The Stockport’s visit to Loftus Road brought with it more nerves and excitement among the home fans than any previous game this season. With just four games to go we knew another home win would move us a step closer to automatic promotion. Defeat just wasn’t an option.

After having a pre match bet I heard the team and it was no real shock. Carlisle missed out through injury so Steve Palmer and Matthew Rose came together as a central defensive partnership. Marin Rowlands returned to replace Jamie Cureton with Marcus Bean moving into midfield.

The atmosphere was electric inside Loftus Road as Rangers started off the game on fire and attacking towards the School End. Rowlands was looking a different class on the left and it wasn’t long before he gave us the lead. He picked up the ball on the left wing and cut inside onto his right foot. As he got into the box the defence backed off and he knocked the ball onto his right foot and smashed it into the top corner to send Loftus Road into joyous celebrations.

Rangers were well on top and playing some quality stuff. Rowlands was tearing his full back apart and Bircham was controlling the midfield. We almost grabbed a second when Furlong flicked on a Bircham cross and Rose had a free header from six yards out which was brilliantly saved by the Stockport keeper.

The QPR fans were making it a party atmosphere as the team poured forward looking for a second goal. Furlong was having a good game for Rangers up front whilst the new central defensive partnership of Palmer and Rose was looking very solid and both players were using their experience well to make sure we stayed tight at the back.

Rowlands turned to the creator as we looked for the second goal. A corner from the right saw Ainsworth get on the end of it and head over the bar. Ainsworth and an identical chance later in the half, which he did well to win but couldn’t get his effort on target.

News came through that Luton and Oldham were beating our promotion rivals and scenes of wild celebration filled the Loft as fans believed this was our chance to secure promotion. In fact the celebrations went on for a bit too long in my opinion and the players seemed to go to sleep for a while thinking the game was won. This allowed Stockport back into it and a cross into our box saw Jon Daly head back across goal and Camp did well to save at the feet of Aaron Wilbraham.

This woke Rangers up again as we won several corners which we went close to scoring from. Paul Furlong headed one just over when he should have hit the target and Palmer also went close from a Gallen corner.

Rangers were hit with a bitter blow just before half time. Rowlands had been struggling for a while after going down with a foot injury and was taken off looking in a lot of pain with Kevin McLeod coming on. Rowlands injury looks pretty bad and at a guess I don’t think he’ll play in next weeks game.

Rangers ended the half on top and got a standing ovation as they left the field. Things were going better than anyone had dreamed of but I felt we needed a second goal to kill it off as Stockport were bound to improve in the second half and they did.

We started the second half slowly and seemed to be caught in between hanging on for the 1-0 or going for a second goal.

Stockport created a few chances early in the half with Camp saving Robertson header from a corner. We were looking nervy but a poor refereeing decision got the game level. Lambert ran through and seemed to throw himself on the floor with Rose nowhere near to kicking him. Rose was booked and a free kick given. Palmer stood on the line and was needed as the free kick was deflected past Camp only for Palmer to clear off the line. Another effort from a yard out was blocked again by palmer and the rest of the defence stood and watched as if in slow motion as Robert Clare made it third time lucky with a one yard tap in.

The QPR fans got right back behind the team and we pushed forward for a winner. Furlong showed a lovely piece of skill to turn and find space in the box but his shot was well saved.

Furlong was playing well and his cross saw McLeod dive in to get on the end of it but the keeper saved well with his feet to deny us a second goal. McLeod was having a very poor game though on the left with very little effort going into his game and he became the focus on many fans frustrations. Holloway made a second change to the team with Ainsworth sprinting off to be replaced by Cureton. Ainsworth's last effort saw him break through the defence and his low cross was just cleared before Furlong could get on the end of it.

Cureton played on the right and was looking sharp cutting inside and firing a shot into the side netting. The game was becoming terribly frustrating as the joy felt in the first half had quickly turned to despair

Rangers had a good shout for a penalty turned away. A ball to the far post saw a defender punch the ball down before McLeod could get to it but the ref somehow missed the offence. McLeod was soon taken off after a terrible performance and Tony Thorpe was on to try and get us the key goal.

We worked so hard in the last 20 minutes with some good balls into the box being cut out and Cureton and Gallen both had efforts fly just wide. It just wasn’t happening then we should have been handed the three points on a plate. A ball in the box saw Thorpe get away from his marker and as the ball was about to fall to him a defender clearly punched the ball away from Thorpe for a blatant penalty. The ref and linesmen were the only people in the ground not to see it and nothing was given.

Rangers kept pushing for a goal but couldn’t get it and the players looked devastated at losing two vital points. Stockport celebrated as if they had won the league not just drawn away at QPR but I imagine their joy was short lived as other results puts them right back in the relegation picture.

News filtered through that Luton had won in the last minute but it was hard to feel happy after such a disappointing result.

Still Rangers end the weekend in a better position than we started it in. We move a point closer to Plymouth and another point clear of Bristol City but I don’t think l anyone will disagree that this was a big opportunity missed.

Next week is looking like the game of the season. We need to go and attack them and try and win the game but we'll need Rowlands to be fully fit and he didn't look good when he went off. We're making it so much more difficult for ourselves but we really can't ask much more of the players. They gave it everything yesterday and looked shattered at the end of the game. Lets hope they can pick themselves up for the next Saturday because this league is still there to be won and if we can go to Plymouth with a few of the injured players fit again we will have a great chance to end the season on a high.

Man of the Match: Marcus Bignot

Players Ratings

31. Lee Camp: Didn't have much chance for the goal and made a few good saves when he needed to. 7/10

12. Marcus Bignot: Another very good display at right back. He kept going till the very end and worked his heart out for the team. 8/10

23. Richard Edghill: Did nothing wrong at left back and looked a solid and dependable player for us. 7/10

4. Steve Palmer: Performed heroics to keep out the first two efforts before finally being beaten on the line for the goal. Looked far more comfortable in defence than he does in midfield. 7/10

7. Matthew Rose: Another good display from Rose who defended well and picked out some excellent passes. 7/10

17. Marcus Bean: A quiet game from Bean but he got stuck in and did the job required of him. 7/10

8. Marc Bircham: Worked so hard for the team again but perhaps need to calm down a bit and try and pass it rather than launch it into the box with time ticking away. Can't fault his effort though. 7/10

11. Gareth Ainsworth: Worked hard but like on Monday he ran out of steam in the second half and another weeks training should see him fully for for next week. 7/10

14. Martin Rowlands: Outstanding on the left wing for us and his injury was a massive blow to our chances of winning the game. I just hope he is ok for next week. 8/10

10. Kevin Gallen: Not at his best and played a few poor passes in the second half and will be looking to improve next week. 7/10

29. Paul Furlong: Worked hard up front and was very unlucky not to score and had one disallowed for offside. 7/10

Subs

22. Kevin McLeod: A pitiful performance and I'll be surprised if he plays again this season. It was his lack of effort which annoyed me and Holloway was right to take him off. 4/10

28. Jamie Cureton: Had a few half chances to get a goal but not quite at his best. 6/10

9. Tony Thorpe: Worked hard but like so many he just wasn't quite at his best to play the final killer ball or get the goal we needed. 6/10