The first game of 2003 saw Rangers travel up to Peterborough against a team whose form is as bad as ours at the moment.

With all the rain we've had recently I half expected this game to be called off as we began the long (well it seemed long after new years eve) drive I had to phone the club twice to check the game was on. Thankfully it was and 2003 would begin with a QPR game after so many new years games in recent years have been postponed.

We got to the ground about half an hour before kick off only to find that the blokes toilets were out of order. So it was a long queue for the blokes to go in the ladies toilets and the women had to find a steward and be taken into the home end. Not a great start to the day but hopes were not high for a good day if recent form was anything to go by.

The teams were announced on the loud speaker and we'd made just two changes. Wes Daly and Paul Furlong were dropped with Marc Bircham and Brett Angell starting the game. Richard Pacquette was back on the bench after his loan spell at Stevenage.

Watching the players warm up it was good to see so may shots finding the back of the net. Langley, Gallen, Cook and Bircham just couldn't stop scoring and suddenly I felt a sense of hope come over me that we might be in for a good day.

As the game started all hope soon went as we lined up 4-4-2 and began hoofing almost straight away. Most fans spent the first ten minutes trying to work out why Bircham was still on the wing and why Palmer was still in the team. I'd love to be able to write an answer here but like them I have no idea.

Rose was still at left back and was again struggling to get the ball on his right foot all the time but to his credit he stuck to his task well and was rarely caught out.

Thankfully for Rangers we were facing a side so awful that even we could win this game conformably. We still made it difficult for ourselves by playing far to many long balls to Angell and Gallen but Angell was putting himself about and winning as many free kicks as he gave away. At least that gave us a chance to get the big men forward and make the long high ball work.

Rangers best stuff though came when we got the ball on the floor. Langley, Cook and Gallen were all linking well and Gallen looked well up for the game. He was running at players as well as laying the ball off and he is looking like the Kevin Gallen we all hoped we'd see when he broke into the first team back in those far away Premiership days.

Our best chance came through Gallen after a brilliant pass by Cook sent him away down the left. He cut inside and waited for support before laying it off to Matthew Rose who was unlucky to see his shot well saved by the keeper.

The corners from Langley began to get better as we almost got ahead from one. He swung the ball in only for Angell to head wide. It was promising stuff but we still lived dangerously at the back.

Andy Clarke was a threat and a good run down the right saw his cross come in and Jimmy Bullard hit a curling shot which was well saved by Culkin. Bullard was at the heart of everything Peterborough did and he looks a very impressive player worth signing if we get the chance.

Up front for Peterborough was Jason Lee who got the old Pineapple on his head treatment from the Rangers fans to which he laughed and gave us a thumbs up.

The referee was blowing up for almost everything in the first half but he got most decisions right apart from his bookings. He gave a warning to Lee for a blatant elbow on Shittu but booked Langley and Shields for some handbags off the ball which was hardly worth stopping the game for.

Peterborough had one more chance after Farrell got away from Forbes and Shittu and hit his shot against the post but he was to far wide to really trouble the keeper.

With half time approaching we were hoping for better things in the second half before Gallen hit a shot which was deflected wide to earn us a corner. Langley floated it in and Clarke Carlisle rose to head past the keeper and give us the lead. Relief for the Rangers fans and against a side as poor as Peterborough we surely couldn't lose this one now.
We almost got a second straight away. Another corner by Langley saw Steve Palmer connect with a header which was well saved by the keeper.

So at half time we were 1-0 up despite not playing that well but the result was the most important thing for the game.

No change at half time but we looked comfortable for the first few minutes or so creating a few half chances but nothing exciting.

Then we did our best to throw the game away. With Palmer chasing shadows we began to lose it in midfield and a good cross in saw Forbes needing to head out for a corner which almost went in his own net. They began to push us back but we just needed someone to put their foot ion the ball in midfield and start passing it around. That would have taken the pressure off us but the continual long balls just keep coming back at us to cause more problems.

We should have wrapped up the game though after good work by Gallen and Bircham saw a cross find Angell unmarked but he headed wide when he should have scored.

Peterborough had more chances as Clarke fired over when he had time and space and then a goalmouth scramble saw Clarke again fire over when he should have done better. We needed to keep things tight at the stage and Langley began to get more involved as did Cook who was looking dangerous on the left.

Cook was taking four defenders out wide with him allowing Langley and Gallen more space as we began to get on top. One good run by Cook almost got us a second goal but his shot was disappointing and went wide.

We then began passing again and a good move involving Rose and Gallen saw Langley fouled for a free kick outside the box. Langley's effort was blocked to go out for a corner.

The noise in the Rangers end began to rise as we sensed another goal and what a goal it was. Langley curled his corner straight into the back of the net to leave the keeper doing a Seaman flapping his arms as if Ronaldinio was facing him. It was hard to believe and Langley looked delighted with it.

The Rangers fans began to chant Seaman at the keeper who at least saw the funny side of it.

We had more chances as we quickly broke away. Gallen was left unmarked but Angell decided that he would do a Beckham and try and chip the keeper from the halfway line. His effort showed why Beckham is the England captain and Angell is fighting for a contract at QPR. It was woeful and he should have set up Gallen.

Angell then went close with a header after more good work by Gallen and Bircham and it was all looking rather good. Peterborough had nothing to throw back at us as we played out the game easily enough. Langley went close again after a brilliant save from one of his free kicks. From the corner everyone yelled shoot as Langley lined it up but as his cross found Palmer the cry of don't shoot fell on deaf ears and his effort went wide.

As time was running out Clarke Carlisle limped off with Danny Murphy coming on. Murphy managed to get himself into a ruck with Jason Lee which continued on after the final whistle. Thankfully he was pulled away as I think he would have come second if it had kicked off.

So an away win at last, our first since September but still plenty to improve on. Holloway again handed more ammunition to those who want him out by playing people out of position in order to select a 4-4-2.

Bircham, Rose and Palmer are all better players than they are made to look when they are played in this way. Rose is so right footed it is frightening to see him at left back and Bircham looked at his best when he tucked inside during the first half.

All in all though it was a good and vital win for us and something to build on. we haven't turned the corner yet though and we'll have to play a lot better to win again on Saturday but it's better than losing.

Man of the Match: Kevin Gallen

Players Ratings

13. Nick Culkin: Didn't have much to do but made one good save and looked a bit more confident than he has done recently. 6/10

2. Terrell Forbes: A solid game for Terrell. Defensively excellent and always tries to get forward and support the attacks. 7/10

7. Matthew Rose: My first chance to see him at left back and he did quite well. I think he'd struggle against better teams but that's something to worry about at another time. 7/10

5. Clarke Carlisle: Did well to score the goal and was pretty comfortable throughout the game. 7/10

6. Danny Shittu: Still tends to hoof the ball to much out of defence but he defended well against Jason Lee. 7/10

4. Steve Palmer: Waste of space in midfield. So much better in defence but Holloway wants some experience in midfield. He did offer some help to Langley when he almost got himself sent off but the distribution and positional play of Palmer in midfield was hopeless. 5/10

9. Richard Langley: Cracking goal that he was practising before the game so perhaps he meant it. When he had the ball on the floor he looked a real threat and made things happen for us. Sadly the ball spends to much time above his head. 7/10

15. Lee Cook: Got better as the game went on. A real threat at times and his pace and trickery attracts more defenders to him leaving space for others to exploit. Hopefully his loan can get extended. 7/10

8. Marc Bircham: Wasted on the wing but he gave his all and had a decent game. Won plenty of tackles when he tucked inside and got in a few good crosses in the second half. 7/10

31. Bret Angell: Did his best and had a few chances to score. He has no pace though which counted against us at times. I don't think he's worth keeping after his two month contract runs out 6/10

10: Kevin Gallen: Playing the best football of his life and he is a joy to watch at the moment. Took the pressure of f the defence by holding the ball up again something we badly missed when he was out injured. 9/10

Subs:

16. Danny Murphy: On for a few minutes so didn't have time to do much. 7/10