainly in evidence after the restart. Rowlands almost extended the lead immediately as picked up the ball and drove at full back Adam Drury. The Norwich skipper was beaten all ends up as he twisted his way past him and cracked a low shot at goal. This time Gallacher was equal to it though and produced a fine low save to avert the danger. 

Rangers were then denied a penalty when a shot from Smith was blocked blatantly with the arm by Craig Fleming. Jones was then at it again to deny his Welsh team mate with another great save. A long punt upfield was brilliantly taken by Earnie and he twisted to crack a fierce shot at goal. Jones somehow managed to tip the ball up into the air and away to safety. 

Norwich should have been back on level terms ten minutes into the second half but Lee Croft came up with one of the misses of the season. A ball into the box seemed to have evaded everyone including the diving Jones and it fell at the feet of Croft. I am not sure what was running through his head, but with a head that size it could have been all manner of things, but he tried a deft left footed finished a managed to hit the advertising hoardings! He won’t want to show his massive face in Norwich for a while after that one! 

Jimmy Smith found his way into the book for deliberately blocking a shot with his arms. Sound familiar? I would suggest that had the Norwich one earlier in the half been outside the box it would have been met with a free kick and a booking also. From the kick Earnshaw failed to test Jones. 

Ray Jones hadn’t had a chance to show his worth in the box up to this point but he came mighty close to extending the Rangers lead to two goals. A ball into the box was attacked by Jones and keeper Gallacher and the young hitman got there first to send his header looping goalward. It seemed destined to drop in before Jurgen Colin stepped in to head off of the line. Jones took a boot in the head from Gallacher as the keeper tried to regain his feet, it was a total accident but it meant that the R’s fans gave the Norwich custodian the bird for the rest of the game. 

Norwich switched from 4-3-3 to 4-4-2 with the introduction of veteran Dion Dublin. The former United man, so admired by Sir Alex, could have gone into the book for a two footed tackle… 

Ray Jones almost connected with a Blackstock header at the far post after another great cross from Cook before Dublin made an immediate impact. Blackstock lost the ball on the halfway line whilst trying to do some pretty footwork and Norwich broke at pace. Earnshaw fed the ball back to the hirsute Hughes and his ball into the box was perfect for Dublin. The man with three feet and only two boots rolled back the years with a low placed shot into the corner. Having dominated for the ten minutes before the goal it was a kick in the teeth for Gregory’s men but a good lesson in taking your chances when they come along. 

Both teams almost seemed content with the point at this stage as the chances dried up. With six minutes to go though Rangers seemed to have committed hari-kari when Rehman turned in some criminal defending. A long pass bounced kindly for the former Fulham man and he had an age to pick his spot at the back of Ellerslie Road. Instead he tried to let the ball roll for a goal kick and Huckerby’s pace exposed him badly. Huckerby was about to pick out Earnshaw so Rehman hauled him down for the seasons most blatant penalty. In truth he was lucky not to get a second yellow for his ham fisted efforts. Earnshaw made no mistake from twelve yards and planted a firm pen past the despairing right hand of Jones. 

There were heads in hands all around the ground but this Rangers vintage has got a bit more about it than the insipid bunch that seemed to play under the previous gaffer. They weren’t having Norwich come onto their patch and pinch all three points so they did something revolutionary, they did something about it! 

As the game ticked into the opening seconds of injury time the ball ricocheted about and ended up with Rowlands six yards from goal. He took aim and cracked a low left footer at goal that Gallacher made a meal off and allowed to squirm into the net. It was no less than Rangers deserved, in truth they had been the better side and had they taken their chances before Dublin scored then this could have been a third win on the bounce. 

Neither side managed to fashion another chance and the final whistle brought warm applause from both sets of fans. This had been a terrific game to watch and whilst some of the defending wasn’t too clever but the heart the team showed was great and something that had been missing for a while. 

The midfield quartet were excellent, both wide players got at their men time and again, Cookie seems to create a chance every time he gets to the by-line. Bircham and Smith combined well and seemed to complement one another well. Smith is all action and it means that Bircham can concentrate on holding and blocking things up.  

Paul Jones had a blinder between the sticks having resisted the temptation at another hair based score prediction. He had no chance with any of the goals but the two saves from Earnshaw were worth the entrance fee. The two boys up front worked hard but it wasn’t their day. We have to remember they are both babies though and they will have games when they don’t have a massive impact. 

The back four defended brilliantly at times but at other times individual mistakes were in evidence, from Rehman in particular. He stooped into some great headed clearances but then comes up with a clanger like the pen. I am really not sure what to make of him so far in his R’s career.  

Derby visit Loftus Road on Tuesday night and Rangers will have the advantage of an extra days rest as The Rams have a long Sunday trip to Plymouth. We will need to defend a little better and be a bit more ruthless in front of goal but it is a game we are more than capable of winning. The fact that it is Gregory’s old club might spice things up but he will prepare the team well and will make sure they don’t lose their heads and keep this good run going. 

Man of the Match – Martin Rowlands. This seems to be the 2003/04 vintage Rowly that terrorised many a team on the way to promotion. He is scoring goals, creating chances and working like a dog. Welcome back!

simon@qprnet.com