Ranger's game against Wigan was a massive game for both clubs.

For Wigan a win would take them a step closer to the automatic promotion that they are almost certain to get but and Rangers knew a win would get us right in the hunt for 2nd place.

It was also a big day for me with it being my 27th birthday. It's always good to have your birthday on the same day Rangers are playing. Well it's good if Rangers win as they did on my 19th when Kevin Gallen got the winner against Chelsea but defeat like against Palace on this a few years ago usually ruins what should be a good day.

Still nothing can ruin a day, which starts with the birthday boy redecorating his nephew's bedroom with last night's beer and pizza before being given cake, which almost makes a reappearance in his mum's kitchen a few hours later.

Despite feeling like that having the extra pint of Stella last night was a bad idea I was confident the day would improve.

Thankfully when we arrived at the ground I didn't have to face a picture of me in the programme which my girlfriend usually finds hilarious to send in once a year and instead it was a bottle of water before the game to settle my fragile head and stomach before the game kicked off.

It was good to see so the ground looking pretty full in and the atmosphere was excellent as both sets of fans knew what was at stake this afternoon. Only two changes for Rangers as Kevin McLeod made his debut with Lee Cook now back at Watford. The injured Tommy Williams was also out with Gino Padula back in the side.

Wigan started the better of the two teams, as once again we looked nervous at the start of a game. Wigan were looked by far the best side we've played this season. They worked hard, looked well organised and were always a threat coming forward.

The movement of Liddell coming in from the wing and Ellington up front caused loads of problems to us and we were in for a tough afternoon. Padula saved us early on after Ellington put Roberts through but the reliable left back got in a last ditch tackle to prevent them scoring.

We began to settle and got back into the game and had a great chance to get in front. McLeod beat his man on the left and got down to the touchline to put in a good cross for Gallen. Gallen was crowded out and his shot was blocked before falling to Paul Furlong who looked certain to score before Filan made an excellent save to keep the scores level.

We were on the front foot and a couple of corners could have given us the lead but we couldn't make it count.

Wigan began to get back in it and had a good ten minutes where they looked very dangerous. We backed off Ellington as he ran at the Rangers defence and his shot beat Chris Day but came back off the post and went wide to the relief of the Rangers fans.

Then an amazing decision by the linesmen almost saw them take the lead. Roberts was well offside but running back and not interfering with play so understandably the linesmen kept his flag down. But the Shittu slipped and Roberts ran back onto the ball again making him active and the flag should have gone up. Amazingly though the flag stayed down and Roberts hit a curling shot which was well saved by Chris Day.

Wigan were on top at this stage and they broke at us with four or five men at a time piling into the penalty area as we were getting over run.

We did have our moments though. A good run by McLeod saw him storm through onto the right and his curling shot was just over the bar. Langley also had a shot fly wide in a tense game of few chances. We had plenty of possession but gave the ball away at vital moments as Wigan chased and harried every ball giving us no time on the ball.

We ended the half level but Wigan looked the better side. I was still pretty confident though that we'd come back in the second half and create enough chances to get something out of the game. I was proved wrong through within 60 seconds of the second half starting.

Wigan came at us strongly and we seemed half asleep. A corner on the left was half cleared only for De Vos to head back in and Ellington was in the right place at the right time to get a head on the ball and beat Chris Day. It was a deserved lead and they could have got more as they piled the pressure on.

We were being torn apart and only a good save from Chris Day and some poor finishing kept us only a goal behind before we were able to get back in the game. We were looking a shadow of the side we know we can be but full credit to Wigan for making us look poor.

We did get back in it though as Furlong began to hold the ball up and we began to build some attacks.

Richard Langley went close with a free kick, which curled over the wall but was well saved by the keeper. He had two more efforts but the wall blocked them this time and it wasn't looking like it was going to be our day.

Langley was having a frustrating afternoon and the crowd began to take out their frustrations on him. He wasn't at his best but neither was Gallen and it's disappointing to hear Langley getting stick when he's not the only one having a poor game.

Gallen just couldn't get his game going and when he did manage to get on the ball his passing wasn't up to his normal standards. Langley was taken off with Andy Thomson coming on. Gallen moved to the right wing and we began to create a few more openings.

Thomson looked sharp again but every good move down either flank was usually wasted with poor passing. We'd resorted to far to many long balls from the back, which was easy for them to deal with, and the best we looked was when McLeod ran at them.

One mazy run saw him dribble past four players but he was tackled before he could get his shot away. We just couldn't break them down and despite lots of possession and some late corners we just couldn't manage a goal and Wigan got the win they deserved.

So not the birthday win I was hoping for but results elsewhere meant it wasn't a disastrous day for Rangers and we have the chance to bounce back next weekend at Blackpool

Man of the Match: Paul Furlong

Players Ratings

1. Chris Day: No chance with the goal and made a few good saves to keep us in it. 7/10

2. Terrell Forbes: Not his best game going forward but he was excellent at the back again. 7/10

3. Gino Padula: One of the better players. He was comfortable on the ball and was strong at the back. 7/10

5. Clarke Carlisle: Followed the recent pattern of starting poorly but getting better as the game wore on. 7/10

6. Danny Shittu: Another good performance from Shittu despite a few lapses of concentration. His hoofs forward have become a trademark but it's a shame the midfield don't offer themselves as an option to him instead of leaving him to hoof it to Furlong. 7/10

4. Steve Palmer: Not at his best in midfield but he worked hard and did all you'd expect of him. 6/10

8. Marc Bircham: Worked hard again in midfield and had a decent game. His passing was not great but he gave his all for the team and was unlucky to be on the losing team.

9. Richard Langley: Not his best game as he gave the ball away and was second far to often in the tackle. Disappointing to see him taken off though as even on an off day he is still one of the few players we have who can open up a defence. 6/10

15. Kevin McLeod: Promising debut. He was pretty direct and got some good crosses in. he was also unlucky not to score after a number of good runs and shots. 7/10

10. Kevin Gallen: One of his quietest games of the season. He was well marked by the tough Wigan defence and when he got the ball his passing sometimes let him down. He did get better when he went onto the wing and after 34 games he was due a bad one. 6/10

29. Paul Furlong: Held the ball up superbly was our main threat up front. Could have done with a bit more support from midfield as his good play was usually wasted by lack of options from other players. 8/10

Subs

27. Andy Thomson: Looked sharp when he came on but didn't really get a chance to score. 6/10