After a tough week for Ian Holloway the business of winning three points was more vital than ever as last seasons division two champions Plymouth came into town.

With critics pointing to Rangers style or lack of style of play as a reason to remove the manager those critics will have been loading their guns with more ammunition as Holloway opted to stick to the two workers in midfield. Marc Bircham replaced Richard Johnson with Matthew Rose also back after injury in place of Richard Edghill. The much touted return of Dan Shittu didn’t happen though with physio Prav Mathema feeling that Dan is not quite ready for a return just yet.

The other change to the team, which lost to Sheffield United, saw Paul Furlong restored to the first eleven with Jamie Cureton back on the bench.

Both sets of fans observed a minute’s silence for the anniversary of September 11th and the recent atrocities in Russia, which was well observed by both sets of supporters.

The game started with Rangers changing ends and attacking the Loft in the first half. The first few minutes of the game saw a sustained cry of Holloway’s blue and white army from the crowd and the fans made it clear they support the manager. One bloke a few rows in front of me in the P Block continues to look at those singing in support of Holloway with disgust but the majority of supporters seem to want to give Holloway the chance to run things round.

The noise levels were better than anything we’ve had at Loftus Road so far this season but the football on the pitch wasn’t quite hitting the heights we were hoping for. Neither side looked too impressive with the ball spending more time in the air than the grass of the Loftus Road pitch.

Hesitant defending by Rangers on the right saw Day need to save at Friios feet but the linesmen on the far side decided the ball had gone out so gave a corner to the visitors.

This was going to be the first real test of the game as Plymouth are excellent at set pieces. Not a week seems to go by without Plymouth scoring from a set piece and it took them six minutes to add another one to their collection. A brilliant delivery found Friio at the near post to place a simple header past Day and give the visitors the lead. It was a poor goal to give away and the sixth goal conceded this season from a set piece.

The fans stuck with the team though and we pushed hard to get back in the game. Gallen and Rowlands were trying to get attacks going down the right but both players were not at their best and attacks broke down just as we appeared to be one pass or cross away from creating something.

Paul Furlong was the main man for us again up front and he twice came close to getting us level. Good work by Gallen saw the Rangers captain bring down a long ball and lay it off for Furlong to fire just over the bar.

A free kick on the right of the box gave Furlong another chance and a touch from Gallen allowed Furlong to shoot but it hit the side netting.

The game was a real battle with both teams giving it everything they had. The defences were on top with Santos and Rose getting better as the game wore on whilst Furlong and Gallen struggled to get chances against a tough Plymouth back four.

We finally got ourselves a goal, our first in the league at Loftus Road since the first day of the season. Gallen again held the ball up well and laid it off to Bignot who whipped in an excellent cross. The keeper came out to claim it and lost out to Cook and Furlong took advantage running on to the loose ball and firing his shot into the bottom corner. Relief all around the ground and it was a goal Furlong had deserved.

We were now looking the better side with chances beginning to come. Martin Rowlands curled a free kick just over the bar and Cook fired a shot just over from the left wing. Plymouth ended the half strongly pushing us back but Day saved well from an Evans header. As the half time whistle went it was tough to call this one, as both sides seemed evenly matched.

Plymouth should have taken the lead again just after half time. Some slick passing opened up Rangers as the back four looked like they were still having a half time cup of tea. David Norris was put clean through one on one with Day and a goal seemed inevitable until Norris somehow managed to cock it up and fired well wide of Day’s goal.

This woke us up and as the fans got right behind the team we pushed forward looking to get the lead. Kevin Gallen cut in from the left and shot just wide whilst nice work by Bignot gave Furlong a chance but his header wasn’t strong enough to beat McCormick in the Plymouth goal.

With just over an hour gone Holloway made a brave substitution. Fans booed as crowd favourites Rowlands and Cook went off but both had been poor and the introduction of McLeod and Cureton gave us a much needed boost going forward.

The change also made us go more direct which was not pretty on the eye but it got us a second goal when the game looked to be heading for a draw. Santos played a long ball out of defence for Furlong to chase. The danger looked minimal until Furlong got behind the last defender and the keeper had coming running off his line and never looked like reaching the ball. Furlong got to the ball first and lifted the ball over McCormick and into the empty net to give Rangers the lead. His jubilant tea mates mobbed Furlong and a first home win was very close.

Plymouth threw everything at us as we looked to soak up pressure and use the pace of Cureton and McLeod to catch them on the break. Rose and Santos were winning everything in the air as we restricted Plymouth to long range efforts. One tackle in particular stood out by Santos. He calmly went into a tackle which he looked all set to lose before he got his foot on the ball and sent the forward flying and he walked away before playing the ball down the line. Santos had a few scary moments in the game but once again his experience and no nonsense defending was proving valuable for Rangers.

Time was running out for the visitors and the fans sensed the win was very close. Santos won another tackle in his own box and played a nice pass to McLeod. The scouse winger was away and with a bit of shirt wrestling he got away from his full back. Plymouth called for a foul as McLeod ran 40 yards to cross for Furlong. Gallen called for it and pushed Furlong out of the way before firing into the bottom corner to kill the game off. It was a goal Gallen needed and a three points that were very welcome.

The relief was evident all around the ground as we sung “ooh ahh it’s a massacre” and “Can we play you every wee”. Of course it wouldn’t be Rangers without a disaster looking and some neat football carved Rangers apart and Marino Keith was totally unmarked to place a shot past Day and give us a nervous last few minutes.

We held on though and the win was very welcome but results elsewhere mean we only move up two places in the Championship. So after a tough week for Holloway he ends up with three points and the critics off his back for the time being. It wasn't pretty but I really enjoyed the game. A great atmosphere, two teams giving it everything and a very tight game until Gallen got the third goal.

We didn't play as well as we did against Sheffield United but the three points were vital for Holloway and the team yesterday. Once again Holloway got his subs spot on. Rowlands and Cook were dire and I thought it was a very brave and correct decision by Holloway. Plenty to improve on in the coming weeks but we really needed that win. Plus points for me were the performances of Santos (although he does worry me sometimes), Rose did well, Bean was excellent in midfield and Furlong was brilliant up front. McLeod also had a very good game when he came.

Downsides were the performances of Cook and Rowlands. Gallen did ok, nowhere near his best but still better than any other option we have alongside Furlong at the moment. We need to kill games off a little better by keeping the ball when we go ahead but I think that something that will come with a bit more confidence.