Rangers signed off the 2007/08 season with a good showing against Champions West Brom at Loftus Road. The game had been a decent contest for the bulk of the first half until a rank bad bit of refereeing snatched the initiative away from the R’s and made the visitors’ task a whole lot easier. 

De Canio, managing his last game before the coming of Zinedine Zidane if the latest barmy rumours are to be believed, picked the same XI that had started against Norwich, with the exception of the suspended Stewart. Camp was in goal behind Mancienne, Rehman, Connolly and Delaney. Ainsworth, Mahon, Rowlands and Ephraim were in midfield with Balanta and Blackstock up front. There was a first place on the bench for youth team striker Romone Rose. 

Rangers started the game brightly against a Baggies side that looked decidedly nervy. Both teams were clearly trying to play the beautiful game and a battle between the midfield pairings of Mahon and Rowlands and Koren and Greening looked as though it would be an absorbing one. Angelo Balanta went close for Rangers after finding space between Barnett and Hoefkens. Unfortunately he snatched at the shot on his left foot and it screwed wide of the target. Camp had to field a couple of deflected strikes from Koren and Phillips as the visitors also chanced their arm early doors. 

Tony Mowbray must have already been feeling slightly uneasy at the chasing left back Paul Robinson was getting from Gareth Ainsworth. The veteran winger has struggled to have the beating of full backs all season yet he was strolling past Robinson at will. After leaving Robinson sat on his arse he sent a cross to the far post where Blackstock rose to meet it. His header was on target and he seemed to think it had crossed the line as Kiely plunged to clutch it low to his right. I am not sure anyone was convinced; the crowd barely raised a murmur in celebration of it so I would guess that the officials got it right. That would make a pleasant change on an afternoon when all three of them, supposedly knocking it on the head after this game, looked well past their sell by dates.

West Brom managed to fashion a sight at goal when Bednar, latched onto a bouncing ball and fired in a fine left footed volley that Camp spectacularly flipped over the bar. At the other end Rowlands tried his luck with a free kick but failed to test the keeper. The visitors were certainly starting to have more of an influence now after their hesitant start and it coincided with Zoltan Gera getting more of the ball. The Hungarian winger was just starting to shade his battle with Delaney, mind you that was being helped by more of the rampaging left backs kamikaze attacks up the wing! 

Brunt forced Camp into action with a sweet strike before Gera cracked one wide from distance. Then, with eight minutes to go until the break, referee Taylor dropped a clanger. Camp launched the ball toward the West Brom area and as it was headed out Greening latched onto it but allowed the ball to get away from him. Rowlands saw the chance to snap in with a challenge but mistimed it by a fraction of a second and caught the Baggies skipper on the shin. Greening went down like his leg had been snapped in two and after an initial lull, referee Taylor whipped the red out. It was a baffling decision and a terrible one. Rowlands hadn’t dived in, it wasn’t two footed and it was a genuine attempt to play the ball. Tell me how that can be described as a red card offence because I haven’t the faintest idea? 

De Canio had to act to shore up the midfield as players with the quality of Gera, Brunt, Koren and Greening, who it turns out hadn’t shattered his leg at all, will keep you chasing it all day long. Balanta was the unlucky man sacrificed, he had been doing well again to this point, and Leigertwood came on to play alongside Mahon. For the remainder of the game, the playacting Greening’s every touch would be roundly booed. 

Rangers had the last chance of the half when Delaney went barrelling up the left wing again. This time he cut inside Hoefkens and sent a curling right footed shot into the arms of Kiely. The half time whistle brought predictable howls of derision aimed at Greening and the officials and De Canio waited by the tunnel to demonstrate to the ref just how well he is getting on with his English lessons! 

The R’s defence had managed to hold firm to this point and seemed pretty comfortable with the threat that West Brom were offering. Connolly and Rehman in particular had dealt with Phillips and Bednar without much fuss and whenever Phillips dropped off he found Mahon standing on his toes.  

Mowbray made a change at the break to try and provide a different problem and he decided that he would sacrifice a striker and send on an extra midfielder to see how Rangers could cope with runners from deep. Bednar got the hook and South Korean international Kim Do-Heon took his place for only his fourth appearance since signing in January. 

Despite their man disadvantage it was Rangers that made the brighter start as Ainsworth and Blackstock combined and the latter sent a volley dipping just over Kiely’s bar. Minutes later Ainsworth had blasted past the hopeless Robinson again and this time Clement had to come across and mow the winger down. Clement had been booked in the first half for a cynical hack on Ainsworth and having committed an equally cynical foul this time referee Taylor’s bottle went and he left him on.  

Eight minutes into the half West Brom took the lead as the numbers game overwhelmed Rangers. Phillips had dropped off and flicked a ball over the back four into the path of Kim. He looked to have been denied as Delaney managed to toe the ball away but it went straight to Gera. Delaney went again and Camp advanced to try and smother the effort but Gera picked our Kim at the neat post and he had the simple task of nodding home. 

Camp found himself beaten again soon after as Brunt lashed a shot against the bar, it fell back to Korean Kim and he crashed in another shot that Camp did well to beat away from in front of his face. Rangers were getting pinned back now as Blackstock wasn’t able to hold the ball for long enough for the battle weary midfield to get up and support. Ainsworth had run out of steam now after turning in a sensational seventy minute display, probably his finest for a couple of seasons. 

Mr Taylor was at his benevolent best again when he awarded a free kick to Albion outside the box after Delaney had clearly won the ball. Camp built his wall and then as Brunt stepped forward he did his usual trick of going to stand behind it. As it was be may not have stopped a sensational finish that flew into the top corner but he really didn’t give himself a chance. That made it two vital goals in two games for the Northern Ireland international who has struggled to nail down a regular starting spot this season. 

De Canio handed Romone Rose a first team debut ten minutes from time when he was sent on for Ephraim. It was difficult for the lad; he managed to get in a couple of neat touches but also gave the ball away cheaply a couple of times. From what I have seen though he is a decent prospect and hopefully a good pre season with the first team will bring him on.

Blackstock came close to grabbing a deserved consolation goal when he jinked his way toward the edge of the box and toed an effort inches wide of Kiely’s left hand upright. At the other end Luke Moore burst into the area and fired a shot into the top tier of the stand. It would seem that the finishing ability of the Moore brothers is equally abject. 

The final whistle brought the expected wild celebrations from the Baggies fans and the R’s supporters generously applauded the visitors on achieving a deserved league title. They had certainly been the best team Rangers have faced this season, it is just a shame the referee would not allow it to be a real contest after the poor red card and a whole host of other Baggies friendly decisions. 

Rangers turned in a good shift in difficult circumstances. It would have been very easy for them to take umbrage with what had gone on but they kept battling away and even with ten men they caused problems for their opponents. There were good displays all over the pitch and with many of them playing for their futures; they will have impressed De Canio, or maybe Zidane!!  

A long summer awaits now and there are sure to be major changes both on and off the pitch. The person in charge of the PA is likely to get the tin tack after the bungled announcement pre game for a kick off! The playing staff will be improved in quality and if the right signings are made there is no reason why this side cannot be challenging in the top six come next April. The bare bones are there, we just need to get some top quality meat on them. 

Man of the Match – Gareth Ainsworth. Wild Thing was top class today and he tore Robinson to ribbons constantly. His boundless enthusiasm for the game is there for all to see and whilst he might not play much next season he will certainly be a great man to have round the squad.

simon@qprnet.com