Probably the best performance I've seen from Rangers this season - positive, energetic and committed. Luongo and Borysiuk are definitely the right central pairing, with Borysiuk holding and Luongo freed to get forward. Smithies was very good again with one excellent save from a one-on-one and generally assured throughout, whilst Onuoha had one of his better performances after a slightly shaky start. Perch also had a good game, linking well with Chery, and Sylla was a handful all game and of course got the goal. Luongo just about MOM for me though.
Don't forget Connor was pretty good as well Really decent and lively all round All we need is a fit solid left back 1 point off 6th place and playing the two teams above us next
Just back. As i said to Nines walking out of HQ.. "i can't moan tonight mate". Thought it was the best we played since Leeds. Brizzle were poor for a top six side and came for a point. Smithies had a great save at 0-0 which was the game changer. Caulker/Chump were solid. Lugongu was good but Chery was poor. Washington ran his socks off and was unlucky not to score Cilla worked hard and deserved that goal. Still will question why Cousins walks back into a team after an injury only to breakdown? All on all happy with that and hope we continue like that....On to Sheff Weds!
Back home....a very important win. Very important. If we had lost that match,after playing so well .... which could easily have happened if Smithies had not made another wonder save just before we scored...I think the season would have been essentially over as the team would have melted. Luongo and Ariel were excellent. Ned had one of his best games...not surprising as he was playing in his favourite right CB position. Perch played well. Gladwin played well when he came on. Sylla was a handful...but much praise for Connor. He has found his position in the team now...hit the post, was constant trouble...excellent match. He is on the up. Man of the Match just Luongo...but this win could trigger something.... That is if we do not run out of backs first that is.....No Robinson who only lasted 45 mins in a u23 match, No Bidwell now no Lynch... Nico played ok but Bristol targetted him heavily...and their speedy winger got the better of him a couple of times. If he plays he will be far better....JFH must provide him with protection...I fear a role for Henry!!!!
Just back and can show my face in Bristol tomorrow after that performance. Lacked a bit of quality in the final third but each player won their own individual battle which was the difference in the end
Wow! What a difference a few days make. That was a really enjoyable match and a completely different performance from Saturday's fayre. Even if the game had remained 0-0 I would've been relatively happy with the performance, although we did deserve to take all three points. We started well and we were on the front foot and played with more intensity and urgency than Saturday. The midfield combo of Luongo and Borysiuk was the best balanced pairing I've seen this season and will hopefully remain as our midfield engine room. The defence looked more solid and Ned had one of his best games for us although Lynch struggled against the City wideman Callum O'Dowda gave him a torrid time before leaving the field injured on 32 minutes with what looked like a pulled hamstring. His replacement the young Hamalainen did well as O'Dowda who is a very good player and looked dangerous every time he got on the ball. I hope the club look to try and sign the Irishman as he is only 21 and a promising talent. The second half proved to be much better than the first as we created more chances and went for the killer goal. Shots rained in from Borysiuk, Washington Chery and Luongo but it looked like City's resolute defending would render this match as a scoreless stalemate. Until the 75th minute ... City's top scorer Tammy Abraham gathered the ball on the halfway line 10 yards in from the Ellerslie Road stand, but no sooner had he received it he had Perch and Chery straight on him. Perch's challenge nicked the ball to Chery who turned and played Luongo in who had made a diagonal run down the right channel. He crossed first time and the magnificent Sylla who was stood at the edge of the 18 yard box with two City markers on him sprinted for the near post and left his markers for dust. His connection was sweet and the net bustled to make it one nil. It reminded me of a Charlie Austin's 2nd goal a couple of seasons ago when we beat Villa 2-0 on another night game at Loftus Road. On that occasion it was Vargas who crossed for Austin. We saw the game out thanks to another sterling performance from Smithies. I made a reference to him playing like Manuel Neuer on Saturday, he may well turn out to be our Neuer and a Rangers legend if he continues to perform like this. Bristol were okay but expected more cutting edge from them. They move the ball well but looked like they were happy with a point if they couldn't knick a goal. And a quick word about the ref Andy Madley, it was nice to have a good and decent one for a change.
I enjoyed reading the first hand reports from those who were at the game. Thanks all. Sounds like we deserved the 3 points.
Do we think Borysiuk and Luongo will be the starting midfield partnership on Saturday?? Or will it be choppy-choppy-changer around again? Blooming well hope not
It all sounds extremely positive. It is so much more refreshing visiting the MB when there is a good performance. Let's hope that we can carry this momentum into the next two tricky away matches.
I think you're right about Washington finding his position in the team Beth - I would say that he is now the natural first choice for the wide left position. His tireless energy and willingness to 'chase toffee papers' seems to lift those around him and he will provide good cover for Hamalainen should the youngster be required to start at left back. Washington is also a goal threat of course and was unlucky not to score last night. I was also impressed with Perch at right back last night, making several good overlaps and getting behind their defence after linking with Chery. My only complaint about last night was the use of the 'He's Magic' song in praise of Massimo Luongo - there aren't enough syllables in his name! That song should be reserved for Oladime Shodipo.
Sums it up, was in a great spot to see the turnover and pass to Mass for the goal. 3rd row S block. Made quite a bit of noise at that point. (You're welcome, Ian Taylor). Thought Bristol has 2 great chances; Tammy should have should have done better just before half time when he shot wide. Lucky for us O'Dowda only has a left foot, he would have been more of a threat on the other side, although perch played him well when switched. Was on the edge of the seat for the counter when smithies saved brilliantly and thought it was what he deserved for a very assured performance. Up there with his penalty saving heroics I reckon. Toss up between Ariel and Mass for MoM, really liked the both of them. Sylla looks a real handful, deserved his goal. Connor too, first time I've seen - we don't get much coverage in Aus now - worked hard and not out of place. All I'd read about him (on here) was that he hadn't made the step up. If he continues like last night, the goals will come and he'll be a regular for sure. Still unsure about Gladwin, don't think he added much, got into a few good positions but doesn't seem to have the strength on the ball that he looks like he should and lacked touch. Happy to see my first home win for years, shame not to see more of you before the game. Did find Staines in the garden though. Looks like I can get back for Brentford; will tickets be easy to get?
I like it when we play Bristol too. Got my first home win in years against them in May. I hope they get promoted with us next May, though another date with them in this League is the most likely.
