It’s that time of the year again when the promotion and relegation issues begin to get settled. When teams at the top of the table suddenly forget how to win games at teams at the bottom have their fans wondering why they didn’t start playing this well three months ago.

With Gillingham the visitors to Loftus Road this was never going to be an easy game but when you add the absence of Martin Rowlands and Gareth Ainsworth this was looking like a very difficult fixture. The visitors went into the game on form, unbeaten in six games after a draw at Preston, they started the game possibly the more confident of the two sides.

Ian Holloway had very little choice with his team selection. Adam Miller got a welcome start in place of Rowlands on the right whilst Matthew Rose returned from injury with Gino Padula unlucky to find himself back on the bench. Alongside Gino was two youngsters. Shabazz Baidoo got another look at the game from the bench whilst Stefan Bailey got his first taste of being on the bench for a first team game.

The game started off as expected with Gillingham putting in some tough tackles and Rangers looking a little edgy in possession. Andrew Davies and Dan Shittu weren’t looking too comfortable against the dangerous Sidibie and Henderson.

Lee Cook had an early effort to give Rangers the lead. He cut inside on the left and fired a shot just over the bar, which the keeper seemed to touch over the bar but a goal kick was given.

Gillingham were playing it direct which we weren’t really coping with as Bircham and Santos were playing the headless chicken role as badly as many feared they would. The visitors took the lead with their first real chance of the game.

It came from a mistake by Shittu who had the chance to clear but made a real mess of it. Mike Flynn won the ball and ran through the Rangers defence as we struggled to keep up with him. Royce came off his line but Flynn picked his spot well and placed the ball into the bottom corner. The large away support in the School end celebrated as their aim to move out of the bottom three was becoming a reality.

The QPR fans responded by getting right behind the team but the added volume from the Loft wasn’t enough to get us back in the game. We almost equalised within a minute after good work by Cook saw him whip in a lovely cross for Furlong who smashed a shot towards the top corner but the keeper made a brilliant save to palm it over the bar.

The game was suiting Gillingham though as they stuck to their game plan and Rangers found it hard to get any sort of rhythm going.

We couldn’t get Gallen on the ball and the wide players were being double marked. Miller began to drift into the middle to get more of the ball and fired one powerful shot just over the bar. That was the one moment of quality in an otherwise dire half as the ball spent more time in the air than on the ground.

Santos in particular was having a poor game but it was hard to pick anyone apart from Furlong who was playing well. The returning Rose was also disappointing whilst Davies and Shittu were struggling to cope with the Gillingham attack. We were also making problems for ourselves with some poor back passes which put Royce in trouble.

When half time came I was quite pleased it was only 1-0 so we had the chance to re group. Holloway made a tactical change, which would change the game in Rangers favor. We switched to a diamond in midfield with Gallen playing behind Furlong and his new partner Georges Santos.

Bircham switched to a holding player and the move gave a bit more attacking freedom to Miller and Cook and the change seemed to get far more out of these two in particular.

Miller had an early shot saved by the keeper but the intent to attack was plain to see and the crowd responded by getting right behind the team.

It wasn’t total football that’s for sure as we used plenty of long balls to Santos but it was working and we were soon level.

Gallen gave the ball away to several groans, but he did well to win it back and play a ball out to Cook on the left. Cook showed what quality he has when he’s on form by placing a lovely low cross in for Furlong who swept the ball past Brown into the bottom corner for goal number 18 of the season for the 36 year old.

The stadium erupted as the fans sensed a vital three points were there for us to grab but the visitors were not going to lie down and the goal sparked their best spell of the game.

They began to push us back winning several set pieces, which were dangerous, but they couldn’t really create any clear-cut chances. The game was wide open now and we should have taken a 2-1 lead with good goalkeeping, bad luck and dire referring denying us.

A nice ball over the top found Georges Santos bearing down on goal. His shot was heading for the corner but was well saved by the keeper. Rangers got on the rebound as Gallen controlled the ball and shot as a defender blocked the ball from what looked a good yard behind the line. The ball then fell to Adam Miller who chested it down and seemed certain to score his first goal for QPR. His shot was on target but a Gillingham defender kept it out by punching it off the line for what should have been a penalty. Somehow the referee missed the incident and gave a corner much to the disgust of almost everyone in the stadium.

Rangers kept pushing but chances were few and far between now as the visitors fought for everything making life very difficult for us. To make the night worse for Rangers Paul Furlong went down with an injury and was taken off.

Jamie Cureton came on to a few boos but to be fair to him he at least looked interested for once and linked quite well with Santos and played a few decent passes out to Lee Cook.

Adam Miller appeared to pick up a knock so he was replaced by youngster Shabazz Baidoo deep into injury time but by now the game was over and a draw all by ends Rangers hopes of the playoffs.

It’s not all bad though, the point keeps Rangers in ninth place and I’m sure at the start of the season many feared we’d be in Brighton or Gillingham’s position now rather than comfortable in mid table.

I think Gillingham deserve a bit of credit. They came with a game plan and it worked. They stopped us from playing and looked dangerous. On that evidence I think they'll stay up.

Moving Santos up front after half time was a bold move and I think it worked as it gave Gillingham something to worry about. Santos was lost in midfield and after we scored and Gallen dropped back I thought we did quite well.

Miller had a decent game he needs to work on his positional sense when defending but I'm sure that will come and I think he could be a very good signing by Holloway. It was good to see him have a few shots from long range, which is something we don't do often enough.

Davies had a very poor game, I didn't think he was that bad on Saturday but last night he was awful. According to Prav's programme notes a car hit Davies last week so that may explain his loss of form.

thought Royce, Rose and Shittu were all poor as well but Rose just didn't look fit.

Hopefully Furlong's injury is not too bad as we're knackered without him. Cureton did quite well. I'm not a fan of his but he at least offered something last night rather than standing with his hands on his hips.

The playoffs are gone now but it will be interesting to see what Holloway does with the last few weeks. I'd like to see Miller given a run in the side now and Rossi. Perhaps, Bailey and Baidoo could be given a game or two as well - although I haven't seen them play (apart from 30 seconds last night).

Onto Sheffield United now who will be a very tough test as they push for the playoffs. But we’ve looked better away from home than we have at Loftus Road in 2005 so hopefully that will continue at the weekend.

MAN OF THE MATCH: Paul Furlong

Players Ratings: Royce 6, Bignot 7, Rose 6, Shittu 6, Davies 5, Cook 7, Bircham 7, Miller 7, Santos 6, Gallen 7, Furlong 8
Subs: Cureton 7, Baidoo 7