A week ago we had a prize draw at work with the winner getting a weekend for two in Malta. The lucky winner was me and I had a simple choice to make. Spend a weekend in a five star hotel in Malta with my girlfriend or spend Saturday afternoon at Loftus Road watching QPR vs Port Vale. The choice was easy for me but my girlfriend wasn't to chuffed at me turning down a weekend away to sit in the cold at Loftus Road.

I was confident though that it would be worth staying at home for and it's safe to say I think I made the right decsion in staying and watching one of our best performances of the season.

More injury problems though left us without many first choice players. Gino Padula was passed fit, which was good news but with only 17 fit players available Brian Fitzgerald was drafted in among the substitutes.

Marcus Bean made his home debut on the right wing whilst Richard Langley returned in central midfield alongside Marc Bircham. Leroy Griffiths also kept his place on the left with Gallen going back up front.

We started the game well looking the brighter side and a goal seemed inevitable. We were playing some good football with Langley and Padula at the heart of our best work.

Leroy was getting himself in some good positions but his final ball let him down. Furlong and Bean went close to opening the scoring after good moves before a cross from Gallen saw Furlong try and overhead kick which he was unlucky not to score from.

We were playing well and deserved to get in front. Bean was looking lively on the right but he didn't have the pace to exploit the weaknesses they had on that side of the pitch.

Holloway switched things around to give Langley a go on the right and his cross almost brought a goal from a Gallen header. Despite a good first 20 minutes we fell away for the rest of the half and looked very ordinary.

Kevin Gallen was working hard up front but he was not at his best giving the ball away more than I have seen him do all season.

To his credit though he kept going and always wanted the ball when others in the past not playing well usually go completely missing. Bircham was also having a quiet game playing quite deep and his corners were a disappointment in the first half.

At half time I began to think Malta was a good idea after 45 minutes in a freezing cold wind and it looked like it was going to be a frustrating afternoon. Rangers came out for the second half a different team and completely blew Port Vale away.

A few corners were won as we got on top of the game. Leroy Griffiths was unlucky with a header after good work by Bean and Forbes.

Leroy's header hit the post after a good save by the keeper. Marcus Bean then went close after a good passing move saw the youngster hit a good low shot. Vale keeper Mark Goolard was on top form though and pushed the shot wide.

From the corner Marc Bircham swung the ball in to the far post where Paul Furlong headed back for Danny Shittu to score from close range. It was a well deserved goal from Shittu who had been superb throughout the game producing one of his best performances of the season.

Shittu ran to the loft to celebrate with the fans and with Port Vale looking hopeless going forward we were confident of a win.

We were well on top now and Port Vale couldn't get out of their own half. We looked confident and began passing the ball around very well.

Richard Langley delivered a superb cross on the left for Paul Furlong to head past the keeper for his third goal in as many games. Furlong ran to the Loft turning his back to the crowd and pointing out his name. The boos had turned to cheers for Furlong and he deserved the chance to milk the applause.

The game was virtually over but we continued to push forward looking for more goals. Goal difference could be important at the end of the season and we currently have the worst of any team in the top six.

Port Vale made some changes but it made no difference, as we looked miles above what they had to offer. A good move on the right saw Marcus Bean burst into the box and his diving header saw Goolard produce another excellent save.

Bean was beginning to settle into the team and on this showing he has a big future ahead of him. A third goal seemed inevitable and it was.

A nice passing move involving Gallen, Forbes and Bean eventually saw Padula play a one two with Griffiths which carved open the Vale defence. Padula ran through into space and place his shot into the corner of the net for his first goal for the club.

The crowd went mad chanting Gino's name and the Argentinean looked delighted as he performed a little dance by the corner flag.

Port Vale were all over the place and a good turn and shot by Furlong almost brought a fourth but his shot went just wide. Holloway then made a change taking off Marcus Bean to a standing ovation for the youngster.

On came Doudou who looked very sharp during his short time on the pitch.

He had a hand in the fourth and final goal of the afternoon in the last minute. Doudou ran down the right and the Vale defence looked worried, he passed to Gallen who curled a superb shot into the top corner of the net to seal a great win for Rangers.

Ranger's fans chanted we want five as we got a free kick on the right but we were just being greedy and the standing ovation for the team at the final whistle was well deserved.

Results elsewhere mean a win was vital for us and we have now gone level with Bristol City giving ourselves a very good chance of the playoffs this season. So on a weekend when I could have been enjoying the sunshine in Malta, instead I sat through our best home win of the season and even my girlfriend had to agree I had made the right decsion.

14 games to go and it's going to be an exciting finish to the season.

Man of the Match: Danny Shittu

Players Ratings

13. Nick Culkin: Had virtually nothing to do all afternoon but his kicking was good. 7/10

2. Terrell Forbes: Defended very well and put in some good crosses going forward. He worked well with Bean during the first half helping the youngster out by offering himself as an option every time Bean had the ball. 7/10

3. Gino Padula: Had very little to do defensively but going forward he was always a threat. Took his goal brilliantly and he has become a real crowd favourite in the last few weeks. 8/10

4. Steve Palmer: Was beaten a few times by Brooker in the second half but overall he was pretty solid. 7/10

6. Danny Shittu: His best performance of the season. An absolute rock at the back, nothing could get past him and it was great to see him score. More of this kind of performance and he'll be a hell of a player for us. 9/10

14. Leroy Griffiths: Got better as the game wore on. His pace got him into some good positions but the final ball is still poor. Good to see him growing in confidence though and he will be needed again when Cook goes back to Watford. 7/10

9. Richard Langley: Did well in midfield keeping things simple and he worked well with Bean especially in the second half. He seemed to pick up an injury near the end of the game, which I hope is not too serious. 7/10

8. Marc Bircham: Not his best game but like Langley he worked hard and did the simple things well. He'll need to play better than this though to stop Holloway putting him back on the wing when Carlisle is fit. 6/10

22. Marcus Bean: He's not a right winger but did a very good job for the team. He is a good passer of the ball and he got into the box well and was unlucky not to score. Perhaps the best of the current crop of youngsters at the club. 7/10

10. Kevin Gallen: Not his best game as he gave the ball away more than he has all season. Despite this his first touch was still outstanding and he worked so hard for the team. His goal was well deserved. 7/10

29. Paul Furlong: A close second for man of the match. He was always a threat and when he plays like this you have top wonder who that bloke was in the number 29 shirt against Vauxhall Motors. Great to see him score and give those who have been quick to boo him a subtle message. 8/10

Subs

12. Doudou: Looked impressive when he came on and hopefully he'll be a regular in the first team squad from now on. 7/10