After three hugely disappointing results and performances it was nice to be back at Loftus Road for Saturdays league game against Notts County. Confidence was fragile going into the game but the news that new boy Jamie Cureton was on the bench did a lot to raise spirits among the crowd.

Ian Holloway promised changes after last weeks shocking performance and he made a few. Chris Day was dropped in favour of Nick Culkin who some feel was unlucky to be dropped after two decent games for us in December. Terrell Forbes moved to right back with Rose coming inside to central defence. Kevin McLeod started on the left wing with Rowlands switching to the right whilst Furlong was dropped to the bench allowing the Thorpe/Gallen partnership to get back into action. The last time these two started a game together was the 2-0 win over Colchester in December.

Before the game Dan Shittu came out to give an emotional thank you to the QPR fans. He mentioned the website set up by QPR fan Paul Lovell and how much he appreciated what Paul and other fans have done for him. I couldn’t hear the last bit as the "Who needs Sol Campbell" song went round the stadium and the teams came out onto the field to a huge ovation. It was great to see Dan though and good luck to him as he goes in for surgery on Monday afternoon.

Just away from the match report for a second don’t forget to leave a message for Big Dan on the website set up for him by Paul Lovell which can be seen at http://www.shittu.com

Back to the game and Rangers began by attacking the school end looking desperate to make up for the last three results. It was a slow start though with QPR looking nervous on the ball and struggled to get much cohesion in our play. Bircham was working hard in midfield but we couldn’t get the ball out to Rowlands enough and too often moves broke down with sloppy passes or dithering on the ball.

At the back we looked more nervous than I have seen us all season with Forbes continually cutting inside to cover for Rose’s lack of pace but in turn that left the Notts County left winger with a bit too much space on the wing. They failed to capitalise on this though and we began to settle down and create some chances.

Good work out on the right by Thorpe and Rowlands saw a neat ball in for top scorer Kevin Gallen and his blistering volley was brilliantly saved by the keeper. It was the first chance of the game and we were really unlucky not to be a goal ahead. Garden in the County goal was having a stormer and made an equally brilliant save from Bircham minutes later. Birch smashed a shot towards the bottom corner but Garden did well to push it away.

The chances were coming thick and fast as McLeod crossed for Rowlands to head straight at Garden but a bit more power on the header would have produced a goal.

Notts County were having far too much of the ball in our own half but the fierce wind was in the visitors favour and meant the defence were under pressure clearing some dangerous crosses. Carlisle and Rose were not looking the safest of central defensive partnership but despite a few dodgy moments the closest they came to scoring was a long range shot which went well over the bar.

Tony Thorpe looked to get us in front with two chances. A good run towards the County goal saw his shot well saved by Garden. His next chance seemed harder to miss than put into the back of the net. A lovely cross in found Thorpe six yards out but he managed to head it well wide of the post much to the annoyance of the QPR fans who were starting to become restless.

Far too many fans were getting on the player’s backs despite us being the better side. Half time saw the team booed off by some, which just beggars belief. This was the first time we haven’t been in front at half time in a home game since we lost to Man City in the Carling Cup last October.

Still with the wind in our favour in the second half I fancied us to go on and win the game and the moaners soon shut up after a good start to the second half.
Bircham went close to his first ever goal in front of the Loft End as he powered in a shot, which was once again brilliantly saved by Garden.

Rangers then should have had a first penalty of the season. A good ball down the line by Palmer sent Thorpe away and he beat his man only to be hacked down in the box. Amazingly the ref gave a free kick on the edge of the box despite the foul being a good yard inside the box. To add to our woes Thorpe found himself in the book for protesting the decision.

From the free kick Gino curled it towards the top corner but it hit the bar and came out only for County to scramble it away.

It was all Rangers now as we threw everything at them. A good run down the right by Rowlands opened things up as he charged from the halfway line before playing an unintentional one- two with Gallen before crossing low for Thorpe. A goal looked a certainty but Thorpe missed the ball totally and thankfully McLeod was following up to smash in his first goal since November. The relief was evident and the players mobbed McLeod and Rowlands and another home win looked like it was on the way.

We kept the pressure on as Thorpe linked well with Gallen for the QPR number ten to smash a shot straight at Garden.

We looked confident again and another goal looked to be around the corner but things didn’t go as expected. Poor defending from Rangers allowed County back in it.

First Rose was caught out of position as Forbes came across again to cover for him and a scramble for the ball saw it fall to Parkinson in space who fired through Roses legs and past Culkin, who I thought should have saved it. Hard to point the finger at one man here though as several mistakes were made and the loss of Shittu is beginning to look a massive one.

It didn’t take long to get back in the lead as we went back on the attack. Rowlands did well on the right turning Baraclough inside out before a strong low cross for Thorpe to bury the chance from six yards out. It was well deserved from Thorpe who once again looked a real threat in the Rangers attack.

It seemed hard to believe we’d throw it away again after getting in front and we continued to press for another goal. Furlong was then introduced to replace Thorpe and he almost scored with his first touch heading a Padula free kick against the bar.

Furlong looked on fire and a totally different player to the one paced striker we saw at Chesterfield last week. His strength and passing was reminiscent of the Furlong from earlier in the season and he soon grabbed his first goal since September.

Gallen was the provider this time which a good run and pass and Furlong with his back to goal held off the defender and turned before smashing a shot into the back of the net. Garden got his hands on it but the shot was far too powerful for him to keep out.

It was easy now as Gallen shot just wide from the edge of the box before the new boy Cureton made his debut. McLeod went off and Cureton got a great reception as he slotted into the left wing. He hardly got a touch of the ball before more poor defending gifted them another goal.

Bircham gave away a free kick and Baracloughs curling effort found Richardson unmarked to head past Culkin who again could have kept it out. Culkin has now left as many goals as Chris Day at Loftus Road this season despite this only being his fifth start of the season.

Rangers hung on though to grab the three points and maintain our place in the top two. It was good to get the win but the defence continues to be a worry and a replacement for Shittu is badly needed. Still after the boos at half time it’s worth noting that maximum points from our next two games will take us top of the league as Plymouth don’t play again until the day after we face Peterborough at Loftus Road.

13. Nick Culkin: I thought he should have done better with the two goals but he had nothing else to do. His kicking was a lot better than his last appearance. 6/10

2. Terrell Forbes: Seems to be a target for the boo boys at the moment. I thought he did well coming across to cover Rose's lack of pace during the game but he can play a lot better than this and does look like he is low on confidence. 6/10

3. Gino Padula: A Much better performance from Gino and he was close to scoring with an excellent free kick. 7/10

7. Matthew Rose: He does worry me when he plays at the back. He's got all the qualities to be a good player but at this level he mades too many mistakes which can cost us games. 6/10

5. Clarke Carlisle: Not at his best despite not having much to do all game. His passing was awful. 6/10

4. Steve Palmer: Worked hard in midfield but age does seem to have caught up with him and he was chasing shadows for far too much of the game. 6/10

8. Marc Bircham: His best performance since the Blackpool game as he worked his socks off and produced some excellent support play to the front two. 8/10

22. Kevin McLeod: Worked hard on the left and great to see him get on the scoresheet. 7/10

14. Martin Rowlands: Close second for manof the match as once again he created our best chances. His run and crosses for the first two goals showed what a crucial player he is for us on the right wing. 7/10

10. Kevin Gallen: Not his best game but linked well with Thorpe and was unlucky not to score in the second half. 6/10

9. Tony Thorpe: Anothe rimpressive performance as he constantly caused problems for Notts County and got a deserved goal. 7/10

Subs

29. Paul Furlong: Being dropped seems to have had a real impact of Furlong and he was excellent when he came on. 7/10

28. Jamie Cureton. Only on for a few minutes but I expect we'll see a lot more of him next weekend. 6/10