There was an air of cautious optimism in the Fitness First bar before the game
The 'P' word was liberally used but surely it's a step too far, isn't it? Looking at the run in, if we COULD beat QPR, Reading, Ipswich AND Forest no-one could say we didn't deserve it .....
Within the first 5 seconds Kermorgant and I've been told Hill (not Dunne) clashed heads and both fell to the ground immobile
To be fair the QPR defender was spark out and fell on Kermorgant which must have felt like getting body slammed by Giant Haystacks so there was no way the plucky Frenchman was going to be able to move
The first 15 minutes had QPR's millionaires running the show with Jenas ruling the midfield
AFCB sat back and invited the pressure and these types of players really don't need to be asked twice to have a go
Luckily we had their ego on OUR side
Countless times some dazzling footwork created space and opportunity but instead of playing in a team mate they tried to take on that one extra player and when that extra player was invariably Elphick or Cook, that was always going to be one player too many and the ball was cleared
Arter was waspish in midfield and Kermorgant held the ball up well but it was really one way traffic early doors
Jenas has the visitor's first chance on 16 minutes as his curling 20 yarder had Camp diving superman-like to tip over from the very top left corner
Just 1 minute later and Morrison had a shot drilled into the ground but as it looped up it took a superb back dive a Russian gymnast would have been proud of to reach back and tip it over
Camp's purchase has been largely overshadowed by Kermorgant but in those 2 minutes we saw what a difference he has made to the team
It took 22 minutes for AFCB to finally get a foothold in the game as Grabban was put through on the right
He scampered past the good ship Dunne and crossed the ball low to Ritchie who scuffed wide left of the goal
A trademark Cook long throw in on 28 minutes caused mayhem in the box as it was headed on and but for a brave diving header surely Grabban would have pounced
AFCB raised the pressing tempo of their game significantly at this point and it was from one such hounding mission that they retrieved the ball on the right and crossed the ball in on 36 minutes
Reminiscent of Grabban's first goal against Leeds, this time Kermorgant cut in front of their defence and smashed the ball at the goal
Unlike Grabban, though, the keeper was equal to it and he made a comfortable looking save
We even had a crack at the long ball game with 2 minutes left on the clock when a huge goal kick arrowed towards Grabban
The ball went so high that it gave Grabban time to take the lead weights out of his boots that prevented any other attempts at jumping for the ball and actually got off the ground
His head, however, was still shaped like 50p piece so he "let" Dunne head the ball and the ball ricocheted between him and Dunne (well it could hardly miss Dunne) and the ball fell back in Grabban's path
A smart 1-2 with Kermorgant had him running through at goal but unfortunately he dragged his left foot shot just wide of the right post - so close
Into injury time and and the Howe halftime team talk had to be ripped up and hastily rewritten
Another fantastic Harte delivery of a corner had Elphick soaring above all and sundry and he crashed his header past the keeper to make it 1-0
It really was a thunderous header and it raised the roof on an already impressively noisy stadium
The half time whistle blew to cheers and applause as the players went off with their 1 goal lead intact
20 seconds into the second half and it all went wrong....
A lofted ball sailed over Francis' head and there was Traore
Brilliantly controlled on the volley he tore forward and smacked the ball near post past Camp to make it 1-1
Sod it
We'd not even lasted 1 minute - come on the bloody drummer - get the singing going!!!
To be fair he, like the rest of the home support, rose to the challenge and the noise grew and grew
On 55 minutes Surman surged forwards and linking with Kermorgant in a neat 1-2 saw Surman having a glimpse of goal and his shot was brilliantly tipped over
Hmmm maybe this wasn't all over
Four minutes later and it was FAR from over ...
A clever ball from Surman over the defence found Kermorgant who chested it forward into the box
Realising he'd gone too wide he crossed the ball from the left into the 6 yard box and a howler from the defender had the ball squirm under his interception and it sat up to Grabban who smashed it past the keeper
We were beating QPR 2-1 - who would have thought that after our visit to Loftus Road
On 61 minutes Arter forced an excellent save from the keeper with a curling shot destined for the top right corner but unfortunately that was the last time he was to have a positive influence
Just 6 minutes later a horrendous Arter lunge was richly rewarded with a straight red - I'm not sure if it was a red but the fact that he gave the ref opportunity to brandish it was foolish to say the least and I hope this moment of stupidity doesn't mar the season
In fact, up to that point Arter was my man of the match as it was him that single handedly raised the tempo to put pressure on the visitors but with challenges like that you do wonder just how much he's grown
All I knew is that it would now be 25 minutes of backs against the wall
At the beginning of the season I would have put money on us not coping with that
But this isn't the beginning of the season and this isn't the same team
Kermorgant was unluckily sacrificed for O'Kane and while we had a player who has improved immeasurably at holding the ball but still doesn't leave the ground I understood why Grabban was still there (pace) but still cursed Arter's stupidity
Fraser was brought on for Ritchie and when he was kicked in the head as he ran forward we realised that we weren't getting any decisions from the ref so what was difficult became just slightly worse
QPR surged forward for the last 15 minutes after bringing on 3 subs each of which were worth more (£) than the AFCB squad but despite us sitting back and allowing them possession we are now a proper team that covers for each other and despite being pulled from pillar to post, numbers were always present to repel the attacks
In fact with 2 minutes left Grabban could well have put the result beyond doubt as Fraser ran forward and brilliantly slotted him through only for yet another 1 on 1 chance to go begging
Harte also had a free kick tipped over as the clock passed 90 but this wasn't the end of the talking points
Earlier in the week Howe had everyone lined up against the wall with measurements marked against it
The assumption was that he was preparing for the end of season "Usual Suspects" themed end of season p**s up but, oh no.
What he was actually doing was seeing how tall players REALLY were (no CV sh*t) and when a corner was awarded to QPR deeeeeep into injury time he used that preparation to haul Pugh off and bring Pitman on
Up waddled Chicken to the near post and it was he that headed the ball off the line as it was headed into the top corner
Tactical / Substitutional genius ? yes , yes it was :-)
Final Score 2-1
Summary : For me this is what supporting your local team is all about.
Excitement, nervousness, exhilaration, fear and absolute joy
I've gone on about the passing and movement we have in the past and while we had that today, it was the defence that really stood out
From the forwards to the keeper the team defended as a unit so if anyone was caught out there was always at least one other to cover
I have no doubt that at the beginning of the season this would have been a game that we would have lost but not any more
We are now a full 11 points better off against teams in the first half of the season and the confidence is there for all to see
Could we make the play-offs ? Hell yes
If we made it, would anyone want to play the form side of the league ? F**k no
Make it or not it has been a brilliant season and all involved should enjoy what we have
Star Man : Cook - just immense and that sliding tackle on Hoilett alone was worth the entrance fee
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