Despite the hangover from hell I was suffering from, the trip to Stoke was one I was looking forward too as this was a real promotion six pointer. Yes you did read that correctly a promotion six pointer involving QPR is not something we have been used to in recent years but this certainly won't be the last on them on the evidence of the last few weeks.

This was my first visit to the Britannia stadium and although it looks impressive from the outside it seems too similar to many of the other new stadiums but it wasn't as good as other grounds we have visited this season such as Wigan and Reading.

It looked as if we were in for a nervous afternoon and confirmation came to the 1,400 or so QPR fans who made the trip that we would be without Andy Thomson and Kevin Gallen.

Thomson was back on the bench but the only change from last weeks team was Matthew Rose replacing Alex Bonnot. It seemed a strange decision to go with such inexperience up front but the enthusiasm of Pacquette, Doudou and Griffiths will cause most teams in this division problems.

Stoke started by attacking towards the QPR end and looked a decent side and you can see what they are so high in the table. They are strong at the back and play some good passing football but just like at Loftus Road they seem to lack that killer touch and didn't create to many chances despite the possession they enjoyed.

Rangers worked very hard especially at the back where the defence were outstanding restricting Stoke to half chances and when they managed to get a shot in Fraser Digby was in fine form saving everything comfortably. The midfield passed the ball well and created a few chances for the forwards.

The linesman's flag stopped Doudou and Pacquette on several occasions but Pacquette did break the offside trap once when he found himself in space but his shot went wide when he should have done better. Matthew Rose also had a shot from long range but that was well saved by the keeper.

Stoke were having the better of it as an attacking force but we were strong at the back and the first half became a bit of a non event until the final few minutes.

A corner by Gudjonsson was headed goal wards by Mike Flynn only for Danny Murphy to clear off the line, a goalmouth scramble then followed and Murphy again cleared the danger.

Murphy was having an impressive game and at one point showed why he is so highly rated with a great piece of skill to turn his man on the wing and set up an attack. Murphy is getting better with each game and has made the left back position his own in the last few weeks.

The half ended with the QPR players receiving a standing ovation and we knew that the next 45 minutes would be vital to the rest of our season. The second half saw much of the same as the first half as Stoke pushed us back but the defence were outstanding and Palmer and Shittu dealt with everything thrown at them and on the break we couldn't break the offside trap.

Then to many groans among the Stoke fans we made our first substitution. Off went Richard Pacquette and a standing ovation from the QPR fans for Andy Thomson. Thomson's effect was immediate as he began to make the runs off the ball for the midfield to pick out and his experience saw him beat the offside trap and force Stoke to defend a little deeper.

Thomsons movement is always excellent and on three occasions he should have been put through for the opening goal. Doudou did well with his pace and skill to hold off some challenges but waited to long for the pass to Thomson and the chance was gone each time. Holloway reacted to this problem and made an inspired change.

On came Karl Connolly for Doudou to add more experience up front and Stoke didn't know how to cope with it. Despite all their possession they hadn't created much and now they were on the back foot. For a ten minute spell Rangers matched the outstanding defensive display with some excellent attacking.

Connolly, Griffiths and Thomson were making runs at the defence and they seemed to be all over the place. Danny Shittu beat the offside trap to race down the right and his pull back saw Connolly mis hit his shot but the signs were good for us.

The Rangers fans were in full voice now and urged the team forward, we could sense the game was here for the taking.

Then came our big chance as we broke the offside trap again and Thomson found himself one on one with the keeper. The Rangers fans stood and cheered as Thomson beautifully lobbed the keeper and the ball bounced heading for the back of the net and what seemed like minutes but was only a few seconds passed as the ball hit the post and came back out for the Stoke defence to clear.The QPR fans couldn't believe it and Stoke fans celebrated as if they had scored.

We kept going though and the way we were playing a goal was on the cards and it soon came. Another good passing move saw Connolly pass to Thomson and our leading scorer played Peacock in who had loads of time and space and was now one on one with the keeper. Peacock took his time and smashed the ball into the bottom corner.

The QPR fans went berserk, fans hugged each other and is was if we had won the league. The players were just as ecstatic with Richard Langley running over to join the celebrations and this showed how much that goal meant to the players and supporters it was a huge moment in our season.

An anxious look to the scoreboard showed we still had at least ten minutes left and with us being away you had to expect we'd have at least five minutes of injury time. We just had to keep the ball and we did it brilliantly. At no stage in the final minutes did Stoke put us under much pressure apart from a late corner and free kick, which saw Fraser Digby command his box with authority and claim both crosses well.

Leroy Griffiths continued to run his heart out on the left and made sure he kept the ball and to be honest we looked more likely to score than concede a late goal but it didn't stop the nerves filling the noisy away end. We did everything we could to cheer the team onto victory and when the two minutes injury time we flashed up we saw an end in sight.

The final whistle came and both players and supporters celebrated a massive win to move us right into the automatic promotion picture. The fans, players and management knew we had won a crucial game but sadly the joy of some of us was short lived as some so called supporters of Stoke City decided to attack the leaving QPR supporters.

As we walked towards the gates we saw the police running past and what can only be described as Zulu type chants. All of a sudden the gates were being shut on us and the stewards looked in no rush to do anything. Then came the mayhem.

Coins, bottles, traffic cones were all being thrown at us and then a large stick was launched at us like a javelin. I'm not exaggerating here but the thing was coming right for us and missed my girlfriends head by inches injuring a steward. We probably should have gone to see if the bloke was alright but we just ran for our lives towards the coaches.

The morons outside were matched in stupidity by some QPR fans who thought it was a good idea to remind the Stoke fans of the score line and then try and get through the gates for a fight. The gates opened for a few seconds and thankfully no one got in other than some poor QPR fans who had taken a right beating.

A steward then informed us that this happens every week and it was no big deal. Oh that's alright then perhaps we should make sure we lose next year so we don't upset them. The worst thing is that these morons will represent this country in a few months when they travel out to Japan and cause mayhem and destruction in the World Cup. So how can this be avoided.

Well it's not hard really is it. If this happens every week then surely someone in the club must have one brain cell and keep away fans in the away end for say 20 minutes after the game. Clear the Stoke fans and then give us a police escort back to the train station or give coaches an escort to the motorway. I've been going to football for 20 years now (god I'm getting old) and this has happened many times at places like Man City, Millwall and trouble is avoided unless you want a fight but those who do will always find a fight I just don't expect to see these sort of scenes in 2002.

Sorry to bring anyone down who is reading this after such a great team performance the list should be full of joy and praise for those 13 heroes on the pitch but I am still so angry and what has hurt me the most is that my girlfriend who has loved every minute of going to see QPR this year is now being scared away by this scum. And if you want to know the most ironic part of it all just take a look at the match day programme where the chief executive praises Stoke fans for their brilliant behaviour in recent weeks.

I suppose if the national media is not watching and splashing fights on the front pages on newspapers then we can sweep this sort of thing under the carpet and pretend it doesn't happen.

A sad end to a brilliant day for QPR as the race for promotion is now well and truly on for us but this growing hooligan element we are seeing this season is very worrying for those us who want to see QPR play every week and enjoy the football rather than have to worry about out safety every week.

Man of the Match: Terrell Forbes

Players Ratings

30. Fraser Digby: His kicking was poor in the first half as he battled against a strong wind but his shot stopping was top notch and he claimed every cross with ease showing all of his experience in a tough afternoon's work. 8/10

17. Terrell Forbes: The best right back we've had since David Bardsley and this isn't even his position. He reads the game so well and his defending was outstanding at times. Terrell is an unsung hero in this team and his performances this season have helped to earn him a deserved reputation as one of the best defenders in the division. 9/10

23. Danny Murphy: his first appearance without a booking was an added bonus but his all round game is improving all the time. During the first half we saw what a good player he is going to be with some flashes of skill in tight corners to help relive the pressure on his team mates. 8/10

4. Steve Palmer; Some say he is to old and shouldn't be in the team but when you need a defender you can rely on to stop the opposition from scoring then Steve Palmer is a man we need in our team. His experience is helping those youngsters around him and his reading of the game makes up for his lack of pace. 8/10

31. Danny Shittu: Ian Holloway described him as the next Dean Richards but I think he is going to be better than that. He is so big and strong players just bounce off him. His defending was excellent as ever and he is clearly enjoying playing for this club. 8/10

11. Marcus Bignot: Had a poor first half where he gave the ball away to often but improved in the second half when he got back to his chasing game and forced several mistakes in the Stoke midfield which led to breakaways for us. 7/10

12. Mathew Rose: He is continuing his improvement in recent weeks with another good performance. He was all over the place winning tackles and getting forward. If he keeps this form up then his boast that he belongs in a higher division will become a reality. 8/10

8. Gavin Peacock: Worked so hard in midfield and although the bursting runs into the box happen les soften than they used to he is still always likely to grab you a goal and he came up trumps for us again here. 8/10

14. Leroy Griffiths: The big plus of the last week has been the performances of Leroy. He runs his heart out for the team and gives us a different dimension to out attacks on that left wing. Hopefully he's be given a run in the first team as his last two performances have been excellent 8/10

29. Doudou: One of his quieter games as he never got on the ball enough to cause problems. He worked so hard up front though and looked knackered when he went off. 7/10

22. Richard Pacquette: He is impressing me at the moment with his strength up front. He needs to work hard on many areas of his game but to come to a place like Stoke and cause them a few problems with his pace shows how far he has come over the last months. 7/10

Subs

10. Karl Connolly: Played up front and helped change the game. His intelligent passes and hard work helped create the goal. Perhaps it's just me but he always seems to play well after he has been dropped, perhaps he needs that kick up the backside to get the best out of him. 7/10

27. Andy Thomson: The difference between the two sides was this man yet again. His movement off the ball is better than any striker at QPR in recent years and from the moment he came on you could see the fear in the Stoke players, as they knew if they gave him half a chance he'd score. 8/10