After a good win at Norwich last week Rangers looked to build on some decent away form with a trip to Derby County.

As ever Ian Holloway was forced into changes as Marc Bircham, Marc Nygaard and Lee Cook all missed out through injury.

Dean Sturridge started up front against his old club, Gareth Ainsworth came in on the right wing and Georges Santos started alongside Tom Doherty in central midfield.

There was a surprise among the subs as Scott Donnelly got his first taste of life with the first team this season and impressing for the reserves and under 18's in recent weeks.

Derby made their intentions clear from the start as they looked for an early goal. On loan Stern John looked a handful whilst once again Idiakez was at the heart of everything Derby did.

It seemed to be a tactic of Rangers to make sure no free kicks were given away around the box but even from corners he was a threat and almost gave his side the lead after three minutes. Idiakez curled in a dangerous corner, which had Royce in trouble, and he punched into his own net. Luckily Peschisolido had given Royce a shove so the goal was ruled out without too many protests from the Derby players.

Rangers looked shaky at the start but Derby were not really punishing us and we soon regained our composure and began to get on top. Doherty and Santos were doing a good job of winning the ball back whilst Dyer and Gallen were linking well on the left wing.

Tom Doherty had Rangers first real chance. It came from a Gallen corner, which was half cleared, and Doherty smashed in a cracking volley, which was heading for the bottom corner but was blocked in the six yard box by a defender and cleared.

Rangers were looking the better side but as has been the case recently we weren't really creating many clear-cut chances. It was a good away performance though as we didn't really look in much danger and you got the feeling that we'd eventually get a chance and take the lead, which is what happened around the half hour mark.

Rangers won a free kick on the wing and as Gallen and Dyer lined up to take it the Rangers bench went mad. Holloway, Penrice and Breaker were all up shouting and screaming at the team to try something. Whatever they said it worked as Dyer curled the ball in and Ainsworth was unmarked from two yards out to head past the keeper. It was a scrappy goal and impossible to tell who got it from our end but we were on our way to three points

We looked comfortable and were knocking the ball around nicely but were soon put on the back foot by a moment of stupidity. Paul Furlong was having a tough time against Emerson Thome. The on loan defender was having a right old battle with Furlong and getting most of the decisions. With one tackle he took Furlong from behind leaving the QPR striker on the floor in a heap but laughable the referee gave the free kick to Derby.

Furlong was clearly getting frustrated and when Thom caught Furs with an elbow he lost it and kicked out at the defender. Furlong could have no complaints but the Brazilian defender made a right meal of it roiling around the floor holding his leg, his ankle and then his arse as even the Derby players looked a little embarrassed. As I say Furlong had to go really and was stupid to react but he should have been joined in the dressing room by Thome who was lucky the referee missed his elbow on Furlong.

With Furlong off it was no a change in tactics for Rangers as we went one up front and Derby began to get back in the game.

Stern John almost got them level after a nice turn and shot, which Royce did well to parry wide for a corner.

Then Derby got a free kick in a dangerous position and it was time to hold our breath. Idiakez stood over the ball within shooting range but instead played it short and it was played wide to the unmarked Thome who played the ball along the six-yard box for Stern John to tap home only to be denied by the offside flag. It was a clever set piece but once again the ref was right to rule the goal out.

Derby were piling the pressure on now but the excellent Dan Shittu was heading everything out and alongside him Evatt was growing in confidence. Evatt was left in a heap by another of Thomes flying elbows and after trying to pick the QPR defender up the ref had a word with Evatt for not being happy at his head almost being taken off.

Peschisolido had one last chance before the break which was well saved by Royce before the half time whistle went with Rangers just about deserving to be in front.

The feeling at half time was this was a game we could still win even though we only had ten men but this was going to be a long 45 minutes. To Rangers credit they didn't sit back as many of us feared they would. Rangers defended with two banks of four and looked to hit on the counter attack at every opportunity. Derby had more of the ball but Rangers still looked more like scoring.

punished for a handball, which looked a little harsh.

We got ready for a goal and a probably defeat in the away end as Idiakez stepped up. Outside the box though Bignot was screaming at Royce which way to go. Royce did well standing tall for as long as possible as Idiakez ran up stopped then took the penalty which Royce guessed correctly and pushed away. The Rangers end went mad and now we could sense a win was within our grasp.

Just as we'd calmed down from all that Rangers doubled their lead. It was a fantastic goal as well. Santos won the ball and roared out of midfield to attack with a surging run.

He played a lovely little pass to Gallen and then the action seemed to go in slow motion as Gallen looked up and curled a wonderful shot from the left hand side into the bottom corner.

The Rangers end went mad, as fans hugged each other and one bloke behind me fell forward a row and ended up falling head first on the floor before rising again to scream yes and hug us as we helped him up.

It was party time now as the QPR fans sung Kevin Gallen's magic to a silent Pride Park before asking if we could the Derby sing with the answer being no. After a good five-minute party things almost went horribly wrong.

Just after the goal Richard Langley was brought on for the tiring Tom Doherty and he had fitted into central midfield nicely. Derby got a goal back though with five minutes to go after a ball into the box and Blackstock held off Bignot to shoot past Royce. Five minutes left and Rangers just didn't want to make it easy on us.

A minute later and the place went mad. Derby broke again on the right and a ball across had goal written all over it. Idiakez was unmarked from eight yards out and with an empty net to strike into. He did everything right playing a nice shot but from nowhere Royce threw himself at the ball making one of the best saves I've ever seen before throwing it out to Bignot and launching a counter attack. The away celebrated as if we had scored and we now knew if they couldn't score with that chance they never would.

We roared the team on as Milanese came on for a knackered Gareth Ainsworth and we managed to see the game out amid jubilant celebrations in the away end.

This was a fantastic game and an excellent performance from QPR, full of guts, determination and a few moments of sublime quality.

Seeing Rangers this year hasn't been that enjoyable at times but this was magnificent and probably the best away game since we got promoted.

The game had it all, a terrible referee giving us nothing, disallowed goals, backs to the wall defending, a penalty save, a brilliant goal and one of the best saves I've ever seen from Simon Royce up there with Day's efforts in the playoff semi final and at Wrexham the other year. The atmosphere was brilliant as well with the QPR fans doing themselves proud.

Holloway had a good day in the office after more than few bad ones recently. I thought his got his subs spot on and tactically away from home I think he's got us playing a way that is going to get us some good results and we've been excellent away from home since the Wolves game.

Every player did their bit. Royce, Gallen, Shittu, Evatt, Dyer and Santos were the stand out performers but everyone played their part with Ainsworth running his heart out for the team.

Watford are next on Tuesday night and it will be a very tough game but after coming away from this match with all three points anything is possible and the team are beginning to show the kind of never say die spirit which served us so well over the last few years.

Man of the Match: Simon Royce
Players Ratings: Royce 9, Bignot 8, Dyer 8, Evatt 8, Shittu 8, Doherty 8 (Langley 8) Santos 8, Gallen 8, Ainsworth 8 (Milanese 7), Furlong 5, Sturridge 7 (Moore 7)