Beyond a Stoke Now...

Stoke 1-0 QPR

QPR went swiftly back to the bottom of the Premier League following another frustrating defeat and now, an entire season of 19 games since an away win.

Despite the fortunes on the pitch, the gamg remained as positive as ever as we met in Marlow for a 2 car convey to the Potteries. Lee, Jess, Sam and Luke in one car with myself and PK in the other. Jenson, sadly missing today at a boys weekend away in Munich.

An absolute breeze of a journey saw us find the time to stop at Knutsford Services for some refreshment. But after the Gents amongst us left the toilet, in true George Michael style, PK started chatting with a bloke as was quickly led into the car park. All of our initial fears were later put to bed as it was someone who PK had met on holiday in the Domincan Rebuplic recently. Needless to say, it had us all worried for a short time..

After myself and PK treated the others to a short sightseeing tour around Stoke, we parked up and made our way to the ground at about 1.45pm, where Sam drew our attentions away from the crap burgers and too an extremely attractive Lady Police Officer, of whom it would have almost been worth getting arrested for. Into the ground and 5 of us took part in the Pie Ratings, which the results will be reported later.

Onto the game and the R's fans were in buoyant mood and the Premier League is upside down song was being heard loud and proud as Rangers started very well and saw plenty of the ball. Cisse miscued a half chance but Stoke had chances of their own at the other end, the best falling to Walters who blasted over when he really should have done better. The best chance though, fell to Rangers just before the break - great work from Hoilett on the left,  put Taarabt clear on the right. Just as we were all expecting Adel to put his foot through the ball and smash the ball home, he dinked a rather tame chip that drifted aimlessly over the bar.

Onto the second half and all off Rangers good first half work was undone just seven minutes in and it was the same old story of inept defending -  Robert Huth's free-kick into the area was flicked on by Jon Walters. The ball fell to the unmarked Charlie Adam at the back post, who half volleyed into the net. The unusually quiet home support all of a sudden found their voices, well, for 5 minutes anyway.

Rangers responded and Taarabt's deflected effort was well saved by Begovic. Just before the hour, Adel again had a great chance but when all the hard work was done, he dragged his shot well wide. On 70 minutes, the Stoke keeper had to be at his best again, denying Granero from 12 yards with a superb save.

The R's were sadly lacklustre in the last 15 minutes or so when you would have fully expected them to really go for it. In fact, it was Stoke who could have extended their lead but Walters was denied by a fine save from Julio Cesar.

Queens Park Rangers

• 33 Julio Cesar
• 03 Traore Booked
• 05 Ferdinand
• 17 Nelsen
• 19 Bosingwa
• 02 Diakite Booked
• 10 Taarabt
• 14 Granero Booked
• 32 Faurlin (Zamora - 78' )
• 09 Cisse
• 23 Hoilett

Substitutes

• 01 Green
• 06 Hill
• 15 Onuoha
• 04 Derry
• 11 Wright-Phillips
• 12 Mackie
• 25 Zamora

Man of the Match - could well have gone to Adel Taarabt had he taken his chances, or Junior Hoilett of his 2nd half was as good as his first. But with a clean sweep vote from all of us, todays award goes to Ryan Nelsen.

Awayday Pie Rating -

As mentioned, 5 of us took part and we all went for the Chicken Balti -

Lofty - could not fault it - 10
Lee - only faulted the crumbly pastry - 9
PK - good but not as good as Norwich - 8
Sam and Luke shared and gave 6 and 7 respectively, Luke seemed extremely disappointed.

Stoke City Pie Rating  - 8/10 (Spurs still current leaders with 8.33)

To summarise yet another frustrating day - Rangers the better side, bad defending cost us dearly yet again, some QPR muppets chanting for Neil Warnock, QPR fans arguing and fighting amongst themselves, too many players do not give a shit about our Great Club (Jose Boswinga, when you ran down the tunnel and ignored the travelling support, that was probably the fastest you had moved all afternoon) and it took an absolute age to get out of the car park. Just another QPR awayday...

Lee returns next week for what is ANOTHER MASSIVE GAME at home to Southampton. But in the mean time, I know it's hard, but Keep The Faith!!!

Come on You R'sssssssssssss!!