A second game in three days for QPR and a chance to get back to winning ways after a disappointing points return in the last two away games.

Holloway made just one change to the team which drew 3-3 on Boxing Day. Steve Palmer was dropped to the bench and Marcus Bean returned. Colchester dropped Wayne Andrews to the bench which was a surprise as they went with five in midfield hoping to frustrate Rangers.

The game started slowly with neither team looking too confident but the controversy started early with Colchester looking to get in among us early on. Thorpe was whacked in the face in the first three minutes as the referee ignored his protests so he had a word with the Colchester defender himself. The blood coming out of Thorpe's lip meant nothing to the ref and the Colchester manager Phil Parkinson who decided to have a pop at Thorpe as he went off for treatment. A lively start then and it was getting a bit nasty as several full bloodied tackles were flying in.

Colchester didn't look much of a threat early on as we started to settle down. McLeod and Padula were linking well on the left whilst Rowlands had our first chance seeing a shot from the edge of the area turned just wide by the keeper.

We got our noses in front after twelve minutes. A corner was cleared and knocked high and forward by Forbes. Shittu let the ball bounce then set off on a storming run down the left wing. He showed great strength and skill to get past his man and cross for Gallen to finish it off from six yards out. Shittu was mobbed by his team mates for the assist whilst Gallen celebrated his tenth goal of the season.

From here on we looked comfortable with Bircham and Bean working hard in midfield and Birch went close to his first goal of the season shooting just wide from the edge of the box.

Colchester then made a change with Wayne Andrews coming on to a chorus of boos. Andrews is not too popular with QPR fans after his diving antics against us for Oldham and Colchester in the last twelve months. He is a good player though and his pace caused us a few problems as they put us on the back foot. We looked a little more nervous than usual at the back and gave away possession to easily in what was becoming a poor match to watch.

Colchester created very little with a deflected shot straight at Day the closest they got to scoring. The game then changed with a red card for Karl Dulguid. First off Padula was elbowed on the half way line which the hopeless ref managed to miss before Dulguid dived in two footed on Bircham before appearing to stamp on Bircham. A red card was flashed almost straight away as both set of players went mad trying to fight each other.

The game was threatening to boil over as Bircham was the main target for Colchesters anger and was kicked all over the place but credit to him as he never retaliated and just got on with his own game. At half time we were looking pretty good for the three points but we always seem to struggle against ten men.

The first ten minutes of the second half proved this with a poor start by Rangers. We looked nervous and vulnerable at the back as we gave away plenty of throw ins near the corner flag and were under the cosh but Colchester didn't appear to get enough men forward and never really looked like scoring.

The game was finished off with a route one goal. A long kick by Day bounced over the defenders head who left the ball to his keeper and as they looked at each other Tony Thorpe ran in and headed the ball over the keeper and into the net. The chance was so similar to the one Andy Thomson had in the Playoff final but Thorpe managed to get this one on target and the game was all over.

We threatened to get more with some good attacks but despite lost of possession we never got to many more shots in and it was a poor game to watch.

Bircham and Bean were running the midfield though and Gallen could have made it three after a nice flick by Thorpe saw him power a shot in which was well saved.

With time ticking away Bircham was whacked in the face by one defender before being sliced in half right in front of the ref but once again the ref ignored the bad tackle and Bircham limped off to be replaced by Rose. With the game almost over Shittu appeared to get a knock and was taken off with Palmer coming on but as the final whistle went it was joy around Loftus Road as we maintained our home record.

This wasn't the best performance of the season with a few players under par but we did enough to win the game and results elsewhere mean we have a five point lead on the teams below us.

Man of the Match: Marc Bircham

Players Ratings:

1. Chris Day: Didn't really have anything to do but a great kick for the second goal. 7/10

2. Terrell Forbes: Operating the safety first policy which isn't always popular with the fans but another solid display from the youngster. 7/10

3. Gino Padula: Not at his best but coped well with everything thrown at him and put in some excellent corners. 7/10

5. Clarke Carlisle: Back to winning everything in the air and brought the ball out of defence several times int he second half as he joined in with attacks. 7/10

6. Danny Shittu: Great assist for the first goal but looked like he was carrying a knock and was nowhere near his best. 6/10

8. Marc Bircham: An excellent performance from Bircham as he tries to get back into the first team on a regular basis. He worked hard and was surprisingly our most creative player. 8/10

17. Marcus Bean: Improving with every game and looked good again in this one. 7/10

14. Martin Rowlands: Again he didn't really look fit and wasn't too involved in the game but still showed a few glimpses of the skill which have made him so popular. 6/10

22. Kevin McLeod: Worked hard down the left wing and created problems for the Colchester defence. 7/10

9. Tony Thorpe: Thorpe continues to impress with me every week. He is lethal around the box and his work off the ball is excellent. 7/10

10. Kevin Gallen: In a good run of scoring form at the moment and once again linked well with Thorpe. 7/10

Subs:

7. Matthew Rose: Not on for long but covered for Shittu when he was limping around the halfway line. 7/10

4. Steve Palmer: On for even less time and don't think he even touched the ball. 6/10