The season is nearly upon us and this looked like two teams auditioning to join Peter Duncan at Watersmeet.
We played the part of the gallant good guys, having endured managerial set backs, ghost goals, horrendous injuries and an incompetent board we were still battling away. QPR were the rich bad guys who had no scruples when it came to getting what they wanted.
Free gifts had been given out to the audience in the shape of empty carrier bags, which must have done no end of good to the environment. These only seemed to be for the Rous and Vicarage Road end. Maybe there were some for the Rookery end but someone who arrived early nabbed them all.
Alas the audiences opportunity to boo loudly was restricted in that Lee Cook wasn't lining up for QPR. Gavin Mahon was given warm applause but there was no sign of the promised Helgusson who probably would've received a standing ovation.
For the home team Scott Loach was thankfully back, a defensive line up of Doyley, Ward, DeMerit and Mariappa showed what Malky thought of Aidys January transfer dealing. We played the typical Boothroyd kind of fluid midfield/forward line up with only Jenkins as a recognisable midfielder and Priskin the only obvious striker. Smith, Williamson, Harley and McAnuff switched effortlessly between the two.
The game was very evenly matched until we got a bit of luck in getting a penalty for a push on Priskin. This is just the sort of decision that would usually go against us and had it done, the result could so easily have been the other way given our fragile state. Luckily the visitors were in the same state of mind despite being financially so much better off. Once Smith converted QPR wilted and suddenly we were all over them. Every nice move we attempt seemed to come off, none more so than the one which resulted in Darren Ward putting us 2 up.
Gavin Mahon showed why Aidy was right to axe him as he really couldn't handle Tommy Smith at all and towards the latter part of the first half appeared to give up completely. I can't imagine he is going to remain at QPR for to much longer.
Lee Williamson made it three before half time, but given recent events I didn't really feel the usual relaxed bliss a half time 3 goal cushion usually brings. I heard one bloke in the loo say another two and we'll be safe and I couldn't disagree.
Unsurprinsgly Mahon was replaced but the R's were still no better and rather than score goals they played a game of how bad a foul can we commit before one of us gets sent off. The answer was rather a lot. Quite a few yellows were shown including one to an injured Ranger who refused to leave the pitch for treatment before our old friend Fitz Hall (the one who had a fight with Aidy over the ball during the Palace playoff) went too far and scythed down Hoskins to earn a straight red. The panto theme was brought to a close in injury time when Priskin got in a muddle and tackled Tommy Smith for the ball.
It was a shame we couldn't have gone on to score a couple more, but the best thing to come out of the game by far was that our defence looked better than it has done for ages. DeMerit and Ward both had solid games, Doyley was strong in the tackle and only committed one howler whilst Mariappa looked good and made meaningful contributions when going forward.
Scott Loach deserves special mention for just being better at kicking than Richard Lee. Shot stopping wise he is just as good, but his confidence at delivering the ball back to a yellow shirt rather than a ball boy makes a world of difference.
But going back to a point I made earlier had a penalty gone against us rather than for us I do feel you could be reading exactly the same report only with the team names the other way round. For once today, we got some luck and built on it. Will it be enough to get Malky the job? I reckon by the visit of Doncaster we'll know.
