Everyone had expected Gregory to change the back four after, or at least the two centre backs, after the Gerry Cottle style defending against Derby. Gregory had said he wanted to see their response though so the same XI lined up for the third successive game. Paul Jones was behind Lomas, Stewart, Rehman and Bignot with Rowlands, Bircham, Smith and Cook in midfield. Ray Jones was partnered by Dexter Blackstock in attack.

Rangers started the game quickly and Lee Cook had tested the weak wristed handling of Aussie Brad Jones in the first minute. As he has done time and again in the last few weeks, he left two defenders trailing in his wake before crashing in a fierce shot that Jones managed to shovel over the bar. Cook then turned his attention to his main role this season, supplying a conveyor belt of chances for Blackstock.

His first low cross was met left footed by Blackstock but Jones gathered easily. Minutes later Cook sent in another cross and Blackstock got in position for the header. A slight deflection on the delivery changes the angle though and meant that the former Southampton mans header didn’t carry enough power to trouble Jones. 

After such a great start Rangers then surrendered the first goal after some poor play in central midfield. Smith and Bircham were hesitant in moving toward the ball and when the former got there he only managed to execute a terrible pass into the feet of Deon Burton. To his credit he reacted quickly to slip in Tudgay who easily saw off the challenge of Rehman to slot the ball left footed into the bottom corner. Once more Rangers had been the victims of their own poor play. At some point we might force a team to score a decent goal against us! 

Rowlands tried to respond but after some neat football his left footed shot flew high over the goal. At the other end Bignot saw yellow after a crude challenge on Wade Small. It resulted from the failure of Stewart to get anywhere near a high ball near the touchline and Bignot was exposed by the searing pace of Small. From the freekick Jimmy Smith saw yellow as he jumped the starter’s gun and charged the shot from Brunt down from about two yards!  

Ray Jones then forced Brad Jones into action as he chased a ball that seemed to be drifting away from goal and cracked in a left footer that seemed to be clearing the bar without Jones’ assistance. There was then a flurry of late chances as the half drew to a close. 

Wade Small fired wide before Rangers won a freekick on the edge of the Wednesday box after something of a dive from Blackstock. Cook hit the target but it was an easy take for Jones. Up the other end Chris Brunt tried a right footed volley that nearly ended up in Bramall Lane! Shortly before half time Bircham was forced off through injury and Michael Mancienne came on in his place. He slotted in at right back with Lomas moving into the middle of the park. Within seconds he had tried to be clever in possession and it lead to the Owls second. 

A high ball was beautifully controlled by the Chelsea youngster but his back pass was weak and forced Paul Jones to slide into a challenge. The ball was worked wide and Brunt sent in a far post cross where Bignot found himself surrounded by three opponents. Marcus Tudgay was on the spot again and he headed powerfully into the net. Rangers found themselves two goals down at the break with two goals of their own making. They had arguably had the better chances of the half; they had certainly had the upper hand in terms of numbers of chances. 

Gregory must have rattled into them during the break as they came out like a team possessed and they had managed to level the game within nine minutes. It was the home sides turn to give the ball up easily this time and Cook found some space on the left to work in. He sent in a great low ball and Blackstock was on hand to sweep the ball into the corner. Ray Jones grabbed the ball out of the net and plonked it back on the centre spot, Rangers were certainly up for the fight now. 

Barely four more minutes had elapsed when the deadly duo of Cook and Blackstock were combining again for a goal. The ball was worked up the line to Cook and this time he went the aerial route with the cross and once more Blackstock was arriving and he headed past the exposed Jones to level the game. All five of Blackstock’s goals this season have been created by Cook. I don’t think there has been a more prolific winger and striker combination at the club since Sinton and Ferdinand. 

It was time to settle the game down now though and try to keep it tight for a good ten minutes. Unfortunately this simply wasn’t possible with Rehman and Stewart once again having shockers. Time and again they were getting caught out of position; I don’t think Rehman won a contested header all game. 

The amount of game time Rowlands has had since he came back from injury finally caught up with him shortly after the hour mark and he was forced from the action. Nick Ward came on and seemed well off the pace as he was caught in possession repeatedly. From one such occasion Wednesday broke, got through the hopeless centre backs and first half sub Steven MacLean found himself one on one with Paul Jones.  

MacLean tried to put the moves on Jones and had seemed to have sat him down before the Welsh keeper snaked out a leg to execute a perfect block tackle. There was a look of sheer horror on his face though when the ever fussy Mr Hill arrived in the box and pointed for the penalty. It was a staggering decision; Jones had won the ball as cleanly as any outfield player might when trying to challenge. There is no way Hill could have seen the challenge clearly from where he was so he just guessed. The lino wasn’t any help as he stood by quietly, he must have seen it had he been in the correct position. Hill then made his second balls up when he showed Jones a yellow card. Having given the pen he had to send the keeper off, how can it not be denial of a goalscoring opportunity when he thinks a striker has been fouled on the edge of the six yard box with only the keeper to beat? 

MacLean kept his cool whilst the vehement protests went on and he stepped up to send the keeper the wrong way. I say send; Jones might as well have been on a sun lounger on the goal line as he was lying down before the Wednesday man had got to the ball! 

The decision seemed to knock the stuffing out of Rangers. Having battled so hard and been the better side for a lot of the game they had once again found themselves behind and they didn’t really have a response. Had someone walked into the ground after the pen then they would have thought that Wednesday were good for their lead but it simply wasn’t the case. 

Cook had to be alert to clear off the line from a corner when home skipper Madjid Bougherra headed a Brunt corner at goal. MacLean should then have wrapped up the points when he took advantage of the R’s reshuffle to find space. Bignot had gone off, Gallen had come on and Rangers had gone to a 3-4-3. As such there was acres of space at the back, even more so than when the Chuckle Brothers are doing their thing and MacLean slid in at the back stick but could only blast high over the bar. 

Cook tried to rally late in the game but he could only fire wide of Brad Jones’ goal. At the final whistle you had to applaud the efforts of the majority of the R’s players, had it not been for the awful penalty decision then I think there would only have been one winner but the goal just stopped them in their tracks. 

Gregory said he wanted a response after the awful midweek defending. I think he was hoping for a positive one rather than watching Stewart and Rehman constantly stand off their men all afternoon. The midfield didn’t help matters much, they gave the ball away badly for two of the goals and the tracking of runners from the middle of the park wasn’t up to muster.  

Rangers have some talented attacking players. Blackstock and Cook are a lethal combination and Rowlands and Smith are genuine goal threats from midfield. Jones is a handful for anyone, just ask Tommy Spur who will be black and blue this morning after being pounded all afternoon. The problem is we don’t have enough firepower to cover the amount of goals we are giving away. 

Gregory is hamstrung by the poor signings his predecessor/chairman has made at the back. If Kanyuka was fit I think he would be playing instead of one of Rehman or Stewart and I don’t expect both of them to be lining up at centre back next weekend. Rose could come back in, Mancienne should be starting, and if they want me to have a game then I will! It’s decision time John, if these two keep going like they are then we could have Drogba up top and it wouldn’t matter as he couldn’t keep up with the rate we are shipping goals at! 

Man of the Match – Dexter Blackstock. He was brought in to score goals and now he is starting to deliver. He has five in ten now, all of them made by Cook. He is a cool customer in front of goal and he will be a vital player for the R’s this season. I wonder if he can play centre half… 

simon@qprnet.com