AJust a few weeks after beating West Ham at Loftus Road the Hammers had a chance for revenge as we travelled across London for our first league game at Upton Park since 1995.

After what seemed like a lifetime on the tube from Ealing we got to Plaistow where we met up with some West Ham fans who took us to one of their pubs called the Stanley Arms. The pub was all decked out in claret and blue with framed pictures of old West Ham players on the walls and I saw quite a few QPR fans in the pub mixing with the West Ham fans.

After a few pints we nervously made our way to the ground and I was not very confident of Rangers getting a result after such a poor performance against Millwall and with so many injuries.

It was a pleasant surprise when we got to our seats and saw the sight of Dan Shittu, Tony Thorpe and Jamie Cureton in the starting line up. All of them had passed fitness tests and Holloway went with a very attacking line up.

Marcus Bignot was out suspended so Cureton replaced him on the right whilst Gallen went back in midfield instead of Branco with Thorpe up front. Shittu resumed his place alongside Georges Santos with Matthew Rose at left back.

The QPR fans were up singing from the first minute creating a cracking atmosphere in the away end and the team started off quickly throwing attack after attack towards the West Ham goal. Cureton was looking lively on the right and won us an early corner.

Gallen ran into the box late and was unmarked at the far post but Stephen Bywater came out to claim it and dropped it at the feet of Santos but the big defender couldn't get the ball into the back of the net. We were camped in the home sides half playing some decent football and West Ham were looking second best.

We almost grabbed a deserved lead through Paul Furlong. Thorpe sent Cureton away down the right and he did well to pick out a defence splitting pass to Furlong who had time to pick his spot but his low shot was well saved by the keeper.

This seemed to wake the home side up and they began to impose themselves in midfield. Lomas was getting to the ball quicker than Gallen and spraying the ball wide to the dangerous Etherington who began to get into the game. West Hams first real chance came from Marlon Harewood. The player who Ian Holloway tried to sign in his first season at Rangers struck a fierce shot which Day did well to parry and Fletcher wasted the rebound as he crossed for Simek to head clear.

The home side were getting on top and pushing us back as we began to lose the midfield battle. Etherington was next to go close with a good run and shot which Chris Day again did well to save. The game began to settle down with West Ham looking the better side but the Rangers back four were defending well and restricted the home side to long-range efforts.

Don Hutchinson was trying to wind Dan Shittu up with several off the ball incidents and Shittu needed to be calmed down by the ref and teammates on several occasions.

The ref then got his book out for an awful tackle on Tony Thorpe.

Donkey defender Tomas Repka went through Thorpe from behind which would probably see him sent off in a Premiership game. Thorpe was down for a while and ended up having to go off with what looked like a nasty injury. Gareth Ainsworth replaced Thorpe making his first appearance since the draw at Sunderland in August and Cureton was moved up front.

West Ham continued to be on top though and got the lead in controversial circumstances. Serial Diver Luke Chadwick burst into the box and dived over Dan Shittus tackle to win his team a penalty. The reaction of the players said it all as Bircham, Gallen, Shittu and Rose all surrounded the Plug look-alike as he walked off looking embarrassed that the penalty was given.

Harewood stepped up to take it and although Day went the right way he couldn't keep it out and West Ham had the lead.

West Ham hoped for another penalty minutes later when Harewood went down as if he had been shot after going shoulder to shoulder with Matthew Rose. To be honest he deserved a booking for his theatrical performance, which followed on, from his team mate Zamora's theatrics at Loftus Road last month.

Half time came at a good time for Rangers as West Ham were well on top and we needed to get back in the game quickly.

It was the home side though who started the second half looking more like adding to their single goal. Harewood and Hutchinson had long range efforts deflect just wide of the post and a number of corners had Rangers rattled. We continued to battle though and began to create some chances.

Furlong held off several challenges before shooting just wide of the far post. Kevin Gallen also went close with a lob from 25 yards, which Bywater did well to save.

The Rangers fans were getting right behind the team and the introduction of Kevin McLeod on for Lee Cook gave us an added attacking dimension. McLeod had an immediate impact putting in a good cross for Ainsworth who rose above the defender to get a header on target but the keeper did well to tip the ball wide.

We were well on top now and got a deserved equaliser from the substitute McLeod. Rangers won a throw on the right, which Bircham took. He launched a long throw with was flicked on by Santos and McLeod was left unmarked at the far post to touch the ball home from a yard out. To be honest the ball looked as though it was going in anyway but Mcleod was on hand to claim his second goal of the season.

The Rangers fans went mental celebrating as if we had won the game and the stewards and police didn't seem to like this so they threw several fans out for celebrating.

West Ham replied instantly and almost regained the lead.

Zamora crossed to the far post where Fletcher was unmarked. The midfielder controlled the ball and went to pick his spot before Shittu came across and saved the day with a great tackle. Rangers were sitting back now and trying to hold on for the point we deserved but the home side were throwing everything at us.

We looked dangerous on the counter attack but disaster struck in the last minute. Poor defending by Rangers as West Ham fired in shots from all angles. Shittu and Santos blocked everything but the ball fell to Harewood who was totally unmarked. The big striker took a touch and then powered an effort into the back of the net giving Day no chance. It was very disappointing but we still had time to come back.

Holloway took off Simek for Padula as Rangers went 3-4-3 with Santos up front. We began to give West Ham problems again with Santos being the only man on the pitch able to beat the giant Callum Davenport to a header. We won a few corners as we pushed for a goal but the referee was intent on blowing up at every set piece.

One corner saw Shittu penalised for winning a header when Two West ham defenders were pulling and pushing him all over the place. Furlong was then penalised for well being Paul Furlong as he won a fair header in the box to set up Cureton who fired over. The ref hadn't blown for a few seconds though so he gave a free kick.

Rangers couldn't get the second equaliser so the home side went home happy with a 2-1 win. This was a disappointing afternoon for Rangers but credit to the team for battling so hard all game and never giving up.

A few players had off games, which didn't help, but we still pushed a very good West Ham side close. Rangers now face Wigan at home next week which will be a very tough game and we'll need to be at our very best to get a result in that one.

Man of the Match: Dan Shittu