Tuesday February 20th
Gillingham 0	Q.P.R. 1
	C.Kiwomya

From Soccernet.com

QPR gave outgoing boss Gerry Francis the perfect leaving present with the club's first away win since the final day of last season which ended Gillingham's unbeaten nine-match run.

Scorer Chris Kiwomya headed home Peter Couch's cross after Gillingham substitute Marcus Browning had lost possession inside his own penalty area. Francis looked set to be replaced this week but a planned press conference to announce his successor, due to take place at Loftus Road tomorrow, has been cancelled with two more applicants being interviewed in the next 48 hours.

Rangers lived dangerously throughout a tight contest with Gillingham dominating proceeding for most of the first half, until they presented Rangers with two great chances to break the deadlock late in the first half.

First Gillingham's Adrian Pennock gave the ball away to Kiwomya but his shot was blocked by keeper Vince Bartram and Pennock cleared the danger. Then another wayward Gillingham pass put Stuart Wardley in but again Bartram stood firm to deny him.

Earlier Ty Gooden shot wide and Marlon King, looking for this fourth goal in as many games, and in-form Mark Saunders both went close. Rangers had to make an early change when Mark Perry pulled up with a hamstring injury and was replaced by Ian Baraclough. Kiwomya picked up the first booking of the night for a foul on Nicky Southall.

The second half was only five minutes old when Rangers goalkeeper Ludek Miklosko saved well from Paul Shaw. Then Paul Smith went close but could not get his final shot in and then King saw another effort blocked by Miklosko. Gillingham went close to breaking the deadlock 13 minutes from time when defender Chris Hope, still looking for his first league goal, headed against the bar from Southall's free-kick.

Referee Paul Taylor had to move in quickly when several players clashed in the second half and also cautioned Karl Ready and Pennock. The game looked like heading for goalless stalemate but Rangers, with Gavin Peacock promoting well against his former club, had as much of the game as Gillingham in the second period. The home side combated the aerial threat of Crouch very well due to the fine defending of Chris Hope, Pennock and Barry Ashby.