Rangers began with the same players who ‘played’ against Southend except for Simon Royce who was replaced by loanee, Lee Camp. Now, it’s getting increasingly difficult to work out what the hell the formation is with QPR at the minute. It may be down to the fact that I’m normally a little tipsy by the time the game starts (you have to be really) and so I’m not quite capable at working out the finer elements of the complex tactics we employ. Either that or John Gregory decides the formation based on some sort of dare about getting 6 midfielders into the starting eleven. 

Anyway, fluid is probably the only way to describe the line up which saw Camp behind Stewart, Cullip and Mancienee. Timoska occupied a left wing back sort of role with Ainsworth doing the same on the right. Lomas and Bolder occupied the middle with Rowlands and Cook trying to support a lonely Dexter Blackstock. However, at times this slid into a 5-4-1, with Ainsworth and Timoska dropping deep and Rowly and Cook filling as wide midfielders. At other times it looked more like a 4-4-2 with Timoska dropping to left back and the three centre backs shifting along so Mancienne was at right back with Ainsworth pushing up to right midfield and Rowly playing on the left with Cook partnering Dexy up top. As I said … fluid. 

Elland Rd. hand been helped by a recent ticket promotion and as such saw a crowd around the 30,000 mark. Where these extra 10,000 Leeds fans have been when their club has needed them most is anyone’s guess. Those Rangers fans that’d made the trip to the ground were housed in the South East corner. I’d say there were around 600 of us. 

The game began with Leeds on top. They forced a couple of corners attacking the end near us. David Healy, who was meant to be injured, was starting and he dragged a shot wide from distance. Even so, Leeds didn’t look as much of a threat as I was expecting. Then, around the fifteen minute mark, Dexter Blackstock had what was to be our best chance of the game.  

Dex managed to win the ball off the Leeds’ centre backs about thirty yards out. He headed for goal and a classic one-on-one situation only to hit his shot straight at the on rushing goalkeeper, Ankergen. Now, I love Dexy. He works his socks off and last night was no different but he just doesn’t score enough of these sorts of chances. Most of his goals are headers from crosses. He really needs to start converting chances like this if we’re to stay up. 

This chance seemed to buoy the team as we realised that Leeds weren’t much cop. Even so it was Leeds with the next serious effort at goal. A well hit free kick was turned away by Lee Camp who was receiving a lot of support from the away end. This seemed to help Camp’s confidence, which must have been affected after his time as a sub at Derby.  

In spite of looking on a par with the home team we almost went behind with five minutes to play in the first half. A cross slung in from Leeds’ right was glanced towards goal and seemed destined for the far corner only to see Camp spring across his line and paw the ball for a corner. It was a great save and prevented what would have been an unfair score line. 

Rangers still looked like we might nick a goal but a last gasp tackle prevented Ainsworth from pulling the trigger when well placed. But as half time approached Leeds almost grabbed the lead.  

Timoska performed the perfect body check on a Leeds’ forward and got booked for his troubles. It was definitely a booking. The resulting free kick was sent curling in the direction of Camp’s top left corner but it just flew narrowly wide. Apparently it grazed the post but from our angle this was impossible to tell. It just looked close, very close.  

At the end of the half Camp was booked for time wasting. I don’t think he was doing it deliberately but he was faffing and it was understandable why the ref booked him. Speaking of the ref, it was Mr A. Bates, and myself and the two gents I was with thought he had a very good game. There was the occasional time when he seemed to favour the home side but that’s to be expected. Otherwise, he actually gave us free kicks in good positions and the only obvious decision he got wrong was a harsh booking of Blackstock in the second half.  

Anyway, at half time the away end seemed relatively happy with things. We’d certainly not been outplayed and we’d had the best chance. However, I’m not sure how much of this was down to us being good or Leeds being poor. Worryingly, I think it was more of the latter. 

After a quick half time pint it was back upstairs to different seats as members of the away end must have been participating in a game of musical chairs. It was at this point that I remembered I was meant to be writing this match report and up to now the pen and paper I’d brought were sitting unused in my pocket. Davman found this funny. 

Up to now the home support had been surprisingly rubbish. They sung the odd song and perked up when Leeds had a corner or free kick but really for 30,000 they were quiet. The 600 or so away fans, on the other hand, had provided fantastic support. Constantly singing and urging the team on, I can’t state enough how impressive the support was for a team in as bad away form as we are. It was mostly the typical stuff but the amusing chant of, ‘Cheaper seats, that’s why you’re here’ took off and was sung with gusto throughout the second half. I don’t think the home support liked this song much. 

The second half was not as eventful as the first with both teams beginning to look scared of conceding and thus losing. Ten to fifteen minutes into the half Bolder had a decent shot from distance which Ankergen claimed at the second attempt. It was at this point that I thought I’d make use of the pen and paper and I decided to ‘note’ this piece of action. In doing so your intrepid reported took his eyes off the game. It was precisely at this moment that Healy decided to do the most notable thing of the half and hit the cross bar….apparently. As I said, I wasn’t watching. The official website says it was a “stunning effort” so we’ll go with that. 

As the half wore on it began to look more and more like a 0-0 game. Cook had a deflected effort well saved by Ankergen. It’s this type of thing we really need a bit of luck for. On another day it would have been deflected in. At Barnsley, Lomas had a deflected shot fly into the chest of the keeper when anywhere else would have brought a goal. We just need something to go our way and it needs to happen sooner rather than later. 

Time ticked on and both teams seemed to run out of ideas and energy. The away support continued making a great deal of noise as the home fans began to filter out. The final whistle was met with perhaps more cheers than a 0-0 result away at a relegation rival deserves but, hey, it’s a point and we’re not used to anything else other than defeat away from home. 

It was after the final whistle that something quite interesting happened. As Davman pointed out, at the final whistle the players began to head towards the tunnel on the other side of the ground until Cullip turned, shouted at everyone and gestured for them to come and applaud the traveling support and most duly obliged. Whatever Cullip’s ability as a player this action showed his worth to the team. It was very revealing and gave the indication that he’s the real leader in the squad.  

This is a result and performance we need to build on. The three centre backs looked very solid and Timoska looked very assured wherever he found himself. Bolder had another good game in the middle getting stuck in and harrying the opposition. Cook was Cook. Does it need saying that he was our most creative player whom most of our attacks went through? Probably not. I think people could have guessed that.  

Rowly drifted in and out of the game but then I don’t think he really knows where he’s playing in this hybrid formation. The same goes for Ainsworth who was probably our weakest player last night. He seemed to be unsure of his positioning and he gave the ball away a bit too much. Lomas went about his job relatively quietly without having a great game and Dexy ran himself into the ground as per usual.  

In the second half it seemed we’d come for a draw and that’s what we were playing for. It would have been nice to see Jones or Furs come on for Ainsworth to give Blackstock a bit of help and also pressure the backline of a poor Leeds side but it wasn’t to be. Still, one more point towards survival. 

Man of the Match:  It’s a difficult one because no one really stood out. It was very much a team performance. I feel I should give it to one Stewart or Mancienne who both put in very strong performances at the heart of our defence. I’m going to go with Stewart purely because I don’t think he gets the praise he deserves. He flew into blocks yesterday; he won a lot in the air and made some brilliant tackles in the second half. He’s a player that gives his absolute all and has come on leaps and bounds. Yesterday saw the strong, quick, talented Damion without the horrendous gaffe he’s been prone to making in the past. Well played Stew Peas! And well played the entire defence!

simon@qprnet.com