Match report written by Dave Thomas on the QPR Mailing List

A superb away support yet again - well in excess of 1200. Who comes up with these figures? Closer to 2,000 and in good voice.

Statistics are totally meaningless. I would dispute the 19-4 Plymouth-QPR goal chances anyway, but even if it were so, that is stretching the definition of 'chances'. Plymouth had a great deal of pressure - at times - but our defence more than held its own, and at no point did we think it was only a matter of time before Argyle scored.

Culkin is looking far more assured, Shittu was a powerful presence and Carlisle commanding at the back. Obviously the loss of Gino (typical!) was a blow but after a bit of a nervy start, Danny Murphy was a more than able replacement today.

One of the keys to a very solid, very determined and highly satisfactory QPR performance was Kevin Gallen's move back into midfield. He carried on from his cameo performance in the re-shuffle last week, and very good he looked, especially in the first-half.

Bircham worked his socks off, while Palmer too was as effective and useful as he had been against Barnsley. There was certainly less hoofing from him, and even one or two delightful passes into space. But he and Bircham tackled everything in midfield and won lots of possession.

Cook was involved and gave us balance, but wasn't as effective as he has been of late.

Angell, apart from a curling shot out of the blue, which deceived the keeper and thumped the upright, was a complete waste of space. True, he won a few headers but wasn't just a yard off the pace - he was five yards and tiring.

Pacquette needs to look at the last line of defenders more as he gets caught offside so easily, it's embarrassing. He scored in the first-half but it was ruled out for offside - although impossible to see from our end of the ground.

The build-up to our goal was superb and the finish exquisite. There was a little bit of inter-play between Cook and Bircham, Bircham looked up and saw Pacquette in space and with the outside of his boot curled a beautifully weighted ball into his path. Pacquette looked up and measured his shot into the far corner. Definitely a contender for QPR goal of the season.

We're biased, of course we are. But it felt like the referee gave us nothing all afternoon. But the most outrageous incident of the whole game happened five yards in front of him. Murphy took an almighty - and very deliberate - whack in the face that left him pole-axed. The referee ignored it and when Cook got involved in a bit of retribution, he was shown the red card.

No question he had to go, but so too should the Plymouth player for the GBH on Murphy. But we hung on, through a tense last few minutes when, after Plymouth had thrown on two strikers, it was backs-to-the-wall defending.

At the final whistle, Holloway ran on and was visibly remonstrating with the guilty Argyle player. He was pointing to where the incident had taken place and miming an elbow (which it wasn't - it was a forearm smash).

It isn't the first time Holloway has 'lost it', although so outrageous was the assault and the referee's decision to ignore it, I have some sympathy for him. Don't tell the FA, but what happened in the tunnel was a lot more than just "handbags". But eventually order was restored and the Rangers players came out to share the win and applaud the fans. They also managed to subtly wind-up the home fans into the bargain.

Today was one of those away games that you remember for a long time and makes all the slog up and down the country worthwhile. Having travelled down last night and had a great night out in the city, the win (against all our predictions and expectations, it has to be said) was the icing on a very palatable cake.

We are not world-beaters just yet, in the same way we weren't the worst team in the world even when we couldn't buy a win before Christmas. But there are more good things happening more often in games, and the confidence is slowly returning.

Carlisle and Culkin, in particular, are far more assured than they were just over a month ago. Oh and today was my 84th ground with QPR. If only they were all so lucky...

Dave Thomas