Rangers had a relatively strong line up, including 8 players that had turned out for the first team this season. Brighton meanwhile included Paul Kitson and Charlie Oatway, famously named after the QPR team of 75/76.

The first half saw Rangers have the lion's share of the play yet fail to take any of the numerous half chances they created. Burgess twice, Griffiths and Pacquette all sent efforts into the graveyard. Will Packham made the only serious save of the game when he plunged to his right to deflect a sharp effort from Pacquette. Culkin at the other end had little to do, with Kitson showing little of the threat that saw him score a fair few, well a few, goals in the Premiership. Chris Plummer did an excellent job on him and he was replaced at half time.

Another change at half time was the withdrawal of the trialist right back that turned out for the R's. He was nothing short of abysmal and seemed to have a grasp of English that even Doudou could better. It comes to something when the only way a player knows it is a throw on is when a teammate has to mime one for him! I somehow don't think we will see him again.

Ben Walshe came on for Griffiths at the break and turned in the best performance of the evening. He showed plenty of pace and power and was unlucky not to score within seconds of his introduction. I really think he is worth another contract in the summer, as he appears to be coming of age after a shaky start to his career.

The game ended with a rare moment of drama as Brighton's Shaun Wilkinson got his marching orders for a second yellow card. This was followed by the bizarre sight of Nick Culkin coming up for a corner with the score at 0-0! I'm not sure what he thought the score was.

All in all a pretty dull evening, I'm sure the watching Jerome Thomas was probably as bored as the rest of the largish crowd. Plummer and Walshe can both be pleased with their contributions but Richard Pacquette will be disappointed not to have tucked away one of the numerous chances.