After Saturdays disappointing cup exit it was back to league action last night with most of the injured players making it back into the starting line up. Richard Edghill and Gino Padula were back at full back whilst Rowlands started on the right wing and Bircham returned in place of Palmer in central midfield.

This fixture is usually a tricky one for Rangers with Brentford desperate to beat us and their fans seem to hate us for some reason and regularly moan that we think we are too big to be playing the likes of Brentford. To be honest very few of us give them much though until we play them but I guess that annoys them as much as some proposed takeover 40 years ago which was fought off by QPR and Brentford fans ( they seem to forget that we were against it as well)

The rivalry wasn't helped though by a article in the Evening standard where Martin Rowlands claimed that QPR were a better club than Brentford and he was really enjoying himself now. Sadly the article focused on this more than his praise for his old club but Rowlands knew he would be in for some stick having left Brentford to join the club they love to hate.

The atmosphere was red hot as the teams came out with both sets of fans well up for this. On top of local pride QPR needed the points to get into an automatic promotion position and go joint top with Plymouth so we all knew this was a massive night.

Kevin Gallen was captain and lost the toss meaning we had to attack towards the Loft in the first half which is something I never like to see, still we started at a frantic pace and were almost ahead inside two minutes.

Gallen did well exchanging passes with McLeod and then a neat ball wide found Rowlands unmarked but his shot hit the side netting. What a start that would have been and Rowlands seemed well up for this one.

It was end to end stuff with Brentford going on the attack and Hutchinson found plenty of space just inside the area but dragged his shot wide when he should have got it on target. It was a warning though that we had to play well to get anything from this game.

McLeod was a real threat on the left and had the beating of his full back. He got past his man and whipped in an excellent cross for Rowlands but his header beat the keeper but bounced out off the post. Rowlands was desperate to score and was looking a class act on the right beating his man regularly and getting some really dangerous crosses in but the front two couldn't get on the end of them.

As the game began to settle down Brentford went close to opening the scoring. A ball into the box found Tabb with is back to goal and as the QPR fans sung "Can you hear the Brentford sing" we almost heard them as Tabb tried an overhead kick which caught us by surprise and Day did well to tip it just over the bar.

It was a good start to the game but things soon settled down with a spell of free kicks for both sides which didn't result in anything. At least the referee was using common sense in not getting his book out too often and it allowed both sides to get stuck in. And both teams did get stuck in with Bircham and Bean all over the place winning tackles and letting the creative players do their thing. Bean was having one of his best games so far for Rangers.

Rowlands continued to impress out wide with his clever skills and neat passing but chances were few and far between. It was McLeod who was making things happen though with some direct running which was carving them apart. One good run and pass found Thorpe on the edge of the area and he laid it off to Gallen but his shot flew just wide of the post.

Gallen and Rowlands were combining well on the right and got behind the defence a few times to whip in some dangerous crosses but Thorpe couldn't get on the end of them.

With the half coming to an end we finally grabbed the lead that we just about deserved. Richard Edghill took a free kick just inside our own half and found McLeod at the far post. The little scouser did brilliantly to head across goal with an assist crying out to be buried past Smith and Tony Thorpe took up the invitation to get in front of the defender and bury the chance into the back of the net. The Rangers players and fans went mental as the deadlock was broken and the chance to take full advantage of our game in hand was being taken.

Once we'd clamed down we went close to a second when Gallen's shot was well saved by Smith and they looked happy to hear the half time whistle as QPR went off to a standing ovation.

The game was far from over though and Brentford came out desperate to get level. Ben May went close with a free header inside the area but Day did well to block his effort with his feet. The big danger to us was Stephen Hunt on the left wing but for some reason he decided that kicking every player he could find was a better way to help his team than using his obvious ability.

His first offence was completely pointless and should have seen him sent off. Rowlands kicked the ball away which was also pretty silly but not as silly as Hunt who then decided to drag his studs down the back of Rowlands leg. Rowlands went mad and confronted Hunt but the referee decided to ignore it. I'm all for seeing refs keep cards in pockets but how on earth can Hunt get away with this.

Rowlands and Hunt then went into a personal duel with Rowlands being kicked all over the place and Hunt was doing his best to impress his fans who were baying for blood at this stage. It became a pantomime with Rowlands every touch booed by the Brentford fans before being cheered when he lost the ball. Apparently Rowlands incensed the away fans when he kissed his QPR badge which is a nice way to respond to the boos and I'm amazed they have made such a big deal out of it.

Anyway back to the football and Brentford appeared to be running out of ideas with Hunt on his one man mission to kick anything that moved. We were looking dangerous on the break as McLeod found space out wide and began to beat his man with ease. Twice he was put in good positions and his pace and skill got him past the last man but his powerful shots were off target when he should have killed the game off.

The yellow cards began to come out midway through the half as Bircham got his fifth of the season meaning a one game ban and Clarke Carlisle also got a yellow for a foul in his own half. Bircham's looked harsh but he had been warned by the ref about five minutes before this.

Rowlands was then taken off to a standing ovation from three sides of the ground and he milked the applause and ignored the boos as he walked off. Ainsworth replaced him whilst Palmer also came on for Edghill and slotted into right back.

Chances continued to come for Rangers on the break as McLeod again got into a great position but wasted his chance.

This time the Bees fans rose to tell him he wasn't very good and McLeod responded with a bit if badge kissing right in front of the Brentford fans. It's good to see him passionate about what he is doing but really he should have just ignored them and got on with the game. I thought he was lucky not to be booked for this. With the end of the game approaching Brentford had a great chance to get level.

A laughable free kick was given as Bircham won the ball and they were in a great position. For some reason Sonko took it though when you would have thought Hunt would have been a better option and Sonko made McLeod look accurate with a high shot into the Loft.

Hunt was finally booked as injury time arrived. This time he had a kick out at Day after the keeper had caught a low cross and tried to have a fight with Gino as well.

When the full time whistle went the stadium erupted with noise and celebration. Bircham and Gallen responded to some of the stick they had got from the away end by clenching fists and pointing out the scoreline whilst Hunt continued showing what an arsehole he is. He refused to shake hands with Rowlands and then tried to have a fight with Day before being dragged away from some QPR fans he was trying to have a go at. No need for that at all but perhaps he is jealous that QPR decided not to sign him in the summer when he was desperately trying to leave Brentford.

So another clean sheet at home and another three points which was very welcome. We're now joint top with a match against league leaders Plymouth on Saturday which should be a cracker. We have a great chance now to really stake a claim for a top two spot with 3 out of the next 4 games at home and if we can continue to grind out results then we have a great chance of promotion this year.

Man of the Match: Kevin McLeod

Players Ratings

1. Chris Day: Once again made some good saves to keep a clean sheet and his early kicks to McLeod and Rowlands caused them problems. 8/10

23. Richard Edghill: Didn't look 100% fit but had a steady game and looks very comfortable at right back. 7/10

3. Gino Padula: Was on the receiving end of a nasty tackle in the first half but recovered to have a decent game. 7/10

5. Clarke Carlisle: Getting better with every game and despite one or two mistakes he was excellent and harldy gave their strikers a sniff of goal. 7/10

2. Terrell Forbes: One of our best players at the moment and he's really taking his opportunity in the centre of defence. 8/10

14. Martin Rowlands: Another impressive game and was unlucky not to score before being taken off after being kicked several times by Hunt. 7/10

22. Kevin McLeod: My man of the match as he caused them so many problems with his pace and direct running. If only he could shoot then we would have won by 4 or 5 goals. 8/10

17. Marcus bean: A very good performance from Bean who worked hard and did a very neat and tidy job alongside Bircham 8/10

8. Marc Bircham: Really wound the Brentford fans up just by being on the pitch and as ever he ran everywhere and got stuck in. 7/10

9. Tony Thorpe: worked hard up front and deserved his goal. Great to see him score as I think he needed a goal to get back to his best form. 7/10

10. Kevin Gallen: Looking back to his best with an excellent all round display and was unlucky not to score with two good shots in the first half. 7/10

Subs

11. Gareth Ainsworth: Worked hard on the right but didn't see a lot of the ball. 7/10

4. Steve Palmer: Slotted into right back which is not his best position but did a decent job. 7/10