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The last time that happened was back in the 1999/00 season when Rangers had finished mid table and Gary Megson brought his West Brom side to QPR trying to make sure hie side stayed up. Ironically it was Megson again brining his current club Nottingham Forest to Loftus Road for this game and he was hoping he could pull off the great escape again as he had done with West Brom five years earlier. With the sun shining over Loftus Road it was all set up for an enjoyable afternoon. Rangers were handed a boost before the game with several key players returning. Rossi kept his place in goal but the midfield and attack saw a few changes. Martin Rowlands and Marc Bircham returned to replace Miller and Cureton whilst Tony Thorpe was also back up front in place of Shabazz Baidoo. Paul Furlong was also back and he picked up his player of the year award before the game as it was announced that he has signed a new two year contract which is excellent news. Nottingham Forest won the toss and opted to defend the Loft in the first half to try and gain a psychological advantage over Rangers. It seemed an odd choice though not to attack towards there own fans in the second half. It was just as odd to see Gareth Taylor at centre half for Forest in what was a very defensive line up. For a side that needed a win this didn’t seem the best way to go about it. Rangers started the brighter of the two sides backed by the noisy home support. Tony Thorpe was making some good runs in behind the back four but was denied by the linesmen’s flag on several occasions. Lee Cook had Rangers first strike on goal after a nice passing move. Furlong and Thorpe combined to release Cook and his effort from 20 yards out flew wide of the post. We were knocking the ball around well with Rowlands and Cook both cutting inside and we were dominating possession. We didn’t create too many chances but the visitors were showing precious little of the fight needed to win this game. Kris Commons was the only Forest player to show anything but his long range shot didn’t trouble Rossi who for the second week running wasn’t really being tested. At the other end we continued to knock the ball around nicely and Furlong missed a good chance to nudge us ahead when he hesitated and shot over after a well worked free kick. Tony Thorpe was being frustrated by the offside flag and when he did get behind the back four he was usually too far out wide to get on the score sheet. The QPR fans were in good voice and a song started around the ground which had the hairs on the back of neck standing up and almost had Ian Holloway in tears. Up until this point the game was like watching the current QPR team play the QPR team that Ian Holloway inherited four years ago and memories of how far we have come in four years brought a spontaneous reaction from the home supporters. Fans in the Q Block sang “Thank you Ian Holloway” and it soon reverberated around the stadium with fans on their feet clapping and signing along to the QPR manager. Holloway looked very emotional on the bench and although some fans have always criticised the manager for tactics, player selection etc there can be no doubt that Holloway has transformed a shambles of a team into one we can be proud of with so many great memories over the last few years that none of us will forget. It was a superb gesture by the fans to show such appreciation for the manager and hopefully he’ll be with us giving us even better times over the next few years. Back to the game and any hope Forest had soon went when Daryl Powell got himself sent off. Having already been booked for a late challenge on Paul Furlong he stupidly dived into a tackle on Rowlands taking the QPR midfield out and hurting himself in the process. After he got some treatment he was shown the red card and left his team mates with a very tough job to do. Forest sat back even more trying to hold on till half time but Rangers seemed happy to pass the ball around out of defence and wait for the opportunity to score. It came right on half time and was no more than we had deserved. A free kick by the R block saw Lee Cook come across to take it. He whipped a lovely cross in which Forest just couldn’t defend and John Curtis headed into his own net. Carly had a go at trying to claim her Lee Cook first goal scorer bet at Ladbrokes but they were having none of it. At half time the Forest team were booed off by some of their own fans for a pitiful performance and Rangers looked set for a first win in six games. The second half at least brought a bit more fight from Forest and Wes Morgan shot over the bar when well placed to give Rangers a warning. That was only a brief attack though and they were soon back defending again. Rangers were tearing the visitors apart now with Cook in excellent form and Gallen got space in the box to have a shot blocked by Gerrard. The game was put beyond doubt with a superb goal from Marc Bircham. Rangers passed the ball about nicely with Cook finding Gallen in the box, he laid it off to Bircham who curled a beautiful shot into the top corner for his first goal of the season. He usually gets one stunning goal a season and this one was up there with his best. It could and should have been more as we poured forward. Gallen and Rowlands both went close and Shittu also missed getting on the end of a Cook corner by a whisker. Forest looked a beaten team and as Rangers took their foot off the pedal they finally managed a shot on target. It was Kris Commons who managed it with a curling free kick which Rossi comfortably caught. Paul Furlong went close to his 19th goal of the season with a brilliant effort. Furlong turned and chipped the keeper from 25 yards out, Gerrard was beaten and ball floated over his head but hit the bar. With the home fans now celebrating a good first season back in this division Forest gave themselves a chance with a goal. Eugen Bopp scored it after poor defending by Rangers allowed them to work the ball in from the left and Bopp fired past an unsighted Rossi to give his side hope. Rangers looked unsettled for the first time in the game as several of the players seemed to have switched off. Gareth Taylor headed over with one of Forest’s rare late attacks but results elsewhere already meant that they were relegated. Marc Bircham limped off with cramp towards the end before the final whistle saw just a few idiots run on the pitch and team clapped off for a job well done. It was good to see the entire stadium stood as one to clap the Nottingham Forest fans who were having such a tough day. We know what it is like to fall from the premiership down to League one and it is not an experience I’d wish on many clubs. Hopefully they’ll return as their fans deserved better than the team produced on the day. After a short delay the players and management staff came back onto the pitch for a lap of honour. It was a well done for most of them and a goodbye to some. Chris Day looked like a man who knows he is leaving but hopefully we haven’t seen the last of Gino Padula who looked very emotional draped in an Argentina flag blowing kisses to the QPR fans. Ian Holloway gave his now annual speech on the pitch thanking the fans and he looked very emotional about it all pledging to take the club forward again next season. Kevin Gallen also said a few words as the team did a second lap of honour before we all headed to the pubs to reflect on a good season for QPR. Gallen himself also did a tour of the local pubs popping in to thank fans for their support which was a nice gesture from him. This was a good performance by Rangers and we played some nice football throughout the game despite falling asleep for the last half an hour which against better sides would have cost us. The out of contract players did pretty well with Padula again doing enough to earn a deal. Thorpe did ok but may need to do better at Cardiff to secure a new contract. Lee Cook, Marc Bircham and Kevin Gallen all had good games in midfield whilst at the back Shittu was as solid as ever and Rossi didn’t have much to do again. Rangers now face one more game at Cardiff where a point will guarantee a top half finish which would be a nice way to end the season. Man of the Match: Marc Bircham Players Ratings:Rossi 7, Bignot 7, Padula 8, Shittu 7, Santos 6, Rowlands 7, Gallen 7, Bircham 9* Cook 8, Furlong 7, Thorpe 7. Subs: Bean 7
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