After the recent dreadful run this game against Brentford was a massive one. Ian Holloway's job is well and truly on the line and defeat or another poor performance would see more supporters calling for his head.

A local derby was a good chance to get back to winning ways but form was against us. We haven't won a London Derby sine 1999 when we beat Palace 6-0. And we haven't won a West London derby since 1995 when Kevin Gallen scored all f**king night against Chelsea. Brentford fans well and truly hate QPR so this was always going to be a very tough game.

Ian Holloway made a few changes to last week's team. Out went Brett Angell and Dennis Oli as we stayed with a 4-4-2. Nick Culkin was in goals with Forbes, Murphy, Carlisle and Rose in defence. Many feel this is Rose's best position so it would be interesting to see how he did back in defence.

Richard Langley started back in the middle of midfield with Steve Palmer. Marc Bircham was on the right wing and loan signing Lee Cook started on the left. It was hard to miss Langley who has done away with his dreadlocks and now has an afro that Carlos Valderama would be proud of.

Paul Furlong and Kevin Gallen started up front and Furlongs name brought a few boos among Rangers fans, which was disappointing to hear.

Rangers started well attacking with purpose down the right and a few corners brought us close to a goal but the scores stayed level. As you would expect it was a very physical game with both asides getting stuck in.

Sadly the ref didn't realise this was a derby and ruined the game blowing for every tackle and Furlong wasn't able to jump without a free kick being given against him. Brentford began to get into the game and they looked a far better team than they did last season.

Rowlands was a constant threat on the right and the set pieces by Hunt were a real danger.

Danny Murphy was really struggling against Rowlands and was beaten time after time by pure skill and pace, we managed to get away with it though as Rose and Carlisle were able to clear any crosses that came in.

It was more luck than judgment at times though as we rode our luck to stay level. Nick Culkin actually caught some crosses, which will have helped his confidence.

The opening goal came from long kick, which saw Gallen do brilliantly to control and shield the ball from the defender. He passed to Cook on the left who did well to get right to the touchline and cross for Marc Bircham to head home from close range.

Bircham went ballistic running around hugging his team mates and taking off his shirt to reveal an old style red and black QPR Guinness vest with his name on the back. It was great to see Bircham finally score for us, he obviously loves Rangers and this must have meant the world to him.

We could have gone further ahead as we looked dangerous from free kicks. Richard Langley was very unlucky to have one excellent free kick saved. Soon afterwards Clarke Carlisle met a Langley corner well but his header was very well saved by the keeper.

Brentford continued to play some good football though and went close after a goalmouth scramble, which Clarke Carlisle just managed to clear away. Murphy was till having a very tough time against Rowland's and they looked the more likely to score at this stage.

They were aiming long balls towards Murphy who was clearly struggling in the air. They had done their homework on us but Rangers switched to have Rose defend on the left from goal kicks so that threat was stopped. Credit where it is due for a good tactical switch.

The goal came halfway through the half after poor defending on the right saw them get a cross in and O'Connor was left unmarked but his miss hit shot wrong footed Culkin and Brentford were level. We responded well though and began to play the ball on the floor a bit more. Gallen and Langley linked well in a good passing move, which resulted in Gallen having a shot, which went wide.

At half time we were happy to go in level as Brentford had been the better side but it was still a much improved performance by Rangers.

No changes at half time and we came out looking the better side. Good work on the left by Cook almost saw us take the lead. His cross felt brilliantly for Gallen but he completely missed the ball and it ran out wide to Forbes. Terrell got onto the ball and put in an excellent cross for Gallen to rise above the defence and his header was brilliantly tipped over by the keeper. We were on top but Langley's corner failed to bring us another chance.

We were at last playing it on the floor with Rose bringing the ball out of defence very well. It was so much better than seeing the central defenders hoofing the ball towards Furlong. Of course we still had some hoofing but this was a vast improvement on anything we have seen recently.

Kevin Gallen went close again with a powerful free kick, which was tipped just over, and Furlong's deflected free kick was also close to giving us the lead.

We needed a goal and it almost came from a very unlikely source. Terrell Forbes ran forward and hit a stunning shot from 30 yards out. The keeper again pulled off an amazing save to tip it over and deny Forbes his first ever goal for Rangers, It was David Pizanti like in it's power and accuracy.

Time was running out for us and the tiring Lee Cook was replaced by Andy Thomson as Gallen went out onto the left.

A late goalmouth scramble almost brought a goal as the ball eventually came lose to Carlisle but for some reason the ref blew for a drop ball. I'd love to know what he saw to give a drop ball when the ball was loose but no decision he gave surprised me by this stage.

Inevitably the drop ball saw a huge scramble which Brentford cleared. So a 1-1 draw wasn't the result we wanted but it was vast improvement in the performance.

We were unlucky not to win the game and at least now we have something to build on.

I'd still rather see Bircham in central midfield than Palmer and Wes Daly on the right but I don't think Holloway will drop Palmer at the moment, which is a decision which could still cost him his job.

Man of the Match: Matthew Rose

13. Nick Culkin: A much better performance from Culkin but he still stays rooted to his line putting the defence under pressure. He'll improve with more experience though. 7/10

2. Terrell Forbes: Saved us with a superb tackle in the first half and almost grabbed a spectacular winner. His distribution at times is woeful but his job is to defend and he does that job better than anyone else we have. 7/10

16. Danny Murphy: Was beaten time and time again in the first half as he seemed unable to cope with Rowlands. He did sort himself out though and had a much betters second half showing a lot of guts and determination getting forward and defending with everything he has. 6/10

5. Clarke Carlisle: Much better from Clarke as won headers all game again and put in some very strong tackles. He was also very unlucky not to score in the first half. 7/10

7. Matthew Rose: Back in his best position and looking back to his best. He used the ball well passing from the back and defended well. A totally different player to the headless chicken we've seen at times in midfield this season. 8/10

4. Steve Palmer: works hard but in midfield that isn't always enough. He just hoofs it no mater where he is on the pitch, which is becoming a big problem. His worst moment came after Gallen and Bircham closed down defenders and the loose ball came to palmer. With the keeper off his line a through ball to Gallen, Furlong or Cook could have give us a goal but instead he hoofed it hard and high into the upper loft for a conversion Johnny Wilkinson would have been proud of. 5/10

9. Richard Langley: What has he done to his hair? He had a much better game today working hard and always trying to keep possession of the ball. His passing wasn't as great ass it can be but at least he was trying to pass it. Very unlucky with two free kicks. 7/10

15. Lee Cook: Impressive at times on the left, he got down the wing and put crosses in and his cross for the goal was very impressive. He can play better than this but not bad for is debut. 7/10

8. Marc Bircham: Great to see him score and he had a decent game. He's better in the middle though and he seemed to struggle at times knowing where he was supposed to be playing. 7/10

29. Paul Furlong: A better performance from Furlong who looked far more interested today. 6/10

10: Kevin Gallen: Not his best game up front but he worked hard and almost scored with a header and a brilliant free kick. 7/10