Hoops kick-off new era with win

20 February 2010 17:39
Mick Harford's side ended a run of five straight defeats after controversial Italian Briatore announced his resignation as chairman on Friday night.[LNB]For a club who, under Briatore, signed 47 players in less than two-and-a-half years, it was heartening to see local lad German given his full debut in attack.[LNB]And the 18-year-old grabbed his chance with both hands with his first professional goal.[LNB]Rangers' familiar jitters kicked in after the break and Doncaster levelled through James Hayter.[LNB]But moments after a streaker showed more fancy footwork than most of the players on show, Simpson popped up to tuck away the winner.[LNB]Whether it proves enough to keep Harford in a job remains to be seen.[LNB]New bosses are more frequent than London buses in Shepherd's Bush these days with Briatore having overseen 10 changes of manager, and Crystal Palace's Neil Warnock is still rumoured to be close to becoming the next.[LNB]When these teams last met in November, Rangers were fourth and Rovers 19th. Yet so spectacular has been Rangers' decline that they kicked off two points off the drop zone.[LNB]But with a new sense of optimism sweeping around Loftus Road, the Londoners went ahead in the 24th minute.[LNB]Akos Buzsaky crossed from the left, Simpson's close-range effort was superbly saved by Neil Sullivan but German followed up to net with the rebound.[LNB]They could have had a second on the stroke of half-time but Sullivan, who turns 40 next week, somehow kept out Kaspars Gorkss' point-blank header with his feet.[LNB]Rovers also had their chances in the first half, with Brian Stock having a shot deflected wide and Billy Sharp firing over.[LNB]And Stock squandered their best opportunity when he skied over from eight yards from John Oster's clever cut-back.[LNB]After the break Alejandro Faurlin whistled a shot wide for the hosts before German should have doubled the lead with a free header from Lee Cook's corner, only to nod the ball over the top.[LNB]It is 22 games, and three managers, since Rangers last kept a clean sheet and six minutes into the second half Rovers were level, Sharp wriggling free down the right and crossing for Hayter to lash the ball home.[LNB]But Rangers secured their first win of 2010 in style with 14 minutes remaining, when Simpson controlled Buzsaky's chip on his chest and stroked the ball past Sullivan.[LNB][LNB]

Source: Team_Talk