The Mark Hughes era continued to build momentum on Saturday
as Rangers saw off Wigan Athletic to register their first league win in nigh on
2 months. It was a well deserved and stylish victory against the Roberto
Martinez’s men and had it not been for a heroic keeping display from Al-Habsi,
it could have been a hammering.
Off the back of the FA Cup win over MK Dons in midweek
Hughes made a number of changes to the starting XI. Kenny was in goal behind a
back four of Young, Hall, Ferdinand and Hill. Mackie, Barton, Buzsaky and
Wright-Phillips were in midfield with Campbell and Helguson partnered up top.
Ramage was named amongst the subs for the first time since his return from
Crystal Palace as the 25 man squad rule doesn’t apply during the transfer
window.
The game could actually have turned out very differently had
Wigan started the game a little sharper. An in swinging free kick from the
right flank was met by the long leg of Steve Gohouri but he didn’t get enough
purchase on the ball and it slipped wide of Kenny’s left hand post. Then Victor
Moses roasted Young down the left flank and drilled a cross through the six
yard box that nobody gambled on. That would be as good as it got for Wigan in a
half that Rangers went on to dominate.
Helguson had the first effort of the game for Rangers when
Campbell dummied a pass and it set the Icelander away. He carried the ball to
the edge of the Wigan box before dragging a left footed effort well wide of the
target. Luke Young then called Al-Habsi into action with a mishit cross that
threatened to float under the bar until the Omani keeper flipped it over the
bar. DJ Campbell was next to see a chance come his way after Mackie had
battered his way toward the box, the ball fell to the former Yeading man but he
snatched at the shot badly and it went a mile wide.
Rangers were dominating proceedings and Buzsaky almost
scored a fabulous goal as the game approached the half hour mark.
Wright-Phillips slipped the ball to him and he rolled away from his man and
whipped a swerving right footed shot past Al-Habsi and inches past his right
hand post. Al-Habsi was in action again moments later when Mackie made space
for himself on the edge of the box and thumped one goalward. The ball seemed to
move in the air and Al-Habsi made an effective, if somewhat unconventional
save.
Barton went across to take the corner and fired it in to the
near post. It wasn’t a particularly good delivery but James McCarthy
inexplicably stuck up a hand to give away a blatant penalty. He was booked for
his stupidity. Helguson placed the ball and took his trademark stroll up before
stroking the ball into the corner, Al-Habsi wasn’t far away but the placement
was perfect and Rangers had the lead their display warranted.
Hugo Rodallega thought he had got in behind Ferdinand when
the centre back misjudged a punt forward that got caught on the swirling wind
inside Loftus Road. For some reason the Wigan man brought the ball down with an
arm and the linesman spotted it. Had he perhaps looked to take it first time I
don’t think Kenny would have had much chance of saving it. As it was, Rangers
just continued their incessant attacking.
A free kick was awarded twenty five yard from goal and
Buzsaky immediately grabbed the ball. He had almost scored with a screamer
against MK Dons and fancied this one also. He whipped the ball over the wall
and Al-Habsi once again had to intervene and turn the ball away. Five minutes
later Rangers won an almost identical free kick and Buzsaky now had his eye in.
He stepped forward and again bent it over the wall only this time Al-Habsi
didn’t have a prayer of stopping it as it flew in via the upright to take the
roof off of Loftus Road. There is no more popular player at Rangers than
Buzsaky and he was showing exactly why.
Rangers went into the sheds two goals to the good and
looking as comfortable as they had in any game this season. Wigan were having
as much possession as Rangers but they were stifled at almost every turn. From
our position in the Upper Loft it was great to see the organisation of the
team, the 4-4-2 formation when out of position couldn’t have been better had
someone picked the players up and placed them there. Hughes was forced into a
change at the break, Campbell was carrying a hamstring strain so Smith came on
to play left side and Wright-Phillips went to play off of Helguson.
The opening of the second half was pretty quiet in truth.
Wigan needed to force the pace but they didn’t seem to be able to figure out a
way to. Watson was dropping right to the edge of his box to collect the ball
from goal kicks and this meant that they were so stretched they rarely got it
from back to front effectively.
Fourteen minutes into the half Buzsaky almost scored another
stunner. Wright-Phillips played the ball across to him on the right edge of the
box, his first touch made the ball sit up and Buzsaky laced it on the volley
toward the top corner. Al-Habsi had to be at his very best to claw the ball
over the bar. From the resulting corner the ball wasn’t cleared properly and
Barton dragged a shot wide from the edge of the area.
Gomez fired in a rare shot on target for Wigan as he found
some space on the edge of the box but Kenny was able to gather easily. The
collapsible Spaniard was taken off immediately afterwards and skulked straight
down the tunnel. Wigan though were starting to enjoy a decent spell. Rodallega
had a shot blocked before Figueroa went down under minimal contact from Buzsaky
and Wigan had a chance to strike at goal from an identical position to that
which Buzsaky scored from.
Rodallega stepped up and the Colombian bent a superb free
kick over the wall and in off the upright. The game had seen two wonderfully
executed free kicks in the School End goal. Different techniques for each but
both absolutely sensational. It should have been the springboard for Wigan to
really force themselves back into the game but they weren’t able to. Sammon
fired a shot wide when well placed but within 8 minutes of scoring they found
themselves facing another penalty, this one looked a bit soft though.
A ball was played in toward Helguson who looked to be
backing into Caldwell whilst Caldwell looked to be having a grab at the
striker. Helguson stumbled backwards and referee Moss immediately pointed to
the spot. Whether the offence was even in the box was a moot point but Rangers
weren’t complaining. Helguson had is usual stroll up but this time he changed
sides and the ball was in the air and not on the deck. Al-Habsi read it and
went full length to his right to turn the ball away. It was an excellent save.
Rangers were undeterred though. Helguson chased onto a long
ball up the line and as the ball bounced in front of him he cracked a left
footed volley across the goal from twenty yards. Al-Habsi was again beaten but
the ball flew inches wide. Sparky would have been proud of that volley himself.
Mackie was next to try his luck after Wright-Phillips had set him free after
good play in the centre circle. The Scotland internationals lack of pace let
him down as he was forced to shoot early and he hammered his shot into the top
tier.
Nine minutes from time Rangers scored a stunning third to
wrap up the points. Wigan had been enjoying a decent spell of possession but
couldn’t force a way into a shooting position. Barton and Smith robbed
Rodallega on the edge of the box and Smith knocked the ball up to
Wright-Phillips and headed for the Wigan half. The little winger drew his man
on the left before slipping the ball into Smith again thirty yards from goal.
He took one touch to get it out of his feet before smashing it like a tracer
bullet into the top corner. It was a magnificent finish but it was also the
sort of breakaway goal that we have been on the end of time and again this
season but never seem to score ourselves.
Buzsaky came off to a thunderous standing ovation and Derry
came on for the final few minutes to tighten things up. Wigan were a spent
force now and Rangers easily saw out the remainder of the game to register only
their second home win of the season. It was great to win and it was great to win
well albeit against meagre opposition. You can only beat what’s in front of you
and the manner of the display should only boost confidence further. Hopefully
the addition of a new face or three of four will push us on again.
Akos Buzsaky The Magical Magyar was in
unplayable form. There was always a doubt about whether he could do it at this
level and although this was only one game, the answer was unequivocal.
Kenny – 6; Young – 6, Hall – 7, Ferdinand – 7, Hill – 6,
Mackie – 7, Barton – 7, Buzsaky – 9 (Derry – 6), Wright-Phillips – 7, Campbell
– 6 (Smith – 7), Helguson – 8
