Few QPR fans will ever forget our last meeting with Cardiff as Rangers travelled to the Millennium Stadium and had our hearts broken by a late Andy Campbell goal which sent Cardiff into division one and left us with another year in division two. Now a season and a bit on we meet again and after a good first season in division one for Cardiff they find themselves struggling this season whilst we sit in the top six.

After last weeks humiliating defeat at Leeds though Rangers had a point to prove and the game had an air of three point at all costs rather than an attempt to get revenge for that defeat in May 2003. With Ian Holloway away with illness it was left to Tim Breacker to take charge.

He made just two changes from last week's side. Gino Padula replaced the injured Matthew Rose whilst Lee Cook was back in the side as Kevin Mcleod dropped to the bench. Rangers desperation to have cover at left back saw us re sign Serge Branco for another month and he was also among the substitutes.

The kick off was delayed for 15 minutes due to the police holding Cardiff fans at the Springbok pub. Struggling Cardiff looked the better side in the early stages as they passed the ball around well and Rangers looked a little nervous about making the kind of mistakes we saw last weekend.

Ranger's football was route one from the start as we looked to win throw ins in the final third and create chances from set pieces. It wasn't pretty and Cardiff were controlling the game. They didn't create many chances though as the back four worked hard as a unit with Shittu and Santos in excellent form.

Despite them having more of the possession, Rangers were looking more like scoring. Furlong laid off to Gallen who fired in a shot from the edge of the box, which flew over the bar.

Referee Dermot Gallagher should have produced an early red card after Cardiff Alan Lee elbowed Shittu in the face. Shittu went down with a cut face and needed to change his shirt. The blood on Shittu's shirt and face might have given Gallagher a clue as to what happened but he did nothing.

Lee was at it again soon after catching Padula in the face and this time he was booked. Lee got his hat trick a few minutes later catching Shittu again. Shittu was furious and didn't even get a free kick. Shittu made a point of going over to Lee to tell him what he thought and Bircham did well to drag Shittu away and calm him down.

Shittu needed a second change of shirt and didn't even have a number on the back of his shirt as he returned to the field to attack a corer. You could see the determination all over his face. Gallen floated the corner in which Shittu tired to get on the end of. He slipped initially but steadied himself and from ten yards out he powered a shot into the top corner to give us the lead.

This was Shittu's first of the season and after the big defender blamed himself for that goal which ended our playoff dream 18 months ago, it was good to see him put a few ghosts to rest with that strike. Also after backing him for the first goal at 22/1 he won me enough money to go out and have a curry and a few beers after the game. Cheers Dan.

The rest of the half was very scrappy. Furlong was looking sharp for Rangers but chances were limited, as the game became very stop start. Gino Padula was looking back to his best form winning several sliding tackles and looking a far more accomplished player than he has looked all season.

The QPR fans asked the watching Richard Langley what the score was and to his credit he gave us a wave, be nice if we could get him back on a free next summer and probably a good thing he didn't play as I expect he would have got a fair amount of abuse from some sections of the QPR crowd.

Cardiff pushed for an equaliser but never really threatened the Rangers goal and we went in at half time looking pretty comfortable.

The second half saw Rangers push for a second goal and we went close on a few occasions to killing the game off.

Kevin Gallen did well in midfield to find Cook out wide. Cook fired in from 25 yards out but Tony Warner made a good flying save to tip it round the post.

Cook was our most dangerous player and you could see what this meant to him after he was one of the 30,000 QPR fans at the Millennium Stadium 18 months ago cheering the team on.

Another good run by Cook saw him put Cureton a3way but Cureton couldn't finish it off and shot wide. Cardiff's only hope of a goal was a set piece and one free kick was flapped at by Day and Joe Ledley shot over when he should have done better.

That was a wake up call for Rangers and we tightened up and went for safety first rather than looking to throw too many men forward for a second goal. Lee Cook almost got a second though. A mazy run saw him dribble past three defenders through the middle and is shot flew just wide of the post. A shame he didn't have more confidence in his right foot as the ball was crying out to be hit across the keeper with his right foot.

Rangers best move of the match almost got us the killer goal. Cureton got the ball deep and played it in to Furlong. Furlong did well to hold it up and put Cureton clear but his curling shot hit the bar and went over when perhaps he could have done better.

Most of the entertainment was coming from the fans at this stage as the Q Block sang "Ian Holloway's get well party" as the game looked pretty safe and the ginger haired centre half for Cardiff was told by the Q, P and R blocks "Strawberry blonde, your having a laugh". Looking ahead to the last game of the season the chant of "We'll send you down in May" was funny and could be the ultimate revenge for that playoff defeat if it does come true.

Cardiff's only real chance came from substitute Peter Thorne who shot from 35 yards out which caused a scare with Day off his line but the shot went over the bar.

Paul Furlong almost got his twelfth of the season. More good work by Cook saw him cross and Furlongs diving header went just over the bar.

Tim Breacker and co made two late changes. Marcus Bean replaced Jamie Cureton and Kevin Mcleod came on for Lee Cook as went to a 4-5-1 to hold on. Cardiff never really looked like scoring though and Rangers comfortably held on to the 1-0 win.

This was a big win for Rangers. With Ian Holloway missing and after last weeks defeat this could have been the start of a bad run but Rangers turned it around quickly and the three points keeps us in the top six.

This wasn't the best game of football seen at Loftus Road this season but it was a vital result and hopefully one, which will help speed up the recovery of Ian Holloway.

Man of the Match: Dan Shittu

Players Ratings:

1. Chris Day: Didn't have much to do all game, I can't remember him making a save. 7/10

2. Marcus Bignot: Like so many a much better performance, he defended well but seemed more reluctant than usual to get forward which was a shame. 7/10

3. Gino Padula: This was much more like the Gino Padula we all know and love. He was strong in the tackle, his positional sense was excellent and he had a very solid game. Hopefully this will give him the confidence to show he is capable of being a very good player at this level. 8/10

5. Dan Shittu: Great to see him come back after a bad day at the office last week. He was back to winning everything in the air and even got a goal. 8/10

23. Georges Santos: A very solid display from Santos. He got stuck in and won some excellent tackles and even showed some skills with a drag back which put Thorne on his backside. 8/10

11. Gareth Ainsworth: Worked hard against his old club but didn't really show what he is capable of. 6/10

8. Marc Bircham: Worked hard all game but picked up a needless booking which takes him closer to a two game ban. 6/10

10. Kevin Gallen: Again not at his best but much better than last week. His passing was much improved but I would have liked to se him go up front in the second half with either Miller or Bean coming on. 6/10

17. Lee Cook: Looked a threat in the second half when he started running at the Cardiff defence In both halves he was out most dangerous player and unlucky not to score. 8/10

29. Paul Furlong: Another excellent game as he led from the front. His hold up play was brilliant and he was very unlucky not to score. 8/10

15. Jamie Cureton: A very disappointing performance. Rangers long ball style didn't help him but he can help himself but showing more movement when we have the ball to give us an option other than a long ball to Furlong or Ainsworth. 5/10

Subs

16. Marcus Bean: Came on to make sure we they didn't nick a late goal and did his job well. 7/10

18. Kevin McLeod: Gave us a fresh pair of legs but didn't see much of the ball. 6/10