Gregory was once again forced into changes following the Luton win; he also sprang the odd surprise with his selection. Camp was in goal behind a back four of Timoska, Cullip, Stewart and Bignot. Rowlands, Lomas, Bolder and Smith were in midfield with Moore and Blackstock up front. 

Rangers started the game sluggishly with Dwight Yorke lashing well over almost from the off. With almost 40,000 people (about 15,000 of them of the fair-weather variety) roaring the home side on there weren’t many puzzled expressions when they took the lead in the seventh minute. David Connolly dropped deep and when Dean Whitehead ran beyond him he picked him out with a perfectly weighted pass. Whitehead’s momentum carried him easily past Bignot and he slotted the ball past the exposed Camp with the minimum of fuss. 

Rangers were struggling to keep hold of the ball, when the defence or midfield won it neither Moore or Blackstock were being allowed a chance by the impressive Nosworthy and Evans. Dexter was working the line as best he could but as usual he had a statue next to him in Moore. The lack of application and anticipation that has become synonymous with Moore’s game in his time at Rangers was there for all to see. 

The back four were struggling with a creaky offside trap that Sunderland were seemingly able to breach at will. More often than not the passes were slightly over hit though much to the R’s fans relief. Big Irishman Darryl Murphy should have done better when presented with a header by a cross from the impressive Carlos Edwards but he could only nod wide. 

Finally Rangers managed to offer a threat going the other way when Timoska sent a pass over left back Collins and Moore ran in behind. He showed a glimpse of the pace he clearly has as he powered after the ball and cut it across only for Nosworthy to clear the danger. 

Minutes later Rangers found themselves level against the run of play. Moore ran toward the back four and space seemed to open up for him to attack the box but he tried to pass square to Rowlands. The pass hit a covering Sunderland player and rolled into the box where Blackstock accelerated to reach it before the home keeper. Blackstock got a toe to it and Ward took him out for a clear cut penalty. Ward argued the case but he knew what he had done and it was just for show!  

Blackstock picked up the ball but Rowlands pulled rank on him and took it off him and placed it on the spot. His now familiar stutter was there in the run up as he sat Ward down and stroked the ball to the keeper’s right. The goal provided a brief respite for Rangers but Sunderland were soon back on the front foot and the movement of Murphy and Connolly was causing the defence all sorts of problems. 

Murphy hammered a shot wide when well placed and then Rangers were thankful for the positional sense of Timoska as he found himself ideally placed to head Whitehead’s goal bound effort off the line. In the couple of minutes before the break things started to get a bit ragged as Rangers collected a couple of quick fire bookings. 

Murphy dragged Cullip wide and the big centre back seemed to be in control as he went to clear into touch. He stumbled and failed to do so, presenting the ball to Murphy. Cullip knew he was beaten so he just took him out on the touchline. Referee Jones rightly carded him. Bolder went into the book second later after he upended Carlos Edwards in the middle of the park. This one was a bit harsh I thought as Edwards gave it the full legs in the air treatment to make it look good. 

Cullip seemed to have injured himself cleaning Murphy out and he was replaced by Kanyuka two minutes before the break. Roy Keane sent Stern John on at half time but it was Connolly who wasted the first chance of the half when he curled over the bar when well placed. He would do the same thing twice more from almost identical positions as the game wore on. 

Martin Rowlands saw a cross-shot blocked away for a corner after he had outrun Collins on the right flank. Kanyuka then rose high at the back stick to meet a Jimmy Smith free kick only to see his goal bound header clip a Sunderland head a fly over the bar. 

Kanyuka wasn’t having such a convincing time at the defensive end of the pitch though and a couple of moments of hesitancy almost saw him caught out. Luckily Stewart had recovered from a shaky opening half (how many times have we said that over the past month) and was now turning in a tremendous display, covering for his young colleague whenever he could. 

Carlos Edwards tested Camp with a shot after he had breezed inside Bignot. Keane made his second change just after the hour when he sent Grant Leadbitter on for Dwight Yorke. Ten minutes later Gregory made his second change when he finally took Moore off and sent Furlong on. Moore had offered nothing and delivered even less, if he thinks this is the way he will win over the R’s fans then he is sadly mistaken. 

Furlong almost got lucky with a right footed snapshot that was well blocked by the mammoth Nosworthy. Furlong then tracked back and felled Evans wide on the Sunderland right and was harshly carded by referee Jones. With everyone expecting a ball into the box Edwards cut the ball back along the eighteen yard line for Leadbitter and he smashed an unstoppable shot through a ruck of players and into the corner. Camp had no chance as he wouldn’t have even seen it until it emerged from a forest of legs but by that time it was too late. 

Rangers responded to the goal by going on the attack. A free kick was awarded twenty five yards out and Bolder teed the ball up for Rowlands to strike. As often seems to be the case though the blocker was on top of the striker as he hit it and the chance came to nothing. Seconds later Rangers got another free kick but this time before it could be taken Gregory took off the hard working Lomas and sent Inigo Idiakez on. 

The Spanish stroller stepped up and lashed hit shot past the wall but into the grateful arms of Ward. Idiakez was controlling the game already and was unlucky with another strike that was once again gathered well by Ward. Connolly missed yet another chance in injury time as he curled yet another shot over the bar into the crowd. The final whistle brought a great roar from the home fans and generous applause from the away fans.  

Rangers had battled hard but at the end of the day they were beaten by a better side. You can’t argue with that, there is no point in getting upset, it happens sometimes. Sunderland were relentless in their attacking and it is easy to see why they have climbed to the top of the table.  

This was a game where most R’s fans expected to get nothing so there is no disappointment, the fact that it could have been a hammering means that this isn’t too bad a result at all! The home game against Cardiff next week provides a very real opportunity for Rangers to secure the points, or even point, they need to rubber stamp Championship survival. 

Man of the Match – Damion Stewart. Stew Peas has been shaky in the first half of almost every game for the last month only to come on strong in the second. This was no different but with Kanyuka wobbling beside him the big Jamaican really came through for his team.

simon@qprnet.com