Team: Stejskal, Bardsley, Wilson, Tilson, Peacock, Maddix, Holloway, Barker, Thompson, Bailey, Sinton
Attendance: 4,630
On 19th October 1991, the R’s travelled to Selhurst Park to take on Wimbledon. Ivo Tennant later filed the following match report:
‘The enormity of the challenge facing Peter Withe was all too evident at Selhurst Park. He has no money, little support, and, in his first league match as Wimbledon’s manager, no points or goals either.
“We didn’t perform to our capabilities,” said Withe, and that was an understatement. You would never have guessed that Wimbledon had just had a break in Portugal.
They gained renown for putting the opposition under pressure and bombarding the penalty area with high crosses, but there was none of that yesterday.
No doubt the lack of atmosphere had something to do with the way they played, though Withe was having none of it. The gate was 4,630, which was better than for Wimbledon’s last two home games.
Gerry Francis, Rangers’ manager, reckons that for once his side gained a result they deserved.
There was some truth in that, and yet for much of the match they were barely the better side. And there were all too few chances, created by either side.
Rangers, though, had a splendid opportunity to take the lead in the first few minutes, Bailey being sent clear by Wilson and having his drive parried by Segers.
After half-time, Andy Sinton deserved better than to strike one shot the wrong side of the post, and having another acrobatically taken by Hans Segers.
The way he shimmied past two defenders was out of context with what had gone before.
Rangers gained their three points when Sinton sent Bailey clear nine minutes from the end. Wimbledon’s defence had moved upfield as a unit in search of the winner, and was punished for it.
Dennis Bailey, who came to Rangers only as cover for others, scored with clinical efficiency. It was his fifth goal of the season.’
Rangers followed this victory up with a 3-1 home win over Everton.
Steve Russell