Pink shirts over Lofus road. Pink Skies ahead

 

I really wanted to see this game. I missed the last match against Preston North End. 

Queens Park Rangers had scrambled out of the relegation zone. They were still not yet secure. I kept looking at the Championship table and checking the fixtures. 

Friday's match against Leeds would set the tone. Leeds were in a strong second place in the Championship. If they won, they would secure second place and automatic promotion to the premiership

So the top and bottom clashed at Loftus road.  Alas Tickets were rarer then the Tasmanian Tiger. I also missed out on a chance to see Harlequins play at Twickenam . 

So I settled for Sky, I had thought of watching the game in one of the local hostelries -I decided not too.  I placed a small bet on the match and I am glad I did.

Leeds had been bloodied by Middleborough earlier in the week.  Equally they had one of most formidable strikers in the championship in Summerville.  QPR are soft on corners.

Loftus road luminous in floodlights and a the late evening sunshine

Leeds in their pink, strips reminded me of the evenings I spent in Peru. 

With not even 10 minutes spent,  Chair, the margehbi magician  slipped a ball into the Leeds Goal. ( We may ignore the deflection ) QPR was about to make Leeds hopes disappear. 

QPR's keeper shut out Summerville with an exceptional save a few minutes later. Winter was coming to Leeds

If Leeds were looking for a rebuttal then they were to be silenced  Anderson struck  a second. Anderson has been the signing that has turned arround QPR's season in my opinion. Playing alongside Chair it is like QPR have hitched a second horse to their chariot. With this new energy they can race forward. striking at will.

I did note Anderson took an injury. Which I hope is trivial 

QPR left the field at half time 2-0 in the black 

Leeds pressed hard after the game resumed  Dykes- would add a third, a follow up from his perfomance at Preston.  With the European champions in view , Dykes made his case in front of the Scotland manager. I hope he has a a good summer. I would be willing to sell him

Then Field made it 4

It was done. I cashed out, my bet. I showered 

Albert Adomah  came on the in the last few miuntes, his last game as a QPR player. The referree blew his whistle and it was done. QPR were safe. QPR were safe !

The crowd sang Bob's Marley Every little thing is gonna be all right

and it is 

This time last week, my life as a QPR fan in Lima

I would have been scanning the internet, for the QPR result. Living in Peru. I may be the only QPR fan for miles, for days even. Though last week, and the week before. I had to remind myself too.

I have attended Queens park rangers games for the last decade. I would walk down the uxbridge road, to Loftus road to crown my monthly saturday off work, or sometimes dash from White city station after work on Wednesdays. Eager to watch the hoops play under the lights. I was there when we were in the Championship, there when were in the third flight. The last game, I watched at the Loft, was QPR v Aston Villa. ( According to rumor David Cameron was in attendance) I left for South America.I may never be able to see QPR play live again...I was delighted when I was able to see some of the games, on ESPN.

I was worried but not too worried about the team.  I had faith in Mark Hughes. I did not expect great things. I expected to lose.

It was not just that we lost. We capitulated

We capitulated being millions no, tens of millions in Debt.

We are not the size of Chelsea. I see Chelsea shirts in Lima every day. Uggh. We may not even be as big as Fullham. Even if we play the best football QPR have ever played. QPR had to consider its size and strength.
We were lucky to win the championship in 2010. QPR took their sweet time about it. We relied too much on Kenny and Taabart. We stayed up, by scrapping.

http://www.google.com/url?sa=D&q=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/queens-park-rangers/10053127/Harry-Redknapp-Queens-Park-Rangers-have-had-a-miserable-season-and-next-year-might-not-be-any-better.html&usg=AFQjCNE4tcMhcXjMmiTDziWK_RL7F34VHQ

http://www.football.co.uk/queens_park_rangers/fernandes_admits_qpr_mistakes_rss4212857.shtml

What I worry is not that QPR have had a bad season, is that the seedcorn will be spent.

Raising the profile of the brand is all very well. Buying a club in India is grand. QPR survives by being a club that plays good football, with a good vibe. We survive by being the hammers, with more class and fun.

We were Blackburn, without the brains. Blackburn without the silverwear

Alan Macdonald

12 October 1963 – 23 June 2012
Father, Golfer, Footballer, Coach