The last time these two teams met at Loftus Road was a night QPR fans will never forget. The playoff semi final has to go down as one of the most memorable nights ever at Loftus Road with the kind of atmosphere that will still be talked about in years to come. This game though was never quite going to match the last one for excitement and atmosphere. With Oldham struggling against relegation they brought around 500 fans who were hopeful of doing the double over us.

Ian Holloway was able to name an unchanged team for the first time since we beat Blackpool in early January but Marcus Bean was back on the bench replacing Eric Sabin who has gone on loan to Boston United.

Ian Holloway got the response he was looking for from the crowd with a big cheer ringing around the stadium when Nick Culkins name was announced which must have done his confidence the world of good.

Rangers kicked off the game attacking towards the school end and started off where we left on Tuesday night with good attacking play. Johnson again was at the heart of most of the teams play using the ball sensibly to keep possession in a way we haven’t seen from the QPR midfield in a long time. The movement of the front two was excellent and created early changes for Gallen and Thorpe to test Pogliacomi who, as ever against us, was in fine form.

We were playing well and another home win seemed a formality. Oldham offered very little going forward and just seemed happy to hang on for a point although Calvin Zola looked a handful when they did venture out of their own half.

Rowlands was next to have a go for Rangers but his shot was easily saved. Rangers were also trying out new corner routines with a shot one for Rowlands who just ran into the box with the ball but we couldn’t find the breakthrough.

The crowd were staying right behind the team though as we could see this was a good performance and the patience was almost rewarded with what would have been a stunning goal. It was crisp passing football which belonged at a higher level as Bircham played it to Gallen and a defence splitting one-two with Thorpe saw Gallen receive the return ball and volley against the bar with the keeper having no chance.

It was all looking good for us but Oldham almost snatched the lead against the ruin of play. David Eyres was the men who the chance came to and he volleyed it at the far post but Culkin did well to keep the chance out with a good save.

This chance then seemed to bring a bout a few nerves in the defence with Gino all too often giving the ball away and Arthur was being beaten for pace by Zola. Forbes was doing a good job of coming over to cover for the central defenders and was having a much improved game after a disappointing night on Tuesday.

At the other though we continued to create chances. Richard Johnson volleyed over and then had another effort fly wide. Bircham had one shot fly over the bar before Gallen’s effort was saved by the keeper and Rowlands was denied as he followed up for a tap in but somehow the keeper got his body in the way of the ball.

With half time approaching Oldham got a goal that they never looked like getting and didn’t really deserve. Gnohere had been kicked up in the air a few minutes earlier and was struggling which would explain his poor defending which needed Forbes to come across and clear the danger.

From the throw in Bircham fell asleep and left Murray unmarked and as the defence headed it away the ball fell to Murray and he hit a stunning shot to give Culkin no chance and give his side the lead. It was typical of our luck in the first half than the man who used to think the goal was situated in the upper Loft someone found his range with his first effort and gave his team the lead.

As the half time whistle went the crowd stood and cheered the team off. Despite being a goal down we couldn’t have played much better and hopes were high that we’d come back in the second half and win the game.

We started the second half at a frantic pace. Gallen fired wide and Rowlands also went close as we poured forward urged on by the noisy home support.

The breakthrough came on 52 minutes. A nice pass by Gallen into Thorpe saw the striker turn and was then tripped inside the area and we had our first penalty of the season and first one for exactly a year. Gallen took the ball as some fans around us couldn’t even watch the action unfold but Gallen looked confident and took a superb penalty to smash it in the top corner giving the keeper no chance.

It was now all Rangers as we came forward with wave after wave of attacks. Thorpe was causing all sorts of problems with his movement and one excellent through ball by Johnson cut the defence open but Thorpe couldn’t get a good connection on his header and it sailed straight into the keepers grateful hands.

Thorpe then cut in on the right and whipped a great cross in front of goal but no one could get on the end of it. It was so frustrating as the one man you’d want on the end of that cross was Tony Thorpe the man supplying the chance. Rowlands then created a similar opportunity which missed everyone as McLeod miss read the ball at the far post and couldn’t get a touch on it.

McLeod was then taken off with Paul Furlong coming on and we continued to carve open chances. Thorpe was a constant threat but Oldham almost nicked another goal as Eyres cross took a deflection and Culkin did well to keep it out.

Holloway then made another change with Cureton replacing Thorpe and last weeks hero came close to scoring with his first touch of the ball. He controlled it well beat his man before shooting just wide. Cureton then did well out wide and put in a low cross, which once again no one could get on the end of. Furlong then fired a free kick just wide before Bircham had two efforts on goal. His first was very close and hit the side netting when it looked like it had gone in.

With time running out Oldham had a man sent off. Chris Killen got past Gnohere and threw himself on the floor looking to get Gnohere sent off. The ref did brilliantly to spot this and gave Killen a second yellow card for diving. The ref then booked Pogliacomi for time wasting as Oldham hung on for their lives.

Clarke Carlisle went up front as we went to a 3-4-3 fore the closing minutes and he almost made a winner. He flicked it on for Cureton who was hacked down as he went to shoot. A clear penalty but the ref tried to play the advantage and Furlong went round the keeper only to see his shot blocked and then the keeper somehow claw the ball from Rowlands boot as he went to finish it off.

It just wasn’t our day and a last minute corner saw Furlong get the ball from five yards out but fire over the bar when it seemed easier to score.

That was it a 1-1 draw and the team got a deserved ovation off the pitch after doing everything but score in an impressive performance. If we keep playing like this then I think we’ll get promoted but despite the many positives from the way we played the two points dropped could prove to be crucial at the end of the season.

Man of the Match: Marc Bircham

Players Ratings

13. Nick Culkin: His distribution was excellent and he made a few saves. Looked a lot more confident in this game and he'll be needed in the next few weeks as it's been confirmed that Chris Day won't be back for another three weeks. 7/10

2. Terrell Forbes: A much better performance from terrell was continues to come across and make several last ditch tackles to bail his team mates out of trouble. Despite the stick he gets for his passing he always wants the ball and he put in some good crosses in the second half. 8/10

3. Gino Padula: A disappointing game from Gino. His passing was well below his usual high standards and his corners weren't the best. 6/10

5. Clarke Carlisle: Played well at the back and was very impressive when he went up front. 7/10

20. Arthur Gnohere: Had a dodgy five minutes before half time but apart from that he looked good on the ball and defended well when he had to. 7/10

14. Martin Rowlands: Another quiet game by his high standards but once again he created a few good chances which we couldn't convert. 6/10

30. Richard Johnson: Another good performance in midfield. He has changed the way the team play but just keeping possession in the middle of the park rather than hoofing it forward. 7/10

8. Marc Bircham: Worked his socks off in the middle and had another very good game coming close to scoring in the second half. 8/10

22. Kevin McLeod: Another one who had a quiet game but he did put in some good crosses in the first half. He's one of the few players who doesn't seem to play well when we attack the loft. 6/10

9. Tony Thorpe: Worked hard again up front and caused plenty of problems in the second half. Again he was a bit unlucky to be taken off. 7/10

10. Kevin Gallen: Great to see him convert that penalty and his link play up front was superb. 7/10

Subs

29. Paul Furlong: I don't think he'll ever know how he didn't score one of the chances he had but again coming off the bench he looked a real threat. 76/10

28. Jamie Cureton: Almost grabbed the headlines again with two chances to going just wide but again he looked a threat. 7/10