Coca Cola Championship
Saturday December 30th
Norwich City 1	Queens Park Rangers 0
D.Dublin

		Team
		1. Simon Royce
2. Marcus Bignot (c)		38. Michael Mancinne	25. Damion Stewart		3. Mauro Milanese
14. Martin Rowlands		16. Steve Lomas	10. Kevin Gallen		17. Lee Cook
		31. Ray Jones	29. Paul Furlong
Subs
Nick Ward on for Martin Rowlands
Dexter Blackstock on for Kevin Gallen
Subs Not Used
Jake Cole
Shabazz Baidoo
Pat Kanyuka

The last game of 2006 saw Rangers travel to Norwich which is always a popular game for away fans and usually a good day despite the fact we usually get beat there.
I was still in Florida for this game and got updates from my dad via text messages. One at half time said it was 0-0 and we looked quite good to go on and win the game so I went off to enjoy the Men in Black ride at Universal Studios hoping to check the phone later and read of a famous away win.

Around an hour later the message coming through saying lost 1-0, absolute crap, Jones and Furlong up front absolutely hopeless. I felt for my dad and the rest of the QPR fans having to make the long journey home after what sounded like another dire away performance.

John Gregory made changes from the side that lost at Birmingham. Jimmy Smith was suspended so Steve Lomas came into midfield, Marc Bircham also missed out giving Gallen another chance in central midfield which was a strange decision, I'd rather have seen him up front instead of Furlong and Bailey in midfield who always seems to impress away from home. Zesh Rehmann and Dexter Blackstock also missed out with Rowlands and Jones returning in a 4-4-2 system.

After watching the extended highlight son QPR world the game appeared to be pretty tight. Rangers had chances in the first half to take the lead. Martin Rowlands fired wide from the edge of the box before Paul Furlong had a good chance heading a Rowlands a cross straight at the keeper. Ray Jones also had a goal bound effort blocked.

At the other end Earnshaw looked to be causing problems but Royce wasn't called into any save worth mentioning.

The second half though saw Rangers come out a different side and offer little attacking threat. A Steve Loams shot was the only effort of note as the home side began to dominate. A poor header by Stewart gave Earnshaw some space and his ball over Mancienne found Dublin unmarked and he placed his shot past Royce to get the only goal of the game.

Rangers offered very little to get back in the game with Jones and Furlong failing to combine as a partnership and Jones producing his worst performance of the season so far. A last ditch Damion Stewart tackle prevented Earnshaw from extending the lead and in the end as the rain poured down Norwich ran out comfortable 1-0 winners to leave Rangers three points clear of the relegation zone and end a dismal year for the club. In the calendar year we have won just 10 league games six of those coming under John Gregory in the final four months of the year.