As big games go they don’t get much bigger than this for second division sides. The visit of Swindon to Loftus Road saw a full house and QPR knowing a win would send us up if Bristol City lost at Barnsley the following day.

The nerves and tension leading up to the game were almost unbearable but as the day arrived the rain clouds seemed to drift away as the kick off approached and confidence seemed to return to the fans during the few hours leading up to the game.

As I quickly finished writing out my first goal scorer bet Ian Holloway came on the tannoy to ask the fans to stay off the pitch after the game and to not travel to Sheffield Wednesday if you don’t have a ticket. Hopefully his words will be listened to although the running on the pitch was ignored by a few idiots at the end of the game, which is likely to incur a 25 grand fine from the FA.

Rangers started with an unchanged team but Arthur Gnohere was on the bench in place of Kevin McLeod whose poor showing against Stockport has probably cost him the chance to be involved in these big games.

The atmosphere was sensational as the game kicked off. QPR fans were singing their hearts out and we were quickly rewarded. A long goal kick by Camp won us a throw in on the right wing. Edghill found Gallen and the Rangers captain got down the line and out in an excellent cross for Furlong to flick on and find Rowlands unmarked from six yards out. Rowlands took his time and smashed his shot into the back of the net and Loftus Road went crazy.

I don’t think I’ve seen or been a part of goal celebrations like that at Loftus Road since the playoffs last season. This meant everything to us and the only downside was we had another 89 minutes to hang on.

The place was rocking and Rangers went looking for more goals. Rowlands and Padula were linking well on the left and a nice ball in by Gino saw Gallen shoot on the turn and was denied by a quality save from former QPR loan star Rhys Evans.

It was all Rangers and another good ball into the box by Rowlands found Ainsworth unmarked at the far post but his header went straight at Evans and was hacked away before Ainsworth sprinted over to block the full back from clearing the ball.

The Rangers team were like men possessed chasing every ball and fighting for every tackle but Swindon weren’t here to make up the numbers. Led by Gurney from the back they pushed forward and a good move down the right saw Gurney get a cross in but Fallon’s shot was high over the bar.

It was a warning for us though and Fallon had a header well saved by Camp later on in the half but the linesmen’s flag meant it wouldn’t have counted anyway.

The noise levels from the QPR fans was deafening at times as we urged the team on to get another goal. Bircham had an effort fly over the bar but we ended the half still a goal up and confident of more to come.

Attacking the Loft in the second half always seems to bring the best out of Rangers and with the team 45 minutes away from making it 26 league games unbeaten at Loftus Road the fans willed them on to create a bit of history.

Swindon started the second half the brighter though with Rangers looking slightly nervous. Carlisle and Rose were performing well at the back and a few early corners and possession in our half gave the Swindon fans something to sing about.

Around eight minutes into the half though a chant of Stand up if you love Rangers went around the ground with around 16,000 people on their feet singing at the top of their voices and this seemed to inspire the team.

Bircham put in a quality cross for Rowlands but he couldn’t get much power on his header and it was cleared off the line with Ainsworth racing in to get on the rebound.

The fans were trying to suck the ball into the net and a Padula corner was curled goal wards and hit the top of the post and went wide to deny the Argentine another goal direct from a corner.

Gallen was next to have a chance after a great ball by Bircham. Gallen had two defenders in front of him but rolled the ball onto his right foot and fired to the bottom corner and his effort missed by inches as the fans got ready to celebrate.

We should have been celebrating soon after when the hopeless referee denied Rangers a clear penalty. Ainsworth jumped up to head in a cross and was met with a flying clothesline but the ref played on as Rowlands obviously had an advantage when he had three men marking him. No penalty or booking and it looks like you do have to be shot to get a penalty at Loftus Road this season.

Furlong was also struggling to get a free kick and it took almost 70 minutes before the 119th time he was fouled for us to get a free kick which Furlong himself fired wide.

The ref wasn’t biased though just rubbish as he gave some bizarre decisions against both teams and continued to get in the way of players. How on earth he is a Premiership ref is beyond me.

Rangers continued to press for a second goal. Gallen's cross missed Furlong by inches and Bircham fired in a cracking shot which was well saved by Evans.

As the time began to run out the crowd were on their feet. We were singing our hearts out to will the three points to stay in West London and a the board went up for three minutes injury time the nerves were getting unbearable.

Gallen frustrated the visitors holding the ball in the corner and a free kick knocked down the wing by lee Camp brought the final whistle and scenes of jubilant celebrations.

That was quickly followed by boos for those who decided to run on the pitch and then off again when the police horses came on. Thankfully the players came back out to thank the fans for the superb support this season and fair play to the Swindon fans who stayed behind the clap the team off.

It was a strange end to the game though as although we all cheered our team off at the end we knew we hadn’t achieved anything yet and the following day watching ceefax in the Bush Rangers was even more bizarre.

It would have been great to celebrate promotion after this game but Bristol City’s win means we have more work to do which was pretty much expected to be honest.

A great achievement though to finish the league season unbeaten at home and if the worse does happen and we have to go via the playoffs I doubt anyone will fancy coming to Loftus Road needing a result.

An away win at Sheffield Wednesday will now send us back to division one and if we play as we did in this game against a very good Swindon side then I think we’ll be OK but I’m sure it won’t be easy.

Man of the Match: Marc Bircham

Players Ratings

31. Lee Camp: Didn’t have much to do but when called upon he was his usual excellent self. 7/10

23. Richard Edghill: Has hardly put a foot wrong in the last few games and Bignot will have a fight on his hands to get back in next week. 7/10

3. Gino Padula: Quality game from Gino. He defended well and his crossing was excellent. 8/10

5. Clarke Carlisle: Defended well against a very good Swindon attack and looks to be getting back to his best when we need him most. 7/10

7. Matthew Rose: A superb performance from Rose. Read the game well and won so much in the air. On this form he’ll have a few first division sides after him in the summer. 8/10

8. Marc Bircham: Another superb performance from Bircham. Ran his heart out and showed lots of quality as well with a great ball into Gallen, which we were unlucky not to score from. 9/10

30. Richard Johnson: Linked well with Bircham and had his best game for some time. 7/10

11. Gareth Ainsworth: Worked so hard for the team and was a real threat from out wide. 7/10

14. Martin Rowlands: Another vital goal and although not at his brilliant best he was a constant threat to Swindon. 7/10

10. Kevin Gallen: Worked so hard for the team and was very unlucky not to get on the score sheet. 7/10

29. Paul Furlong: Given no protection at all from the ref and spent most of the game having his shirt pulled or being kicked. 7/10