Gregory went with the same sixteen that was on duty at Leeds United during the week. Camp was in goal behind a back four of Mancienne, Stewart, Cullip and Timoska. Ainsworth, Lomas, Bolder and Rowlands were in midfield with Cook playing just off of Blackstock. From the off the team looked unbalanced and you couldn’t imagine how this formation would work. Is there anything wrong with playing a couple of strikers at home in a game you must win? 

Rangers had a great chance in the opening minute of the game when Blackstock and Cook were both thwarted by Pilgrims keeper McCormick. It was another one on one for Dexter, something whish he never looks comfortable in, it wasn’t much different from his first half chance up at Leeds in midweek.

At the other end it took a while for the visitors to eek out their first chance but when they did Lee Camp pulled off a top stop to deny former Manchester United player Sylvain Ebanks-Blake. The Argyle striker covers the ground quickly for a man with such a massive posterior and the battle between him and Stewart would be an absorbing one all afternoon.

Both teams were huffing and puffing in the middle of the park and Rangers certainly weren’t being helped by the fact that Lomas was giving the ball away every time he received it. His passing on the afternoon was simply atrocious, he was also found wanting in several 50/50 challenges.

Nalis headed a good chance over the bar after he had stolen a march on Stewart. A couple of minutes later he opened the scoring for the visitors as Rangers were undone at a simple set piece. Norris dinked the ball up and Krisztian Timar headed the ball on to the far post. Nalis had gotten in front of Mancienne and he headed past the exposed Camp.

It was hard to see a way back into the game for Rangers at this point. The formation wasn’t working, Rowlands kept coming very narrow on the left and Cook was left challenging for balls up front that Jones or Furlong would have struggled to reach. On the stroke of halftime McCormick showed great bravery to fly in at the feet of both Blackstock and Rowlands and was rewarded with a pretty soft free kick from referee Beeby.

Gregory had the chance to change things at the break but he chose to go with the same eleven for the second period. Many in the stands were looking for a second striker on and Cook being moved back to his familiar left wing berth. It didn’t happen though and moments into the half Sami Timoska produced one of his trademark challenges to prevent on loan Chelsea speedster racing through on goal.

Ainsworth got a punch in the head from McCormick as he challenged for a high ball at the far post that had many in the crowd howling for a pen. You are never going to get one for that, it was a genuine attempt for the ball and I think he got a little bit of it as well as Gaz’s noggin!

With a minute left to the hour mark Rangers were back on level terms in controversial circumstances. A Rowlands corner found its way to McCormick and as he gathered it he bundled into a crowd scene and fumbled the ball. Cook shot only to see the ball bounce back to him and he made no mistake the second time as he hooked it high into the net. Referee Beeby allowed the goal much to the anger of the Plymouth players. They chased the ref whilst the R’s players celebrated and for his vociferous protests Nalis found his way into the book.

This would have been a great time to change it and get a striker on but again the management decided that this formation was working. Lee Camp produced an excellent save to deny Norris after some good work from Plymouth sub Peter Halmosi. The on loan keeper got down low to his right to block away the midfielder’s powerful strike.

Gregory did make a tactical switch when Rowlands and Cook swapped over to allow Cook to play wide left and Rowlands to support Blackstock. It almost paid dividends immediately when Blackstock flicked on and Rowly burst through but could only lift his shot over McCormick and the bar.

Dexter tried to glance a near post header from an Ainsworth cross but got too much on it and the ball flew well wide. With twelve minutes left the visitors were reduced to ten men when skipper Nalis was sent off for a moment of stupidity. Ainsworth was brought down and a couple of seconds after the ref blew Nalis punted the ball seventy yards up field. Beeby had no choice but to give him his second yellow. So that’s one for dissent and another for kicking the ball away, Olly will have done his pieces at him!

Finally another striker was sent on as Furlong replaced Rowlands with just over ten minutes left. The impact was immediate as the veteran hitman immediately gave Timar and Seip something different to think about. It was all Rangers now, well, it was once they could get the ball away from the chronic time wasting of Plymouth.

Wave after wave of Rangers attacks were now being repelled by hook or by crook. Damion Stewart was unlucky with a penalty shout after a Plymouth defender climbed all over the back of him trying to head away a long throw from Lomas. Then Furlong was denied the winner by a stunning McCormick save.

A ball into the box fell kindly for Furs and he made a sweet connection only for the keeper to dive low to his right and turn the ball away. Furlong was no more than six yards out which made the save all the better. Furlong then did get the ball in the net after the ball had been looped over the Plymouth defence only to see the flag up for offside. It would have been fitting for Holloway’s greatest signing to score the winning goal against his new side.

Whilst it was pleasing to see the side come from a goal down to get something from the game this was a must win match. Hull’s excellent victory against Birmingham has seen the table tighten again and they have thirty five points along with Barnsley and ourselves. A win would have seen us move to nineteenth place.

I cant help but think another striker up top from the off would have given Rangers a greater threat. Cook isn’t the same player when he isn’t coming down the left flank and you lose so much in the way of his supply when he plays up the middle. With Blackstock suspended for the visit to Ipswich next week there is a chance for someone else to come in and give Gregory a selection headache for the following week, let’s hope someone can step up to the plate in another game we simply have to take something from.

Man of the Match – Lee Camp. Didn’t have an awful lot to do but did it all with the minimum of fuss. Couple of excellent saves, particularly from Norris shortly after we had equalised.

simon@qprnet.com