Bristol win means back to square one

Last updated : 14 April 2004 By Mark O' Haire
Going into last night's crunch match Bristol City were 4 points behind Rangers in 3rd spot. Rangers had a far superior goal-difference and tails were wagging after 4 points from their Easter programme. Suddenly the panic button has been pressed again. Bristol suprisingly beat leaders Plymouth 1-0 at home in front of 19,000 fans and are only a point behind the Hoops. In this case goal-difference can count in Rangers' favour as another point but it does not stop us from looking behind us.
This coming Saturday the R's face Stockport County at home. Rangers (as every knows) are unbeaten at home in the league this year and many would see the game as a home banker. Not the case. Stockport are top of the form table and form is the most important credential at this time of year. It will be yet another tough encounter and with the possible absence of Arthur Gnohere, Danny Shittu, Clarke Carlisle, Gino Padula and Marcus Bignot. On the other side of that penny there is the possible return for Gino Padula, Clarke Carlisle and Richard Johnson.
Whatever the team R's fans need to pack out Loftus Road and make it the fortress they have made it over the season. Noise needs to be generated that topped the 3-0 win over Plymouth earlier this season and equal that of the Playoff semi-final win over Oldham last season.
Bristol travel to Luton this Saturday with the Hatters gunning for a playoff spot. No doubt they will be "up for it" but can they produce a result against Bristol who have taken 7 points from Rangers, Plymouth and Swindon recently.
If you go back to last season's run in, Rangers had to play 7 of the top 8 in there end of season run-in. We took results off all the sides apart from Wigan...is it a case of the same story for City?
Nobody is talking about Plymouth anymore who themselves haven't got the easiest of run-in's. Of course there defeat to City throws open the Championship again with 6 points seperating them to City. Plymouth travel to Oldham this Saturday. Oldham are fighting against relegation and are no pushovers at Boundary Park. That then sets up a truely phenomonal clash between two titans at Home Park the following weekend.
Bristol visit Oakwell on the Sunday-scene of a frantic finale for Rangers last week, while Rangers our hosted by Plymouth.
Fingers crossed that the R's don't slip up to Stockport this week the game could be a championship decider, it remains to be seen but no doubt the pressure is back on the R's to keep grinding out results. Come on U R's