There was a real buzz of anticipation around Loftus Road before the Oldham game. This was a real top of the table clash with both sides level on points and with unbeaten records to maintain. Oldham haven't lost away all season and Rangers haven't lost at home since last November. Something had to give and the return of Ian Dowie as Oldham manager added some extra spice to the game.

Rangers were forced into changes due to injuries with some key players missing. Kevin Gallen and Paul Furlong were both missing through injury so Andy Thomson and Karl Connolly started up front. Jerome Thomas started the game playing behind the front two whilst the rest of the team was unchanged from Cheltenham last week.

We started the game brightly attacking the school end with Jeorme looking good on the ball and he set Tommy Wiilliams away down the left. Williams did well to get a cross in for Andy Thomson who controlled the ball ell and cut it back for Matthew Rose to volley in from six yards out.

It was a dream start for Rangers in what we knew was going to be a tough game. The goal didn't spark the performance we needed though as some of the team appeared to think the job was done. We had some nice possession but didn't create much and as the half wore on we sat back more and more and allowed Oldham back into the game.

Oldham are a hard working team who get stuck into tackles and our players didn't respond to well to that. Once again an opposition team decided the best way to stop Jerome Thomas is to put three players on him and kick him. Of course this is the best way to stop him but maybe one day a referee may offer him some protection and get the book out early.

Oldham were passing the ball around well and looked very dangerous from set pieces. Crosses were whipped in and Royce struggled to deal with them as several corners were given away. An equaliser looked like it was coming and it did after half an hour.

Just before the goal came we sat at the edge of the box and invited Oldham to have a go. Twice they had shots from long range, which didn't trouble us, but the signs were that we needed to be careful.

A ball through the defence saw Josh Low looking about 5 yards offside. The linesmen was well behind play and did not flag so Low ran on unchallenged to fire into the bottom corner. It was a good finish but he looked well offside to me.

Still it was no more than Oldham deserved and it was interesting to se Ian Dowie celebrate on the touchline and look up to the director's box. Anyone would think he had a point to prove the way he was carrying on.

That goal woke us up a bit but at this stage I would have been happy to go in at half time level. Oldham were looking the better side and they were very strong at the back. We missed Kevin Gallen up front who can drop deep and get the ball and bring others into the game, this just wasn't happening with Thomson and Connolly and we played far to many long balls in hope rather than expectation.

The 15,000 crowd (just a few hundred less than a Premiership match between Fulham and West Ham last week) were pretty quiet as the fear of losing the unbeaten home record began to hit us. Jerome Thomas had a half chance to get us in the lead but he curled his shot wide. We just couldn't break through the tough Oldham defence who looked very organised.

A second goal arrived for Oldham and in all honesty it was no great surprise. Another excellent cross in beat everyone and Steve Palmer had the simple job of heading out for a corner. Amazingly though he headed back into the box and the Rangers defence just stood and watched as Duxbury headed past Royce. It was poor defending by Palmer but it was the first mistake he had made all game. It's easy to blame him but Royce or Rose could have reacted quicker to beat Duxbury to the ball.

It didn't matter though we just had to get back in the game. We ended the first half playing some good stuff and got into some good positions out wide. Chances were still few and far between but we went so close to getting level right on half time.

A good move on the right saw Oldham's defence cut open and across in found Thomson unmarked but his hit his shot against the floor and it flew over the bar when it seemed easier to score. So we were trailing at half time which brought a few boos but the majority of fans were still fully behind the team.

The second half saw no immediate changes to the team but did see a change in the pattern of the game. Rangers stepped up a gear and did everything we could to get back level. Rose and Forbes did well on the right and set up Connolly for a half chance.

The crowd were right behind the team and we pushed forward. Despite so much possession though we just couldn't get a clear cut chance. Connolly went close with a header, which flashed wide, and he also had a shot deflected wide.

Corners rained in from Williams and Langley but the delivery was not up to the usual standard and Oldham dealt with everything we threw at them. Rangers made a change after an hour as Danny Shittu went off and Dennis Oli came on. Oli went to the right wing as we switched to a 4-4-2 and he impact was immediate.

His run and shot produced another corner and his injection of pace began to worry Oldham. Matthew Rose had a header saved well by the keeper but the goal just wouldn't come. We got into so many good positions out wide but the crossing of Williams was usually poor.

Williams was a big disappointment as with so many free kicks we failed to test the keeper at any of them. Forbes was using the ball much better realising that a cross in was easily going to be headed out but the Oldham defence was so solid we just couldn't break through.

Dowie was doing al he could on the bench to disrupt us. As the ball went out for a throw in he threw the ball away from Palmer and appeared to throw the ball at Langley's head at one point. It was disappointing to see him do that as he was well liked by many QPR fans before this game started.

Disaster then looked to have struck as Oldham broke away. A cross in saw a shot hit the back of the net but it was disallowed as Simon Royce was laid out on the floor. It all seemed very confusing as I couldn't see what had happened but Royce was carried off with a badly cut face, which required stitches. Fraser Digby came on but the long delay that the Royce injury caused seemed to take away the momentum we had been building.

We still had time though and Jerome Thomas curled an effort just wide again before a quite awful tackle saw the end of Tommy Williams afternoon. Williams had been involved in a 5/50 a few minutes before and had a pop at the Oldham player. The same bloke then dived in two footed to take Williams out and he did the job. Williams was on the floor in agony but amazingly the referee played on and gave a throw in. After the linesmen and 4th official pointed the tackle out he showed a yellow card but it really should have been red.

Williams limped off to be replaced by Padula and the referee added seven minutes of injury time. It was a surprise to see so much injury time but it was fair enough given the injuries to Royce, Williams and a clash of heads, which saw Carlisle and an Oldham forward receive treatment. Injury time just flew by but we had one last chance to draw level.

Good work on the right saw Forbes in space and he crossed for Andy Thomson who had got away from his man but he volleyed inches over the bar. It was one of those chances that either ends with Thomson being a hero or being slated by ranger's fans. Unfortunately it was the later and the game was lost.

Oldham fans and players celebrated together at the end as Ian Dowie ran on the pitch to shake hands with a few Rangers players before celebrating with his team. Rangers went off to a standing ovation from most fans, it wasn't our best performance of the season but the players had tried their best to win the game and just lost to a very good side.

Jerome Thomas came over to clap all three sides of the QPR support, which may be a farewell as his loan runs out later this week. Lets hope he can stay so that we see a fully fit Jerome Thomas again which can help push us up the table again.

Man of the Match: Terrell Forbes

Players Ratings

15. Simon Royce: He struggled at time with some excellent crosses but overall he is the best keeper we have and he'll be badly missed if his injury keeps him out of any games. 7/10

4. Steve Palmer: A god performance in defence but the one error he made proved to be very costly. Apart from that though I thought he had a very good game. 7/10

5. Clarke Carlisle: Not at his best but still a decent performance as he looks to get back to 100% fitness. 7/10

6. Danny Shittu: Appeared to struggle with n injury after an early tackle on him. He ended up being taken off as we went all out attack in the second half. 6/10

2. Terrell Forbes: Just shaded man of the match in my opinion after a solid display. I felt he defended well and always wanted the ball. He looked for a quick throw all the time to get forward and get the team going, he passed the ball well and although his final ball is not the best he is improving. 8/10

33. Tommy Williams: A good defensive performance as he made some very good interceptions but his final ball into the box was very poor going forward. He seems to be lacking in confidence at the moment but his one decent cross brought a goal. Hopefully his injury won't keep him out for to long. 6/10

7. Matthew Rose: A decent performance by Rose in midfield. I still feel we need some more steel in midfield but he did a decent job at times winning the ball and using it quite well. 7/10

9. Richard Langley: Not his best game but he needs players to move and give him an option. When that doesn't happen he tries to keep the ball and look for a better option, sadly this means he'll lose the ball but if he just launched it forward like a few of our other players the result would be the same in that we lose possession. Gallen not playing didn't help Langley as Connolly and Thomson don't come deep for the ball the to help the midfield out. 6/10

32. Jerome Thomas: Jerome isn't at his best at the moment but he will get better and we need players of his talent in the side. The amount of times he beat his man looked for an option but didn't have one so had to beat the man again was so frustrating. He worked a lot harder for the team during the game but seemed to fade away when we went to a 4-4-2. 6/10

11. Karl Connolly: A good performance from Connolly, he worked hard to get the ball and make things happen. He linked well with Jerome and Thomson but just couldn't grab the goal his performance deserved 7/10

27. Andy Thomson: When he doesn't score he offers very little to the team. We all know this but it is still frustrating. He had two golden chances to score but missed both of them. He looks to be lacking that bit of sharpness he had last season, lets hope he gets it back soon. 6/10

Subs:

20. Dennis Oli: Very impressive with plenty of pace and power. I think he deserves to start the game on Tuesday. 8/10

30. Fraser Digby: Didn't have much to do when he came on. 6/10

3. Gino Padula: Looked comfortable on the ball but not on for long enough to make an impact. 6/10