Following the fine win at Leicester City before the international break Gregory kept faith with the same starting XI so this meant Camp in goal behind a back four of Mancienne, Stewart, Cullip and Bignot. Ainsworth, Idiakez, Bolder and Cook were in midfield with Nygaard and Furlong up top. Dexter Blackstock returned to the bench alongside new loan signing Rohan Ricketts. 

The game started brightly with both sides intent on attacking from the off. Lee Cook got into a good position and flashed the ball across the six yard box before Senegalese striker Kamara had a poke from long range but failed to trouble Camp unduly. 

Rangers were trying to play through midfield but a slack pass from Inigo Idiakez led to right winger Robert Koren dipping a volley over Camp’s bar. That was pretty much the Spaniards last involvement in the game as he succumbed to injury before fifteen minutes had elapsed. Lomas took his place in the middle of the park. 

The R’s were putting pressure on the super slow mo left back Paul Robinson and Ainsworth had the beating of him for pace! He went past him time and again but all too often his final ball wasn’t good enough. He had a chance to pick out Nygaard at the back stick but his cross was far too high to do anything with other than head it straight up in the air. 

Ainsworth finally produced a good ball and Rangers almost profited. Furlong was flying in at the back stick but found Republic of Ireland defender Paul McShane barring his way to goal. Another cross from Ainsworth was then attacked by Furlong but met by the spring heeled Sam Sodje instead. He powered the header out for a corner but awful referee Armstrong contrived to award a goal kick.  

The home side were definitely having the better of things against a side a mile above them in the table. West Brom had been surprisingly direct considering the talented midfield players they were boasting. Rangers were similarly direct but were finding that the Albion defenders were being allowed to do anything they liked to Furlong. Furs had spent most of the half with Sodje’s spuds draped round the back of his head before the referee finally penalised him minutes before half time. 

As well as Rangers had played in the opening period they were made to pay just three minutes into the second as they were punished with a clinical piece of finishing. The R’s were on the attack and Ainsworth fed a ball in for Furlong to volley. He made a right mess of it and the ball hit his standing leg and before you knew it Koumas was running through the midfield with the ball at his feet. A pass into Kevin Phillips tempted Cullip into a challenge and the former Sunderland man strolled past him. He had all the time in the world to dummy once and then smash an unstoppable shot past Camp. 

Rangers were wobbling now and Camp produced a couple of fine saves to deny both Phillips and half time sub Ellington in the next few minutes. A goal from either of them would have effectively ended the contest but Camp once again proved what a superbly talented individual he is. Lomas came close to an equaliser when he cracked a rising left footed volley at goal that was well saved by Kiely. 

Gregory made his second change when he withdrew Nygaard and replaced him with Blackstock and it paid immediate dividends. Ainsworth once again strolled past tug boat Robinson and sent in a great ball to the back stick. Blackstock timed his jump superbly to meet the ball with a powerful header back across Kiely and in. He set off to celebrate with the fans but didn’t dive into them and didn’t take his shirt off. That was enough for the stone hearted Armstrong to show him a yellow card. Kamara had kicked anything that moved all afternoon with barely any censure but god forbid someone should celebrate a goal. 

Armstrong was involved again moments later when Furlong was clearly hauled to the deck but the penalty wasn’t forthcoming. There was no way Armstrong couldn’t give the next one though after Robinson’s lack of pace had been cruelly exposed yet again.  

This time Furlong was played through and powered his way into the box only to be taken out as he prepared to fire at goal. It was the most blatant penalty ever and a text book professional foul. Robinson should have gone but he wasn’t even shown a yellow card. Furlong picked the ball up and my mind immediately raced back to November 2002 and the Vauxhall Motors shoot out, the last time Furs took a pen! I didn’t fancy him for it at all and my fears were confirmed when his gentle effort was well saved by Kiely. Had that gone in then I have little doubt that the game would have been wrapped up quite comfortably as the visitors were really struggling. 

Undeterred, Rangers kept going. Cook, who was having his poorest outing for a long time, sent in a great corner that Blackstock nodded wide. Then Furlong expertly laid the ball off for Lomas but his fine strike was saved low down by Kiely. It seemed for all the world as if Rangers were going to get a point until West Brom showed why they are where they are and why we are where we are. 

The back four had been pretty tight for a long time until a long ball up field wasn’t dealt with by Mancienne. The young defender could have attacked it in the air but he allowed it to bounce and Ellington took control. He turned Mancienne inside out before flighting a ball to the back post where fellow sub Zoltan Gera was flying in. Bignot had been dragged in toward the post and the Hungarian exploited the space to slam a blistering volley into the roof of the net. 

There was no way back now for Rangers and despite playing well and having the better of the game for long periods there was no reward. The difference between the two sides was clinical finishing. The chances West Brom created were no clearer cut than those created by Rangers but they were taken and taken with aplomb.  

You have to hope that such a cruel defeat doesn’t take away from the fact that the team played well. They showed they can mix it with the better teams in this league and they will have to prove it again on Tuesday night when Preston come to town. This is the game in hand and as such three points is really the only acceptable outcome. It will be tough but Preston are another side who have built their season on their home form and can be got at on their travels. Leeds beat them on Friday and we must beat them on Tuesday. 

Man of the Match – Gareth Ainsworth. This was as well as the winger had played all season. He was helped by playing against a full back that was almost stationary when at full speed. If his crossing was of a better standard he could still be a real threat.

simon@qprnet.com