Lofty.

Rangers 2-0 Livingston RANGERS returned to winning ways in the SPFL Championship with a 2-0 victory over Livingston at Ibrox Stadium. After the hugely disappointing 2-0 defeat to Queen of the South at Palmerston eight days ago the Light Blues responded by picking up three valuable points in front of 28,053 fans. Speaking in today's official matchday programme Fraser Aird admitted a win would be the perfect early Xmas present and it was the young winger who scored the opening goal with a fine strike on 10 minutes. Rangers then had to wait patiently for a second but it eventually arrived in the 73rd minute and again Aird was involved. The 19-year-old produced a great cross from the right wing and it was Simon Mensing who headed the ball beyond his own keeper to effectively end the game as a contest. Ally McCoist made three changes to his starting eleven with Lee Wallace, Steven Smith and Nicky Clark returning to the side with Jon Daly, Bilel Mohsni and Dean Shiels dropping out. And while the League One champions have played better than they did this afternoon there is no doubt they deserved their 14th league win of the campaign. They made a positive start to the match and with just 31 seconds on the clock a Livi defender was close to heading the ball into his own net from Aird’s dangerous delivery. Steve Simonsen was then called into the action at the other end of the pitch. The big Englishman got down brilliantly at his near post to deny Danny Mullen and that early save proved important as Rangers got their noses in front. A corner from the left was flicked on by Darren McGregor and Aird was there at the back post to drill a powerful shot through the crowded 18-yard box and beyond keeper Darren Jamieson. The early goal was just what the doctor ordered on a cold winter’s day and McCoist remained his technical area to keep his players on their toes. Aird was certainly looking lively and on 20 minutes he used his pace to dart in from the right flank and his powerful left foot drive was well held by Jamieson. Nicky Clark then combined well with Kenny Miller but he could not produce a return pass to his strike partner with the Livi defence keeping it tight at the back. With just one goal separating the sides towards the end of the first half the visitors were never out of it and on 39 minutes they had a great chance to get back on level terms. A deep corner was headed back in by Kyle Jacobs and towering striker Jordan White failed to get enough power on his header from six yards to beat Simonsen. Into the second half and Rangers continued to dictate the play with Ian Black seeing a lot of the ball. A second goal was required though and when Miller tried to barge his way through the Livi backline on 53 minutes the ball found its way through to Clark but his shot was brilliantly blocked by Declan Gallagher. As the hour mark approached the home support began to voice their frustration with their team working hard but unable to find a moment of real quality in the last third to kill the game. Lee Wallace tried to supply it, the left back jinking inside to receive a pass from Stevie Smith but his shot flew high over the crossbar and into the Copland Stand. On 67 minutes Richard Foster then clipped a pass into Clark in Livi’s 18-yard box. He played it into the path of Law but the midfielder shot wide with his left boot. With plenty of firepower on the bench it was only a matter of time before the first switch was made and with 17 minutes remaining both Boyd and Templeton went on with Miller and Steven Smith making way. Within 60 second the score was 2-0 although the crucial second goal came from an unlikely source in Livi defender Mensing. Aird picked up the ball in front of the old East Enclosure and his whipped cross was glanced in by the visitor’s skipper with Jamieson caught in no man’s land behind him. It was a moment of good fortune for the Gers but after the past couple of weeks the club was perhaps due a bit of luck. In the latter stages of the game Shiels was introduced in place of Ian Black and while Livi kept going until the final whistle for their stand-in gaffer Mark Burchill they couldn’t find a way past Simonsen who made several fine stops throughout the 90 minutes. RANGERS: Simonsen; Foster, McCulloch, McGregor, Wallace; Aird, Black (Shiels 81), Law, Smith (Templeton 73); Miller (Boyd 73), Clark SUBS NOT USED: Robinson, Mohsni, Daly, Faure GOALS: Aird 10, Mensing 73og LIVINGSTON: Jamieson; Fordyce, Gallagher, Mensing, Rutherford; Keaghan Jacobs (McKenna 83), Kyle Jacobs, O’Brien, Glen (Hippolyte 73); White, Mullen (Praprotnik 83) SUBS NOT USED: Grant, Sives, Ogleby, Beaumont REF: William Collum ATT: 28,053

February 18th 1939, Arsenal vs Chelsea, Beating Maradona to it by almost half a century, Ted Drake punches the ball past Chelses keeper Vic Woodley to score the only goal of the game.

this one? How do these Chelsea old boys Chopper Harris, Kerry Dixon and Co rate the Jose Mourinho revolution? - John Terry can play for another five years, claims John Spencer - The skipper is the club's version of Paolo Maldini, reckons Michael Duberry - Frank Lampard is arguably the club's best-ever player, Kerry Dixon says - Lampard was released a year 'too early' by the Blues, says Gary Chivers - Roman Abramovich has been fantastic, says former player and boss John Hollins - Diego Costa has been a revelation, says former striker Dixon - 'To be the greatest Chelsea team they’ve got to win the Champions League,' Spencer adds Full article here

Peter Bonetti, Chelsea's greatest goalkeeper, came through the ranks to make a total of 729 appearances for the club (second only to Chopper) spread over 20 years interrupted by a single season in the States before being brought back by Eddie Mac to help gain promotion, pictured here on September 17th 1979 before his testimonial match against Man U:

The following images are, according to the official site, the best pictures of 2014, Some nice images there, no doubt about it. But as 2014 comes to a close, what were your favourite Chelsea related pictures of the year, and why.

Not too surprisingly there's nothing on the official site, but there's this on the BBC: Ally McCoist remains Rangers manager after meeting Ally McCoist will remain Rangers manager following a meeting with board members despite handing in his notice on Thursday. The 52-year-old, whose side sit second in the Scottish Championship, will still be in charge of the team against Livingston on Saturday. But Rangers have refused to be drawn on what will happen thereafter. After McCoist told the club of his intentions, they said on Monday that a 12-month notice period has begun. His annual salary reverted to £750,000 after it had been cut. McCoist was called to a Wednesday meeting with the chairman of the club's football board, Sandy Easdale, and director Derek Llambias. And Easdale, who was heckled by a supporter as he arrived at Ibrox stadium for the meeting, afterwards refused to comment on the possibility of a settlement or what would happen beyond the match against Livingston. "Ally's here and we're looking forward to Saturday to the game," he said when questioned by BBC Scotland. McCoist took over from Walter Smith in 2011 when Rangers were in the Scottish Premier League, but his period in charge has coincided with the club's financial collapse. Administration and subsequent liquidation of the former company that ran the club resulted in Rangers playing in the fourth tier of Scottish football. The club's all-time top goalscorer has led the team to two consecutive promotions, but this season Rangers trail Championship leaders Hearts by nine points as they chase promotion to the Scottish Premiership. Craig Houston, from the Sons of Struth supporters group, was shocked by the outcome of the meeting. "It seemed that he handed in his notice and there was going to be some negotiations done today. Everyone was under the impression that it would be on his package to terminate his employment," he told BBC Scotland. "I am a bit surprised that it was not the outcome today and hopefully we'll hear more from the club to firm that up." Houston received strong criticism on social media in particular before he handed in his notice. "It would appear that Ally resigned purely on a stance of principle because he took his wage reduction on the basis that it would protect jobs and that doesn't appear to be the case," Houston said, pointing to recent redundancies. "That's been accepted by a lot of Rangers supporters." Houston believes the uncertainty will affect team performances but thinks question marks over the club's financial future is more important. "Should McCoist be here for 12 months it would be a very strange situation and I don't know how it would be possible," he said. "My own personal opinion is that there are more important issues at the club right now, so I would rather it was sorted one way or another."

Newcastle's traditionally piss poor record in London + Newcastle thinking they were better than they because they beat us last week + The Manager Of The Month Curse = Arsenal beating Newcaste at home by a three goal margin. Gary Cahill noticeably not at his best + Newcastle getting lucky with a breakaway goal seconds after Mikel heads wide from close range + Newcastle getting lucky with a breakaway goal seconds after Eden Hazard hits the post = a two nil home win. Unfortunately, or fortunately, depending on your point of view, football is very rarely that formulaic. Fortunately I'd say, otherwise every game would be a foregone conclusion, in which case there'd be very little point in... well in any of it really.

On a day in which the Rangers board are reported to have rejected Ally McCoist's resignation, Rangers put in a dreadful performance, and in doing so managed to give Hearts the opportunity to take a twelve point lead at the top of the table, with the gap between Rangers and third placed Queen Of The South now down to four points. Rangers were devoid of ideas, lacking in guile and offered very little throughout. Watching tonight's match you have to ask yourself whether Ally McCoist's days are numbered, whether the news that his offer of resignation has been rejected are both inaccurate and premature. Ah well, here for what it's worth, is the match report from the official site: Queen of the South 2-0 Rangers RANGERS suffered a disappointing defeat as they went down 2-0 at Queen of the South. On a freezing night at Palmerston Park Gers found little fire in attack as they struggled to create chances as Queens frustrated them. Strikes in either half from John Baird and Gavin Reilly handed all three points to the Championship’s third placed team – it leaves them four points behind the Light Blues. Three minutes had gone when Queens showed their attacking threat – something that was to set the tone for the evening. Daniel Carmichael shot down the right flank to thread in Baird who cut a ball across the face of goal. Reilly was arriving at the far post but was just a few seconds too late to meet it. A few minutes later they startled the Gers defence again. Andrew Dowie delivered a dangerous ball into the area but with the attack moving so fast Queens could only head just wide. And then the Doonhamers pushed forward again - Iain Russell picked up the ball on the half way line and darted away down the right to reach the penalty box. Steve Simonsen dived to his right to thwart the midfielder. With 13 minutes played Rangers had their first clear chance of the game - a ball cut inside reached Kenny Miller, who skipped on to the edge of the box from the right channel to fire just over the cross bar. The home side opened the scoring ten minutes later after Darren McGregor slipped just outside the box. The defender handled the ball following some quick play from Carmichael; he played in Baird after easing past Ian Black. McGregor was handed a yellow card and the resulting free kick from Kevin Holt was curled into the top corner beyond Simonsen, to give Queens the lead with 22 minutes gone. The Dumfries side kept pressing forward as Rangers offered little in return. Baird went close and then Russell blasted over in front of an open goal. Fraser Aird’s corner kick sprung some life into the Light Blues on 33 minutes as they went looking for an equaliser. Aird’s ball found the head of Lee McCulloch who dinked a header onto Jon Daly. The forward’s close range nod was on target before Ian McShane rose to clear the ball off the line - Bilel Mohsni could only head the ball back in over as Gers attack extinguished. Just before the break Simonsen took a risk to come out and meet Baird as he soared down the left and closed in on goal. The keeper just reached the ball with a sliding clearance to avert the danger and settle the Rangers nerves, if only just for a moment. Ally McCoist replaced Shiels at half time with David Templeton in an attempt to shake the midfield up. And the first effort of the second period fell to Rangers as Nicky Law powered through the middle to pick his shot and launch it at goal. Clark palmed the strong effort away and the ball fell as far as Miller, he couldn’t organise himself quickly enough though and he shot weakly as another chance went begging. The Light Blues front line was replaced with 57 minutes on the clock, Nicky Clark and Kris Boyd entered the fray as the search for an equaliser continued. Moments before the forwards introduction Baird had fired wide, after finding himself in acres of space in the box, with only Simsonsen to beat. Boyd reacted to a long throw in as he tried to make an immediate impact– his toe poke was straight at Queens keeper though. Reilly added to Rangers misery with 23 minutes left to play as he doubled the lead. The forward picked up Carmichael’s ball over the top to take one touch and fire the ball in off the inside of Simonsen’s right post and see it bulge the back of the Gers net as Palmerston Park erupted. Rangers tried in vain to find a goal but the clock ticked by and efforts from Boyd and Aird fell short as the game got away from them. RANGERS: Simonsen, Foster, Mohsni, McCulloch, McGregor, Law, Black, Shiels (Templeton 46), Aird, Daly (Clark 57), Miller (Boyd 57) Subs not used: Robinson, Hutton, Faure, Smith Yellows: McGregor 20â€, McCulloch 54†QUEEN OF THE SOUTH: Clark, Dowie, Higgins, Durnan, Holt, McShane, Kerr, Carmichael (Kidd 89â€), Russell (Paton 90â€), Reilly, Baird (Lyle 60â€) Subs not used: Atkinson, Dzierzawski, Hooper, Kiltie Yellows: Baird 54†Goals: Holt 22â€, Reilly 67â€

But was it so meaningless? We'd already qualified as group winners, so I can't argue that the game had no relevance as far as the Champions League goes. But in the context of the season as a whole, more immediately the run up to the Christmas/Holiday period. Winning is a habit, and so is losing. Having just lost our unbeaten record at the weekend, it was surely important to get back on to a winning track as soon as possible. It certainly wouldn't have been a disaster had we not won tonight's match, but neither would it have helped with morale. And so the meaning to tonight's match was the restoration of the winning mentality, the feelgood factor, going some way towards repairing any dents in the team's self-belief that may have occurred as a result of losing at St James. To return to the subject, I fully agree with Bobbywoodhogan in that those few minutes on the pitch will have been massively significant to the player himself. He's now made his full Chelsea debut, he's had a taste of the big time, and if he's any kind of player - which we have every reason to believe he is, then having had a taste, he'll be wanting more and more. Given that the huge expectations at a club like ours make it difficult for youngsters to breakthrough, and equally difficult or the manager to find the right time to play the youngsters, then we really do have to be patient. For those bewailing the lack of youth team prospects making it into the first time, bear in mind that the Chelsea Academy isn't the finished article: it's a relatively new venture that's only just beginning to bear fruit. We may or may not see Ruben Loftus-Cheek playing for the first team again this season, with ties against Watford and Derby in the offing, I certainly wouldn't write off the possibility of the player making further first team appearances. Who knows, we may even see him on the pitch on Saturday. I hope he makes it, as I'm sure we all do. The longer it is since the Academy was first established, the higher is the quality of the players it produces, and with this increase in quality so does so do the odds of a player (or players) from the Academy making a real breakthrough, not to be loaned to Vitesse, or settling for a career either in the lower leagues or at a not quite so ambitious Premier League club, but as a Chelsea player. It'll come, of that I'm confident.

I hate to admit it, but the above was actually a private joke that didn't quite work out as planned. Such is life. Can't win 'em all.

For the short time he was on the pitch, for a youngster making his Champions League debut, Rosie* did ok,. In fact, he did more than ok. The offside chance towards the end would have added a touch of magic to the occasion, had he managed to put it awway... but he knew he was offside (don't argue!) and I'm as sure as I can be that he will have other opportunities to show what he can do on the bigger stage. *Rosie Cheeks

"scores when he wants to.... "

Well fine, my opinion is that there's too much whining and moaning. But well done for actually getting my username right, The last couple of times you've addressed me you've managed to do so with a username other than the one I'm currently using.

Well may you sigh. The amount of moaning on this site gets beyond a joke. Don't worry, I kmow full well what your little "sigh" was all about. Whinge away, don't mind me.

To those bemoaning the lack of "youth" players in the starting lineup: Do f**k off, you moaning, whinging, whining bunch of tossers.