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