Rangers long awaited game in hand was on Tuesday night and proved to be one hell of a battle under the floodlights at Loftus Road. Promotion chasing Preston were the visitors and boasted a good record against Rangers in recent years with the visitors unbeaten against Rangers since we gained promotion in 2004 which includes two wins for them at Loftus Road.

John Gregory knew he needed to put a halt to that run and get the win we so desperately needed. He made two changes to the team with the injured Idiakez replaced by Lomas whilst Dexter Blackstock replaced Furlong. On the bench Jimmy Smith made his return after being dropped from the 16 for the West Brom game.

Rangers lost the toss and had to attack towards the Loft in the first half which is usually a bad sign and we appeared to be a little off the pace as the visitors started well.

Preston really should have been a goal up within 90 seconds. We gave the ball away cheaply from the kick off and they broke down the left. A good ball in the middle saw Stewart asleep and Nugent took advantage, finding acres of space in the box and a goal seemed certain but the England striker fluffed his shot putting it wide of Caps goal. It was a real let off and really woke Rangers up that this was not going to be an easy night.

Nugent looked to make amends but was struggling to get on the ball with the visitors preferring the more direct route which seemed to work well for them and we struggled to get in the game early on. The fans were in tremendous voice though and urged the team forward, which seemed to inspire Blackstock whose volley from outside the box, was just off target and appeared to galvanise the team.

A Lee Cook corner produced another chance as Ainsworth ran in like a battering ram and headed just wide of the post. Cook appeared to be hurt though and after another foul on him he received lengthy treatment and in truth never looked 100% from then on.

He still showed glimpses of quality though beating several players before his pass to Blackstock was cut out.

Preston continued to have chances in a very tight game. Good work by Nugent saw him beat Mancienne and cross for Whalley but his header was well saved by Camp. The Rangers keeper did well again to save from the midfielder soon after as the tension was becoming unbearable.

Around the half an hour mark though rangers burst into life and it was Ainsworth again who was the catalyst for the improvement. Ainsworth got the ball on the right just inside the box and smashed a shot towards the top corner, it took a deflection and appeared to have the keeper beaten but Nygaard looked to make sure and diverted a certain goal over the bar from six yards. No one could believe we hadn't scored and we soon went close again.

Bolder found Ainsworth who stormed into the box and as the crowd screamed for him to shoot he cut it back for Blackstock but he hadn't read it and Preston cleared the danger. We really needed to get a few shots in and test the keeper, which wasn't happening often enough, and at half time I wasn't alone in worrying that we'd pay for the missed chances, as we so often seem to do at home.

Rangers came out for the second half with Gregory forced into two changes, which was a massive blow. Michael Mancienne picked up a head injury after a clash of heads and was forced off the field to be replaced by Pat Kanyuka. Lee Cook also didn't appear for the second half with a knee injury that looks set to keep him out for a few weeks and Rohan Ricketts came on to make his second appearance since signing on loan.

The fans could sense things were against us and got right behind the team with an atmosphere unlike any seen at Loftus Road this season. The noise was intense and five minutes into the second half we got our reward. Marc Nygaard got the ball in his own half and played a quite magnificent ball up to Blackstock who controlled the ball with his chest then unleashed a thunderous volley which was in the net before the keeper knew what had happened. The fans went berserk with wild celebrations and as his team mates mobbed Blackstock for scoring a goal that could keep us up the referee showed himself to be a complete wanker by booking him for celebrating. Unbelievable.

There was so long to go though and it would prove to be a very tense second half. Ricketts got away from Cullip on the edge of the box and the big defender pulled him down to give away the free kick. He was perhaps a bit fortunate to only get a yellow card and as Ricketts lined up to take the free kick the boos and whistles to put him off were deafening. Ricketts stepped up and curled it over the wall with Camp well beaten but it drifted just over the bar much to the relief of the QPR fans.

Rangers battled for everything fighting for every ball and running until they could run no more. Bolder and Lomas were having stormers in midfield whilst Ainsworth was everywhere with an outstanding performance. At one stage his passion to get a head on the ball and clear a corner saw him knock Blackstock out.

There was little happening at the other end although Nygaard went close with another long range effort but it was a case of holding on and defending well which we were doing. Preston had little to offer in truth other than long balls into the box, which Stewart, Cullip and Camp were dealing with very well.

Preston brought on the Hammersmith Horse as they went four up front and threw everything at us. Every minute seemed to take an eternity but the fans were brilliant signing their hearts out and urging the team on to a big victory.

Preston went close to an equaliser when a ball into the box was glanced by Agyemang towards the top corner but Camp got across to make an excellent save, which was greeted by a roar as loud as the goal from the Rangers fans.

It was a real battle as we entered the final ten minutes and Gregory made his final change taking off Ricketts who had picked up a knock and Jimmy Smith came on.

The referee was giving the visitors free kick after free kick and the pressure was intense but we were defending superbly and kept them out until the board went up to reveal five minutes of injury time. God knows where he got that from but it didn't help my nerves.

From yet another free kick the ball was floated into the box and booted clear for Smith to go on a counter attack. The youngster burst down the right and Blackstock ran from his own box to get into the opposition box in time to get a foot on Smiths cross and the keeper made a brilliant save to deny Blackstock a second goal.

The noise from the Rangers fans was deafening at this stage as we screamed support their way with an atmosphere as good as anything since that famous night we beat Oldham in the playoffs. Another counter attack from a free kick saw Smith go down the right again but this time Bolder couldn't get onto his cross and it went out for a throw in.

Preston launched one last attack but it was too late and the final whistle brought scenes of jubilation as the players and fans celebrated in style. Bignot and Bolder were punching the air whilst Ainsworth was leading the signing in front of the R block as the fans went ballistic. It was as if we had won promotion such were the scenes of jubilation and it was clear everyone knew how big a result this was.

The win moves us four points clear of the bottom three with just six games to go. Although we are not safe yet (and the gap is likely to be back to two points by the time we play again) this was a massive step forward. A good Easter weekend could leave us with one foot in the division next season and although games against Coventry and Luton won't be easy (especially without Lee Cook) if we play with the same passion and commitment as we have done recently there is no reason why we can't take maximum points.

A truly great night at Loftus Road with a great goal, a great win and fantastic support from the QPR fans.

Man of the Match: Gareth Ainsworth
Players Ratings: Camp 8, Mancienne 8 (Kanyuka 8), Cullip 8, Stewart 8, Ainsworth 9, Bolder 8, Lomas 8, Cook 7 (Ricketts 7) (Smith 7), Nygaard 8, Blackstock 8