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Wolves 2-0 QPR
How nice it was to go to watch a QPR game and be able to relax and enjoy the day! Today, it was the Wolves fans who had to endure a tense afternoon as their very nervous side claimed a 2-0 victory.
A full car load of myself, PK, Corp/Al and Special Guest for the day, Jill made the easy trip to the Black Country. Although a one point, we were a little concerned with Jill's living quarters. I punched her post code into my sat nav before we left, and when it finally said 'arriving at destination on right', all that was before our eyes was a green wheeliebin?!?
On arrival and for the second away game running, we managed to park right outside the ground, with PK spotting a place with no yellow lines or restrictions... and our luck continued when we were also admitted into a home fans only pub - although a cocktail of red bull, panadol extra and lager seemed to highly advance the fun behaviour of Corp/Al for the remainder of the day! Then, we found a food van selling hot dogs at £1 a go, it just had to be our day!?
Sadly our luck run out from there, but not before we duly paid our respects with a minutes applause to England World Cup Winner, Alan Ball who sadly died last week...
R.I.P. Alan Ball
----------Onto the game and a much changed Rangers more than held there own in the first half against as mentioned, an extremely nervous Wolves... and could have been ahead just minutes into the second half as Jimmy Smith hit the underside of the crossbar. But the pressure finally told as goals from Keough and Kightly gave Wolves the win, despite the best efforts of Jake Cole in the Rangers goal. But the Wolves fans celebrations more than showed just how relieved they were...
QPR: Cole, Bignot, Bolder (Bailey 76), Rowlands, Lomas, Kanyuka (Timoska 59), Stewart, Furlong (R Jones 67), Nygaard, Smith, Milanese. Subs: P Jones, Moore.
Lofty's Man of the Match - Jake Cole - outstanding performance!!
The bad luck continued for the gang with all of our recent bookmaker wins being blown away by this result. But there was also plenty of cheer around from the earlier Chelsea and Man United results and also, the result from Elland Road which all but relegates Leeds United. Now, I will never forget their fans chanting at us a couple of years ago - '6-1 in your Cup Final'!?! Did they really, honestly think that playing them is the highlight of our season? I won't gloat too much obviously, but I wish them well for all of their future 'Cup Final's' in League One to come!!
We also say goodbye to Southend who lost at home to Luton and also drop back into League One.
John Gregory has signed a new two year deal with QPR after guiding the club to securing their Championship status!
Gregory told the Official QPR website;"I personally have never been happier. I look forward to working alongside Gianni, as we strive to build a better future for our loyal fans".
"All you need is love."
The closing comment probably says it all and if anyone saw him in tears in the QPR World interview, they will realise that John Gregory is most definitely the man to take this great club forward!
Come on You R'ssssssssss!!!
QPR 1-0 Cardiff
Rangers secured their place in the Championship as Dexter Blackstock scored the only goal to beat Cardiff City in a nervy afternoon at Loftus Road. It was an eventful old day - filled with laughter, elation, tension, celebration and every other emotion you could think of. Other than the game and of course, the result, moments of note were the boys hammering the bookies yet again!!...and the appearance of the gay policeman that insisted on enforcing the rule that we couldn't drink our beer in the street! - and we were supposed to take this guy seriously???
Anyway, onto the game and you are going to get a different type of round up from me this time. Because it matters not if the game was good or bad, the only thing that mattered from getting the three points today is that..THE R's ARE STAYING UP!!!
The Goal
Dexter Celebrates goal No 14
JG
Campy Applauds the Fans (for you Vix)
Stand Up and Make Some Noise!
QPR: Camp, Bignot, Bolder, Rowlands (Smith 70), Lomas, Cook, Kanyuka, Stewart, Timoska, Nygaard, Blackstock (Furlong 83). Subs: Cole, Milanese, Bailey.
Lofty's Man of the Match - Excellent performances from Blackstock, Stewart, Kanyuka and Camp to name a few, but today, my award goes to Adam Bolder - what a great signing this was from John Gregory!?!We are Staying Up!! I never doubted it, really I didn't!! Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat?? ;-)
Saw this floating around the internet so thought I would share...
Have since found out that this is the work of the talented Mr Cooch! Quality mate, cheers for letting me use it!
However, not entirely true - Come on United!! ;-)
Sunderland 2-1 QPR
Despite a plucky, battling performance, Rangers left the Stadium of Light empty handed as a late winner eased the Sunderland fans nerves and ultimately, gave them the points.
Well, I really do hope that the Black Cats get promotion to the Premiership. The main reason being that we don't have to make that mammoth journey again for a while! Myself, PK an Al M all got up in what seemed, the middle of the night to make the long trek up to the North East. Myself and PK shared the driving duties... okay, okay - so my contribution may only have been to reverse into the tight space just outside the Stadium! Thanks must go to the Policeman who moved the traffic cone for us to get into it ;-). Seriously, a big thanks and well done to PK - nice one mate!
After a catch up and the usual banter with friends beforehand, it was onto the game and a first half which largely belonged to the home side. It took just 7 minutes before the first goal came as Whitehead got behind Bignot and made no mistake. But as in recent games, Rangers continued to battle and on 22 minutes, we were level. Moore fed the ball through to Blackstock who touched the ball round the keeper, only to be brought down and the ref pointed to the spot. Blackstock was clearly denied a goalscoring opportunity and in any other game, the keeper would have been given his marching orders... BUT, this is Super Sunderland we are talking about and he wasn't even booked!?!
However, it mattered little shortly after as Rowlands sent the keeper the wrong way to level the scores and cue wild celebrations in the away end. Well, with the exception of the two that just couldn't hang on any longer for a visit to the toilet - sorry Vix and Joe ;-). Credit must yet again go to PK who started the chant 'that's why we're staying up!' shortly after.
Onto the second half and Rangers were more than a match for their high flying opponents. So much so that the near 40,000 crowd were so very quiet and obviously becoming very nervous. But, in the 76th minute and just as it was looking like we would hold out, Sunderland made the breakthrough - Leadbitter drilled home from the edge of the box after a free kick and the home fans suddenly woke up again!
QPR: Camp, Bignot, Cullip (Kanyuka 43), Bolder, Rowlands, Lomas (Idiakez 83), Moore (Furlong 69), Stewart, Timoska, Blackstock, Smith. Subs: Cole, Nygaard.
Lofty's Man of the Match - Damion Stewart
This was always going to be one of our toughest games in the run in and despite a narrow defeat, we were very close to winning a valuable point. The heart and passion was again there for all to see and was reflected in the ovation from the travelling faithful at the end of the game. So why Inigo Idiakez and Jimmy Smith felt the need to trudge of the field without acknowledging the fans is beyond me. Yes, we know you must be gutted, but hey, we have just travelled hundreds of miles to see you and give you tremendous support!!
The long journey home was pretty upbeat with all things considered and we were joined at the Watford gap service station by disappointed Watford fans after their 4-1 Cup Semi Final defeat against Man United. Al did however try to console them by reminding them that they could now concentrate on the league...
I would very much like to introduce you all to Rangers newest supporter, Holly.
Holly is 9 years old, from Hayes and the daughter of our mate Mark. Due to the absolutely ridiculous ticket prices from down the road, football mad Holly has decided NOT to follow in her Dad's footsteps and follow Chelsea! Holly has been to the Preston and Luton home games and is now totally hooked. She also has a new favourite player - Gareth Ainsworth.
Two games and two wins, Holly seems to have definitely brought us luck and we are trying to persuade Dad to bring her to Sunderland on Saturday ;-)
I am sure you would all like to welcome Holly aboard and hope she will continue to bring us luck!
QPR 3-2 Luton
Rangers stepped ever closer to safety as Paul Furlong scored in the final minute to snatch victory for the R's in a topsy turvy game at Loftus Road.
After Saturday's win at Coventry, everyone was in upbeat mood as Rangers took on a Luton side in terrible form. So much so that it seemed their fans have already given up - if the pitiful away following was anything to go by? So upbeat was California Hoop (who incidentally was sporting a Whoopi Goldberg look for the day), that he was constantly predicting a 6-0 win!
But in a disappointing first half, Luton had the better of the chances before Rangers took the lead - Dexter Blackstock firing home from close range on 41 minutes. However, it came as no suprise when in stoppage time, Luton were level through Coyne who headed home almost unchallenged from Bell's cross.
Onto the second half and disaster struck when on 50 minutes - Nygaard seemed to punch away a cross to give Luton a penalty, from which Bell made no mistake. The atmosphere was now becoming tense as frustration started to creep in. Not helped at all by some diaboical refereeing. I don't think anyone could quite believe how Heikkinen's trip on Furlong didn't result in a penalty? But on 81 minutes, a less clear cut penalty was given - Heikkinen again the offender, bringing down Furlong. Blackstock stepped up to cooly send the keeper the wrong way.
There was now only going to be one winner as Rangers piled forward and in the very last minute, Lomas crossed for Furlong to head the ball into the bottom right hand corner to cue some of the wildest celebrations so far this season.
QPR: Camp, Bignot, Cullip, Bolder, Ainsworth (Smith 22), Lomas, Moore, Kanyuka (Timoska 61), Stewart, Nygaard (Furlong 63), Blackstock. Subs: Cole, Ricketts.
Lofty's Man of the Match - well, some people may look at the goalscorers and Furlong's match winning performance from the bench. But for me today, it goes to Adam bolder who just never stopped battling for us in the centre of midfield.
To sum up, this was a poor performance in comparison to recent weeks, but our 'never say die' attitude got us through. I have no doubt that many R's fans would have been more than happy with a 4 point return over Easter? But to get all 6 and climb seven points ahead of the safety barrier, is a fantastic achievement!
Last but by no means least, the day and the result has come with a tinge of sadness, with the news that Gareth Ainsworth has suffered a fractured fibula. Gaz went off after 22 minutes and an X Ray has confirmed a spiral fracture of his left leg.
Gaz has had terrible luck this season with injuries but has continually fought his way back time and time again. His heart, passion and performances since his return have been exceptional, especially in recent weeks and he has played a massive part in the recent turn around that looks like it will now keep us in the Championship.
On behalf of myself and all the gang - GET WELL SOON GAZ and Thanks!
We look forward to seeing you back even stronger next year!!
