Considering the game ended in a goalless draw, this was easily the best game that Loftus Road has seen this season. Two teams that had started the season poorly but found form of late played out a terrific end to end game full of goalmouth incident and some terrific slick passing. 

De Canio made a couple of changes to the personnel that had drawn at Palace and also changed his formation. It was back to a traditional 4-4-2 with Camp in goal behind Mancienne, Stewart, debutant Malcolm and Barker. Rowlands, Leigertwood, Buzsaky and Sinclair were in midfield with Blackstock back from injury to partner Vine in attack. The unlucky Timoska was on the bench along with the fit again Nygaard. 

Sheffield Wednesday started like a house on fire and had Rangers pinned back in their own half for much of the opening fifteen minutes. Their recent form had clearly filled Brian Laws’ side with confidence and they forced a succession of corner kicks early on. Their delivery was consistently excellent and from one such kick Akpo Sodje found space and thudded a header off of the bar from five yards. 

Former Derby man Marcus Tudgay, one of eight players across the two match day squads with a Pride Park connection, fired a shot at goal that was deflected wide for yet another corner. Sodje then forced Camp into a save after bursting past the leaden footed Bob Malcolm who was having an absolute nightmare on his debut. He had no pace, couldn’t jump and positioned himself poorly. He compounded it all by going into the book for a wild slashing challenge on Sodje after he had been caught out yet again. I am not sure who recommended him to De Canio but I would imagine he will be a little more careful with their advice next time! 

Having ridden out the early storm, in no small part to Damion Stewart defending like three men, Rangers finally managed to get the ball down and start slicking it about in midfield. With The Owls content to attack there was plenty of room on the break and Rangers had good pace with Vine and Blackstock and eye watering pace with Sinclair. Vine and Sinclair linked to send the Chelsea youngster through on goal only for the superb Lee Grant to charge off of his line and avert the danger. 

Rangers were at it now with Buzsaky and Leigertwood pulling the strings in the middle of the park. Those that moaned when we shelled out £900k for Leigertwood must be feeling pretty daft now, I am pretty sure Captain Marvel would rather have him in the middle of the park than that £900k in his bin. Rowlands thought he had created the opening goal when he slipped a reverse pass into Vine that the striker tucked home only to be denied by the linesman’s flag. It was Rowly’s best moment in a poor afternoon for the skipper; I am starting to think that an exorcism of the captain’s armband might be in order as it seems to be blighting whoever pulls it on. 

Vine drew a superb save from Grant shortly afterwards when Blackstock angled Mancienne’s pass into the on loan Blues man and he crashed a volley goalward. It was right above Grant and he tipped it over the top, anywhere else in the goal and it would have been a racing certainty to have gone in. From the resulting corner the ball was cleared as far as Buzsaky on the edge of the box and the Hungarian magician took a touch on his chest before dipping a volley inches over the bar. 

Rangers then put together a sweeping move that could have ended in one of the goals of the season. Leigertwood sprayed a cross field pass to Sinclair and he breezed past Simek before crossing. The ball evaded everyone but Blackstock retrieved it and fed a lovely pass in to the feet of Buzsaky. Akos turned one, and then turned again only to see his shot blocked away by an outstretched leg.  

Just before the break Buzsaky was dazzling again in the middle of the park as he strolled away from three Wednesday players before sending a raking pass to Sinclair. The lightening quick wide man made mince meat of Simek again and fired a low shot in only to see it cannon back off of the post and get hacked to safety. From the resulting corner Leigertwood got up highest and headed the ball against the bar. How this game was 0-0 at the break was anybody’s guess. 

Many were hoping that Malcolm would get hooked at the break but the sight of Timoska knocking a ball about on the pitch during the break put paid to that. Immediately after the restart it was as if the first half was being repeated as the visitors made the brighter start. 

Burton O’Brien should have done better with his strike but it was to close to Camp and despite carrying good power the R’s custodian was equal to it. At the other end The Wednesday defence were clearly worried by the pace of the R’s attackers and their defensive line went to pot. Three stayed in and left back Spurr stepped out and allowed Vine to ghost in behind him. He fizzed a low cross into the box and Hinds had to execute an excellent near post block to avert the danger. 

Grant was called on again shortly after as Vine and Sinclair combined to work an opening for the former. He did everything right as he used the defender in front of him to block the keepers view and steer in a shot that looked for all the world as if it was in. From an unsighted position Grant flew to his right to produce yet another superb save. 

This was a fabulous game now and Wednesday almost opened the scoring when Burton O’Brien once again found space. This time he opened his body up and curled a superb left footer onto the face of the bar with Camp helpless to intervene.  

Cool heads were needed now with The Owls a constant danger in attack. Malcolm charged out to meet a ball and missed it by a mile allowing Tudgay in behind. That was enough for Gigi who immediately sent Timoska out to warm up and within three minutes he was on in place of the Scot. If Malcolm starts another game for Rangers due to anything other than injuries I will be amazed, he simply didn’t seem up to the job at this level. 

Rangers immediately seemed far more secure with Timoska in. You know what you will get from him; he is a centre backs centre back! If it needs to go it goes, no messing about, no standing on ceremony. He also has far more pace than the man he replaced, mind you, I am fairly confident that that could be said for the majority of those inside Loftus Road!  

Sinclair was next to call Grant into action when he linked well with Barker, enjoying easily his best game for Rangers, and cracked in a low effort. Grant was inspired now and he pulled off another great save soon after when Blackstock was fed in and shot right footed only to see Grant save yet again. 

Wednesday were on the wrack now, Leigertwood was pummelling their midfield into submission with yet another powerhouse display. His physicality was creating space for Buzsaky to work in and he just keeps threading passes all over the place. I haven’t enjoyed watching a middle two like this for a long time at Rangers. They compliment each other perfectly and it really helps when your so called defensive midfielder can really play.  

Wednesday launched a rare foray into the R’s box when some indecision allowed Tudgay too much time and space. Burton had pulled into space at the far post but incredibly Tudgay tried to squeeze one past Camp at the near post but only served to fire into the side netting.  

Sinclair should have wrapped up the points with less than ten minutes to play. Yet another blistering run from deep saw him charge away from the Wednesday defence. With Grant advancing he tried to lift it over him into the net but only served to poke it over the bar. If he had lifted his head he would have found Vine to his right waiting to tap the ball into an unguarded net. As good a player as Sinclair is he does need to be more aware of those around him. We shouldn’t forget though the he is still a boy and still learning his trade. Give it a couple of years and this kid will be tearing apart far better back fours than those on offer in The Championship. 

There was still time for one more chances. Vine was brought down on the edge of the box and Buzsaky finally managed to pry Rowlands off of a free kick. Rowlands’ delivery had been poor all afternoon and Akos stepped up and curled a shot onto the roof of the net with Grant for once beaten. 

The game ended in a draw but as has been the case in the past at Rangers, there was no dissent from the terraces. The paying punters knew they had seen an excellent game played between two sides that really wanted to get things done properly. There were very few aimless passes from either side and it was refreshing to see. 

De Canio has made a staggering difference to the style of play. The players are now so confident in their own ability that they don’t panic and start throwing the ball in from all angles. Even late in the game players were passing and moving, throwing dummies and playing slick, one touch football.  

Rangers need a goal though and in the last two games it hasn’t been for the want of trying. Speroni for Palace and now Grant for Wednesday have both turned in man of the match displays and surely at some point we are going to come across a keeper that is more Scott Carson than Lev Yashin and give someone a real pasting.  

There is always the fear that Rangers will end up doing a Crewe. People come away saying what lovely football we play and then come August we are all on Multimap trying to figure out exactly where Brisbane Road is! I am 100% certain that won’t happen though, we are a club on the up and I feel it is only a matter of time before we are clambering up the table. 

Man of the Match – Mikele Leigertwood. Boring! I seem to give it to him every home game but with good reason, the fella is sensational!

simon@qprnet.com