The Easter fixtures are usually the ones, which decide where teams will finish at the 3end of the season. Rangers went into this run of two games in three days knowing maximum points would see us pull clear of Bristol City but at this stage of the season the games are never easy.

Grimsby came to Loftus Road with a terrible away record, they haven’t won since November on the road but Rangers have struggled against the teams near the foot of the table so it was always going to be a difficult game. It wasn’t made easier with Martin Rowlands missing through suspension. Jamie Cureton who made his first start of the season up front replaced him and Kevin Gallen moved to the left wing.

Before the game it was good to see Terrell Forbes and Gino Padula warming up and hopefully they will both be ready to return to the first team in the near future.

The game lived up to the billing of a nerve filled battle of long ball as neither side showed much promise in the opening half an hour. Rangers looked the more likely to open the scoring but that was mainly due to Grimsby putting everyone behind the ball.

Grimsby had a few good early moments as they carved open our defence with long balls through the middle but good defending by Gnohere and Bignot made sure they never really made Lee Camp work.

Rangers were playing plenty of long ball which was required due to the state of the pitch but when we did get it down and play in the final third we created chances. Furlong was proving a real handful for the defence and a good the goal by inches. Furlong was our main goal threat but as ever the ref was pulling him up anytime he went near a defender but a defender is able to man handle him and get away with it. I suppose I should be used to it by now but I remember when Furlong used to play against us and I don’t think the refs ever pulled him up as often as they do now for shirt pulling.

Ainsworth was doing well for us on the right getting stuck into some hard tackles and winning us a few corners. Chances were few and far between though and Furlong fired wide again after creating a chance for himself.

Grimsby almost took a shock lead after a cross wasn’t dealt with by Rangers and Camp had to produce an excellent save from Antione-Curier's header to claw it away when it looked like going in.

This seemed to wake Rangers up and we had a good spell of pressure after this but till struggled to create many chances. Cureton and Gallen were interchanging positions on the left to try and give us a bit more strength up front but Gallen usually ended up going back out on the left and he put in some excellent crosses.

Gallen found himself in the book after being brought down on the edge of the box. He was booked for diving, which was a terrible decision. Gallen had got clear of his men and looked like he was brought down. That booking could see him banned for the Plymouth game but it is unclear how the suspensions work at this stage of the season and he may get away without a ban.

Bean was also booked for his first foul of the game and the ref was making sure he got himself noticed. Edghill then fired just wide from a long-range free kick and Furlong tired an overhead kick, which flew over the bar.

Rangers took the lead just before half time as many fans began to move towards the bar. It was a clever free kick by Rangers. After being caught off side several times in the first half, Carlisle, Gnohere ands Furlong took up the odd position of standing on the corner of the penalty area. This confused the away defence and they didn’t seem to know what to do.

As the ball was sung into the box all three big men ran out then turned and sprinted into the box. Ainsworth through himself at the ball and the keeper flapped at the cross leaving Furlong unmarked to fire in his twelfth goal of the season. The relief was evident all around the ground and those getting ready to boo the team off were now fully satisfied again.

We now needed to make sure we killed off the game and we started the second half looking for that killer goal. A free kick was awarded after a good run by Ainsworth saw him brought down. Gallen lined up the free kick and curled it inches wide of the far post.

Disaster then struck as Carlisle went up for a header and collapsed in a heap on the floor. Gallen immediately signalled for a stretcher and Carlisle was taken off with what looked like a serious ankle injury. He was later seen back in the dug out on crutches and this may be the last time we see Clarke in a QPR shirt. Lets hope it’s not serious though and he’s back in action before the end of the season.

Matthew Rose replaced him and immediately found his team under pressure but he did well clearing the ball twice from his own area and the team soon settled down again after another change. Bean had looked nervous since his booking and was replaced by Steve palmer to add a bit of a calming influence in midfield. This allowed Bircham to get forward a bit more often and we soon got back on top.

Ainsworth had a chance to extend the lead after good work by Furlong and the winger was n space with Jamie Cureton screaming for the cross with an open goal at Cureton’s mercy but Ainsworth went for the spectacular and volleyed high over the bar.

Furlong was looking desperate for his second goal and headed just wide from another good ball into the box. Gallen then looked like he was going to kill the game off. He ran towards goal and got past two defenders before firing in his shot but Fettis made a good save to keep him out and Furlong was furious that his team mate didn’t square it for a simple tap in.

Fettis was keeping his team in the game and was on a one-man mission to deny Paul Furlong. Ainsworth did brilliantly on the right to get a cross in and an excellent Fettis save denied Furlong. Furlong then won another header in the box and was denied by a good save and as Cureton ran in for the rebound Fettis somehow got a hand to the ball before Cureton could pounce.

It was a very nervous stadium now as we needed that second goal and Grimsby began to believe they might nick something. They had a few attacks down our right side but they came to very little and the new defensive pairing of Rose and Gnohere were never really troubled.

Gareth Ainsworth was then taken off as he looked knackered and Kevin Mcleod came on with Gallen now switching to the right wing. He continued to swap positions with Cureton though which was making it very hard for the Grimsby back line to work out who to mark and when.

The second goal finally came with just a few minutes left. Gallen did well on the left and put in an excellent cross for Gnohere but the big defender made a mess of his header and ended up playing it back to Bircham. The blue and blonde haired midfielder chested the ball down with cries of shoot coming from the Loft and Bircham didn’t disappoint smashing in a stunning volley into the top corner. Rangers celebrated like mad and the three points were in the bag. Bircham got the goal that his performance deserved exactly a year since he scored a similar goal to grab three points at Brentford.

Rangers now had renewed confidence and set about taking Grimsby apart. Cureton did well to put a ball into Furlong and was hurt in the process. Furlong calmly strolled through the defence and blasted into the top corner for number thirteen of the season and another three points for Rangers. News began to filter through that Swindon were drawing with Bristol City so the victory was beginning to taste even sweeter.

We looked to add a fourth as Cureton smashed in a powerful shot which the keeper did brilliantly to tip over the bar and when the final whistle went the Rangers fans were celebrating a hard fought three points.

This is another vital win and with games running out the three-point gap over Bristol City is a big one to have.

We now travel to Barnsley which will be a very difficult game, especially with Rowlands, Gnohere and Carlisle all missing but if we can show the same team spirit which got us a point at Tranmere we could be in a very healthy position on Monday evening.

Man of the Match: Paul Furlong

Players Ratings

31. Lee Camp: Made one great save in the first half but had very little else to do. 7/10

12. Marcus Bignot: A very good display at right back. He got forward to support Ainsworth and his defending was first class as he took up the Forbes role of covering the two central defenders when they go to sleep. 8/10

23. Richard Edghill: Another decent display at left back. He defend3ed well and always tried to support the attacks from deep. 7/10

5. Clarke Carlisle: A real shame to see him carried off and lets hope it's not too serious. Up until his injury he was playing pretty well and a big improvement on recent displays. 7/10

20. Arthur Gnohere: Defended well and his passing was improved on recent performances. 7/10

17. Marcus Bean: Was having a typical Bean game until he got booked. Won loads of tackles and did the simple things well but the booking affected him and he was quiet after his yellow card. 7/10

8. Marc Bircham: A close second for the man of the match. Worked his heart out in midfield and showed some real quality at times. His goal was a cracking effort and he must have loved scoring that in front of the Loft. 8/10

11. Gareth Ainsworth: Ran his socks off for the team throwing himself into challenges he has no right to win but he usually wins them. He's just the type of player we need in this run in and I'm so pleased to see him back to full fitness again. 7/10

10. Kevin Gallen: Played in several different positions and although not at his best he did a good job for the team and had a hand in the second goal. 7/10

29. Paul Furlong: An outstanding performance from Furlong. He made a nuisance of himself all game and deserved more than the two goals he scored for himself. 9/10

28. Jamie Cureton: Grew in confidence as the game wore on and he deserved a goal for all his hard work. 7/10

Subs

7. Matthew Rose: Came on under difficult circumstances and gave a good account of himself and probably played his way back into the starting eleven. 7/10

4. Steve Palmer: Sat in front of the back four and allowed the others to get forward. His experience and talking to other players helped steady the ship when he came on. 7/10

22. Kevin McLeod: Didn't get much of a chance to make an impression but he'll be pleased to be back after being dropped for the Tranmere game. 7/10