This was a horrible game played in a horrible ground in horrible conditions. Rangers compounded this by turning in a horrible performance and getting deservedly beaten by a Blackpool side that looked far more up for it and adapted to the conditions far better.

Following on from the 3-1 defeat at Stoke De Canio was forced into a couple of changes thanks to Blackstock’s suspension and Timoska’s illness. Camp was in goal behind a back four of Rowlands, Stewart, Malcolm and Barker. Leigertwood, Bolder and Buzsaky were across the middle of the park with Sinclair and Sahar playing wide and slightly deeper than lone striker Vine. Jake Cole was also ill so it meant a first place in the first team sixteen for Under 18’s keeper Chris Goodchild. 

Rangers actually started the game pretty quickly; clearly the pedestrian openings against Sheffield Wednesday and Stoke City were fresh in the minds. Rowlands came forward from right back and fed Vine who saw his shot deflected wide of the post. Buzsaky’s corner delivery was caught by a gust of wind and forced Rachubka to tip it over the bar. 

Buzsaky had another effort shortly after when Rangers were awarded a free kick some thirty yards from goal. With the howling gale at his back he drilled in a good strike that Rachubka fumbled to safety. The wind was playing havoc with the ball and any sort of decent passing football from either side just wasn’t an option. Even passes along the deck were being blown out of play in a ground that offers no protection from the elements for players or the poor bastards that are forced to pay £17.50 for the privilege of sitting in a stand that doesn’t even appear to be bolted to the rubble and assorted bric-a-brac that litter the ground beneath it. 

Camp made his first excellent save of the afternoon when a ball into the box from the impressive Wes Hoolahan found Ben Burgess. The humungous striker made a good connection and Camp managed to change direction quickly and claw the ball away with his left hand. This wasn’t much of a game at all by now; the only entertainment was watching the home fans faces go brighter than their shirts as they became increasingly infuriated with the decisions of referee Oliver.  

He pulled Blackpool up for a back pass, which to be fair, from our vantage point looked like the correct call. Sinclair rolled the ball deep to Buzsaky and he drilled in a shot that was well blocked by the home defence. Rangers’ only other chance of the half came when Vine tried his luck from distance but could only locate Rachubka’s midriff. The home side has also been restricted to long range shots as the ferocity of the wind pretty much kept the ball out of the Rangers box. 

At the break De Canio withdrew Sahar who had been totally anonymous and sent Nygaard on to play up alongside Vine. Personally I think that we would have been better starting with him and trying to go long into him and use the wind rather than trying to play neat football. Once again De Canio’s desire to play football at all costs may not have been the best option. 

It was clear from the off that the home side had far more experience of playing in these conditions. Perhaps next time we are up here the Rangers staff can have a word with Briatore and see of they can train in the Benetton wind tunnel before hand! Time and again the home keeper hung the ball up on the wind and allowed it to be carried deep into the area. Malcolm and Stewart were trying to meet them but it was nigh on impossible to judge whether the ball would drop or end up getting blown into the sea! 

Rangers offered little in attack. Nygaard barely got his head on a ball in all the time he was on and Vine and Buzsaky were becoming increasingly frustrated with the lack of ball and action they were seeing. Blackpool were pouring it on now and Morrell and Burgess both missed good chances. 

The only R’s player that seemed to be coping was Camp who time and again made the right decision when it came to coming off of his line and collecting the ball. Why he was able to judge it and the others weren’t is a mystery. Perhaps his formative years were spent frozen solid on Blackpool beach in mid-August trying to catch the Camp family beach ball?   

De Canio tried to change things by sending Ainsworth on to gain some width but the winger showed why he has barely been used in recent weeks with his first attack. Instead of looking up and crossing the ball he decided to shoot and the strike was so poor it barely trickled to the corrugated fence trying to hide the cars behind the goal! Moore also came on to the bemusement of the Rangers fans, a fourth manager was now giving him a chance to shine, perhaps others at the club need to tell whoever comes in that this waster never deserves to play again. 

Camp had already denied Burgess with another excellent save when the former Blackburn trainee grabbed his fourth goal of the season to secure the points deep into injury time. Yet another wind assisted bomb from Rachubka dropped towards the Rangers box and Stewart went to meet it. His header skewed sideways and into the path of Burgess who had the simple chance of heading over the exposed Camp. In truth it was no more than Blackpool deserved after a poor showing from Rangers, especially in the second half. 

This was a game that Rangers couldn’t afford to lose and they were lucky that Preston and Norwich also came unstuck. Three points against Palace on Tuesday now is a must. I think everyone can tell that Rangers are just trying to tread water until January when the squad can be strengthened (and my god does it need it) but at this rate we could be ten points from safety by then. 

Defensively we need a strong leader of men to come in, we need some creation wide in midfield and we need a twenty goal a season man up front. It won’t come cheap and it will be a good test of the clubs and the owners’ ambitions to see how big the fees are and what standard of players they are aiming for. All I know is they need to be a damned sight better in standard than some of the mob we are saddled with at the moment. 

Man of the Match – Lee Camp. Camp was superb all afternoon and totally helpless with the goal. He coped admirably with the atrocious conditions and had it not been for him this game could have been all over with a long time left to play.

simon@qprnet.com