| Saturday April
21st |
| Huddersfield
2 |
Q.P.R.
1 |
| |
|
| D.Gorre
|
A.Thomson
|
| D.Facey
|
|
Well here we go, this is the most difficult report I've ever written
for a QPR match so forgive me if I babble on as I just going to
go through the whole day and what an amazing day it was. We arrived
at the ground at about half two after our train was delayed and
we missed our connection The R's turnout seemed the same as last
year at first before we noticed they had opened both sides of
the away end when normally they shut off the entrances past the
programme seller.
Two quick pints and it was ten to
three and time to go to our seat. I turned to my g/f and said
this is it and at this stage I have never been more nervous and
worried about a football match in my life.
It
was now that I got a big shock, we were turned away from every
entrance as we were told it was full. We ended up at the back
of the stand to the right of the goal and seeing so many Rangers
fans brought a lump to the throat. I'm not one to go on about
away support but I was genuinely surprised at how many we had
taken and just shows what loyal fans we have at this club. The
minute's silence was very well observed and the only noise you
could here was more supporters walking through the turnstiles
to join what I would guess was about 3,000 strong away support.
The noise was unbelievable from
the rousing "Holloway's Blue and White" to "Rangers till I die"
we sung our hearts out and I have no voice left this morning (it
had virtually gone by half time) The game started brightly for
us attacking towards our own fans and we should have gone ahead
early on. A good break on the left saw a cross come in and Peter
Crouch was clean through but made a real hash of the chance and
he knew he should have scored.
We were on top though and playing
some decent stuff without creating a great deal. Huddersfield
had one good chance when Perry cleared off the line but apart
from that they looked pretty nervous. The main problem I felt
we had was giving Dean Gorre to much room on the right which eventually
cost us dear later in the half.
Andy Thomson and Crouch were linking well together and the wingers
were looking lively. Our best chance of the half came after a
good move involving Knight again which ended with a cross for
Thomson who had loads of time and space and should have just chest
it down and buried it but instead he tried a header and it was
easily saved.
think it's fair to say that was
a turning point as Huddersfield came at us strong. Booth put Gorre
through and they won a corner and three times the ball was played
to Gorre in loads of space and the third time he cut inside and
hit a shot going straight at Harper but it deflected of Baraclough
to fly into the bottom corner. Cruel luck and all that and a lead
they didn't deserve but that's football I suppose.
As many headed for the bar we came
back strong and the support continued to be superb. Bignot picked
the ball up in midfield and out Thomson in who hit an excellent
lob over the keeper and into the corner. The Rangers end exploded
into life, fans leaped over seats to hug each over and the belief
that we could actually stay up.
Leon Knight then hit a great shot
which went inches wide and we fully deserved to be in front at
half time. The half time whistle went and it was off for another
beer to tell my Dad and his mates about the goal. During half
time I was in a bit of a daze with the alcohol starting to kick
in and god knows what I babbled to Tracy.
Back
for the second half and this was going to be our day but it all
became a bit of a non-event. Huddersfield started brighter but
we defended well and didn't really look in a lot of trouble. Problem
was we didn't look much of a threat either and with another incompetent
referee giving the home side everything it looked like it was
going to be a draw.
Holloway then made a bold move taking
off Knight (who was getting kicked off the pitch and was offered
no protection by the ref) and Perry and on came Kiwomya and Richard
Pacquette. Kiwomya had to play wide to keep some shape to the
team and the support continued to be very noisy as we sung our
hearts out to try and inspire the lads to get that crucial goal.
We threw men forward and had a couple
of chances. A Crouch header was well saved and from a corner Plummer
got up well and his header seemed to fly in but went just wide.
Then another cruel twist of fate as a ball was thrown into the
box and Kiwomya (may have been Pacquette) scored what looked like
the winner but the linesman flagged for offside. I couldn't tell
if it was or not so I won't moan about that to much.
With
time running out the fourth official indicated four minutes I
think and we poured forward for a winner. In doing so we got caught
on the break and Booth's shot was saved by Harper by Facey had
an open goal and condemned us to division two football next season.
I don't know how others reacted to this goal but it felt like
someone had just crushed all my dreams with one kick of a football.
I just collapsed to my seat head in hands sobbing like a baby.
Thankfully my g/f covered me up, the last thing I wanted was to
be one of those blokes caught on camera crying and shown on Sky
every five minutes.
I didn't see anymore of the game,
by the time I composed myself most of the players had left the
field and Ian Holloway was clapping us. I was just devastated
and felt like I just couldn't walk and the cab we were supposed
to catch was missed as it took me over half an hour to walk back
to the station. I was just shocked and devastated waffling to
my girlfriend about how unfair this all was.
A few Huddersfield fans patted me
on the back and said how we'd bounce straight back and to keep
the faith which was very nice of them and I also met Dave Thomas
for the first time but like my chat with Tracy, I have no idea
what nonsense I came out with, it was just a huge blur. We ended
up getting a train to Wakefield and having a quick pint in a pub
by the station before heading back to London.
The train was packed with Rangers
fans and we drank the bar dry as they ran out of beer and we had
to drink wine by the time we reached Stevenage. On the way back
we sat near some Kingstonian fans who also saw their side relegated
and that kind of put what had happened to us in perspectives but
that didn't really help me to feel much better.
So a terrible day probably one of
the most depressing moments of my life and still I remain proud
to be a QPR fan. Yesterday cost me almost £300 in train fares,
tickets plus food and drink as I treated my Dad and g/f to the
day out but if I could go back in time I would gladly do it all
again after all Rangers Till I die is more than a song, it's a
mission statement to all us loyal fans who deserve a hell of a
lot better than this.
Players Ratings
Harper : No chance with either goal
and had a decent game 7/10
Perry: Back as a right back to
allow Darlington to push further forward and he did OK and was
only taken off so we could get more men forward. 7/10
Baraclough: Unlucky to be the man
who deflected in the first goal, played well and is a player we
need to try and keep hold up. 7/10
Ready: Did well keeping things simple
at the back and couldn't really blame him for us getting beat
7/10
Plummer: Was very unlucky not to
score near the end and worked very hard at the back. 7/10
Knight: Our most creative player
going forward and was kicked all over the place once Huddersfield
realised how good he is. 7/10
Bignot: My current favourite player,
works so hard and just never gives up. An inspired signing 7/10
Peacock: Gave it his all but his
legs have gone unfortunately. 6/10
Darlington: He faded in the second
half but looked dangerous when running at the opposition. 7/10
Crouch: Missed one great chance
but kept going and was a real threat in the first half. We didn't
really supply him enough after the break. 7/10
Thomson: One great goal and a missed
sitter but he has done well in recent weeks and it's a shame his
goals have come to late to save us. 7/10
Subs:
Pacquette: Nice to see him get
a debut but it's hard to judge him in such a big game as this.
7/10
Kiwomya: was asked to play wide
and did alright. 7/10
Wardley: On for the last few minutes,
did his best as ever. 7/10