After a run of playing none of the teams in the top six since November, Rangers now enter the crunch stage of the season where we play all of the teams above us and most of those just below us.

The first of these games was crucial to our promotion chances and with Ian Holloways known hatred for all things Bristol City it was going to be a tense afternoon at Loftus Road.

Rangers made just one change to the side that won so well at Huddersfield. Gino Padula was suspended after picking up six bookings in eight games so Tommy Williams made his first start since the last time we played a team in the top six. On that night Rangers lost 4-0 to Cardiff so the hope was that history wouldn't repeat itself.

Rangers started the game looking anything but a team in good form. Shittu and Carlisle were slow to react to a few situations and seemed to panic when they had time to clear. Needless corners were given away and we put ourselves under pressure when we didn't really need to.

Chris Day got a few early touches as he looked full of confidence making his first start at Loftus Road since he broke his leg. Day was quick off his line to play the role of sweeper behind Shittu and Carlisle and knowing they had a keeper prepared to come off his line seemed to settle the defence down after a shaky start.

After about ten minutes the team began to settle and passed the ball around quite well. A good move on the right saw Langley and Forbes combine well and cross for Gallen but the keeper got their first.

We were looking a bit more confident now and Williams and Cook were keeping the City danger man Murray quiet on the right. Furlong went close with a good turn and shot which looked to be going wide but the keeper got a strong touch on it to make sure.

Bircham went close from the corner as we began to look a better side.

A long ball down the line looked to be going nowhere but Furlong closed the defender down and did brilliantly to hook the ball across for Gallen. City were caught out and Gallen powered towards goal before a handball was given against the defender and Rangers had a penalty.

Gallen ran straight for the ball as did Langley but Gallen made sure it was him taking the penalty. Loftus Road was buzzing with excitement as the ball was placed on the spot and the City keeper seemed to leave a large gap to his left as Gallen ran up. I was praying please pace it into that corner and Gallen did exactly that sending the keeper the wrong way and giving Rangers the lead.

The stadium was rocking with noise as Kevin Gallen's Magic was sung by the Rangers fans and we looked like getting a second.

Langley began to look sharp and went close to getting another. One shot went just wide before a good passing move saw him chip the keeper with a wonderful bit of skill but the keeper got a fingertip to the ball and knocked it wide of the post.

Bristol City had no answer to use expect for resorting to kicking us. Doherty was booked for an awful late tackle on Shittu. For some reason they picked out Shittu for some treatment as minutes later Peacock was booked for a blatant elbow in Shittus face.

In most games that's a red card but but the linesmen bottled telling the ref what had happened and a yellow card was the punishment. Ironically this treatment on Shittu seemed to inspire him and after a poor start he was superb for the rest of the game.

Furlong was unlucky with a header but we couldn't get the second goal that our performance deserved. We were making Bristol City look very ordinary and hopes were high for an even better second half.

Of course we expected a better performance from City after the break and to be fair to them they made a hell of a game of it with a good spell of pressure after the break.

They pushed us on the back foot and we needed to defend well. Shittu and Carlisle dealt with most things whilst Day was unbeatable in goal punching away crosses before making one excellent save with his body.

City had chances but nothing clear cut as the team worked their arses off to get bodies in the way of any attack and the crowd urged Rangers on to get a second.

We had chances as Langley did well to force a save out of the keeper but was flagged offside. A good run by Gallen saw Cook go close with a header before Palmer volleyed high into the Loft just as we got a flashback of his volley against Tranmere.

Furlong and Gallen were doing a great job of keeping the ball for us and as the time ticked by we began to hang on for a much needed win. Lee Cook went off to be replaced by Leroy Griffiths which seemed a smart move as Cook looked knackered by this stage.

The team were chasing every ball and making it hard for them to create anything and when Murray showed glimpses of his magic, Tommy Williams was equal to it getting in some vital tackles. The best of them came when they caught us on the break and Williams covered on the right to slide in and give a way a corner when it looked like their forward was clean through.

Danny Wilson brought on more forwards as they went with four up front but Rangers held on and despite the four minutes of injury time given we kept the ball in the corner and earned a much needed three points.

The Rangers fans celebrated as if promotion was sealed with chants of Rangers going up and it seems the belief is back again with the players and supporters.

Still a long way to go but this win puts us back in with an outside chance of second place if we can maintain this current form but a look over our shoulders sees Tranmere sticking with us in what will be a very tight race to the finish.