Queens Park Rangers 0

Chesterfield 0

   


Another one of those must win games against a struggling side and you just knew Rangers would struggle to break the opposition down. Rangers started with the same team that drew with Cardiff and the good news was Peacock and Thomson were on the bench so we had options if the game was going our way. The opening twenty minutes or so belonged to the weather as the wind totally ruined either side's chances of good attacking play.

Shittu struggled at times against the wind, which seemed to make the ball move like one of those flyweight balls you used to play with in the park. With the wind a major factor I was amazed to se Chesterfield not take advantage and they looked happy to put everyone behind the ball and nick a point.

We tried to attack but Leroy wasn't having his best game on the left and Gallen was being marked by two players, which made his job a lot more difficult. I've seen players man to man marked but even Michael Owen doesn't get two men on him but it worked and Gallens threat was diminished and I honestly couldn't see Pacquette scoring despite all his hard work.

We still created a few chances though, a good move on the right saw Forbes cross for Pacquette to head just wide and the young striker also had a shot well saved.

Once again we looked quite dangerous from corners, which is a first in recent years. The height of Palmer and Shittu causes problems and our best chance fell to Palmer whose shot was pushed onto the bar by the keeper. The first half ended goalless but I think everyone was quite confident that with the strong wind in our favour we would get that crucial opening goal.

The second half saw only one team wanting to win the game as Chesterfield started time wasting from the start of the half. Langley was getting in the game more showing some brilliant skill ion midfield to create a few half chances and Pacquette had our best chance of the half so far when put through and his shot was well over when he perhaps should have done better.

The fans began to call for Doudou which was strange considering Thomson was on the bench but Holloway made a bold change bringing on Thomson, Doudou and Peacock and taking off Forbes, Pacquette and Griffiths. I found it strange that he took Forbes off as Rose is not as good at right back but the change woke the fans up and we began to look a lot stronger going forward. Gallen and Thomson linked quite well and Thomson had three chances to win it for us.

A great cross by Langley saw Thomson's header well saved and he was put through for a shot but the keeper saved again. Time was running out and it was becoming a very frustrating afternoon. We were playing similar to last week but just couldn't convert one of our chances.

Then came the moment which could define our season. A great passing move through midfield ending with Gallen producing a quality pass for Thomson who spun off the last defender and only had the keeper to beat. I felt relief as the ball fell to him, this was it 1-0 no problem yet for some reason the crowd didn't erupt and celebrate and Thomson put his head in his hands.I couldn't see from my seat buy somehow he missed as the ball rolled inches wide of the post. A few months ago Thomson would have buried that chance but this just wasn't going to be our day.

Askar had a half chance to win it but produced an air shot with the ball sitting up nicely for him and then we almost lost it after Chesterfield broke out of their half for the first time in ages and their forward found himself clean through but fell over his own feet much to the laughter of our fans. It summed them up but thank god he didn't score as it would have been a terrible result had we lost.

One last attack in injury time saw Langley on the left cross but it was deflected off for a corner yet the ref blew for a goal kick. Decisions like that and Thomsons miss let you know your not going to score and the full time whistle blew almost immediately.

Rangers fans were gutted, we'd played pretty well again but just couldn't get that vital goal which could mean the difference between the playoffs and another season in division two.

Man of the Match: Richard Langley

Players Ratings

33. Rhys Evans: Had nothing to do and his kicking was pretty good at times. 6/10

17. Terrell Fobres: Was better going forward and I was disappointed when he went off. 7/10

11. Marcus Bignot: Gave the ball away more often than he usually does but was solid defensively. 6/10

31. Danny Shittu: Solid game at the back, he is forming a good partnership with Askar. 7/10

28. Aziz Ben Askar: Like Shittu he was solid and didn't do anything wrong. 7/10

4. Steve Palmer: Worked his socks off in midfield and tried to make things happen but it just wasn't his day. 7/10

12. Matthew Rose; His late runs into the box just didn't happen today and he was very poor when he went to right back. 6/10

9. Richard Langley: Showed some moments of pure quality and he was the only one who was going to open up their defence. 8/10

14. Leroy Griffiths: Tried his best but it just wasn't happening for him and the crowd was on his back almost from the start. 6/10

22. Richard Pacquette: Worked very hard and almost grabbed a goal but like Leroy the fans were on top of him early on and it seemed only a matter of time before he went off. 6/10

18. Kevin Gallen: Not at his best but did work hard and produced a few moments of quality that shows why he is so highly rated by a lot of supporters. 6/10

Subs

27. Andy Thomson: On another day he would have scored a hat trick but his movement up front helped us create more chances. 7/10

8. Gavin Peacock: I'd forgotten he came on until I wrote this report. I can't remember him doing anything. 6/10

29. Doudou: Ran at players as he always does but his final ball is terrible. 6/10