After much thought, deliberation and discussion, Lofty Heights has now moved and can be found at:

http://lofty-heights06.blogspot.com/

Thank you to EVERYONE for your continued support!!

Hope to see you all there soon :)

Reading v Q.P.R.

So here it is, the last game of a 'different' and disappointing season, and what a game to finish with. We were kindly invited to Reading's promotion party and yet again, our last game is away. We haven't had the very last game at home since 1999 and it's wearing a bit thin now. Five of the gang made the short trip up the M4 for this one and it was great to see, and welcome back Alan from America. We also all made sure we were all suitably dressed in 'proper' Hoops!!

The Gang: Lofty, PK, DJ, Corporate and Al

Onto the game and Rangers were in the mood to spoil the party. Reading looked dangerous everytime they came forward, but it was Rangers who should have had the lead. On 33 minutes, Richard Langley, one of many playing his last game for the R's, headed a rebound over the bar from 10 yards out. Reading then went on to make Rangers pay with Paul Kitson tapping home on 40 minutes.



Rangers continued to hold their own and when Ray Jones was introduced on 68 minutes, the game changed. Jones caused Reading all sorts of problems and on 72 minutes, nodded down superbly for Furlong to level the scores.

It was no more than Rangers deserved on the day. But in typical fashion of how this season has gone, Reading were awarded the most dubious of penalties. Langley was cruelly adjudged to have handled in the box and Murty fired home the resulting spot kick.

Final Score Reading 2-1 QPR

QPR: P Jones (Cole 46), Bignot, Milanese, Shittu, Ainsworth, Santos, Cook, Bailey (R Jones 69), Donnelly, Furlong, Langley. Subs Not Used: Evatt, Munday, Howell.

So the whistle finally blew on our season but Rangers deserved much more today. It was sad to see George Santos and Richard Langley play their last games for the club. But was encouraging to see the up and coming stars like Donnelly, Bailey and Jones play so well and look so comfortable, against what is now, Premiership opposition.

I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Reading and Sheffield United on the promotions.

Pie Rating - good, but not quite good enough. Corporate(steak and kidney) 8.25, PK(balti)8 and Lofty(balti) 8.5 - giving the Reading pies a rating of 8.25/10

Reading v Q.P.R.

The last game of the season.

Reading need 3 points to be the Championship points record.

Reading need 3 goals to clock up 100 goals for the season.

Betting slips at the ready...

Adding more substance to the worst kept secret in the World... that Gary Waddock will be appointed the new Manager of Queens Park Rangers, the planning for next season and the predicted Summer clearout has begun!

Waddock today announced that the following players will not be offered new contracts and released:

George Santos
Richard Langley
Sammy Youssoff
Marcin Kus
Ryan Johnson
Luke Townsend

and the following players will be placed on the transfer list:

Stefan Moore
Tommy Doherty
Ian Evatt
Marcus Bignot
Ugo Ukah
Steve Lomas
Matthew Hislop
Marc Bircham

The news that Santos, Langley, Lomas, Hislop, Bignot and Kus are leaving has saddened me somewhat. But with the added speculation surrounding the Rangers futures of Dan Shittu and Lee Cook, who knows what will happen and indeed, who will be lining up for Rangers next season!

Interesting times ahead...

Middlesbrough 4-2 Steau Bucharest (agg.4-3)

I think I am going to start following them ;)

CONGRATULATIONS go to Dan Shittu who is the newly crowned QPR Player of the Year.



Danny also won the Players player of the year award and without doubt has been rewarded for an awesome season!

Congrats also go to runner up, Gareth Ainsworth, and Shabazz Baidoo who claimed the Young Player of the Year award.

Martin Rowlands fantastic strike away at Crewe on New Years Eve, won the QPR goal of the season award.

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF YOU!!

Coming Soon: The LoftyHeights Awards 2006

Q.P.R. v Watford

It's nearly over...

The final home game of the season and Rangers take on the high flying, play off bound Hornets. Our home form especially this season has been the most disappointing. I for one much prefer going to away matches at the moment and three of the gang had descended on Prague for a stag night/weekend. But we were still hopeful that Rangers would be able to give the home crowd something to smile about in what the Official QPR website called a 'London Derby'!!??!! Local, yes... London, most definitely NO!!!

The Gang: Lofty, DJ

The early exchanges were lively enough with both sides creating chances. But the game exploded into life in the 38th minute when Lee Cook was bundled over in the box and Rangers had a penalty. Marc Nygaard took the responsibility this time and made no mistake, sending the keeper the wrong way.



In all the excitement, Nygaard whipped off his shirt in celebration and received a yellow card. Little did we know just what an important factor this would be...



On 41 minutes, an fantastic chip from Furlong had Loftus Road going berserk and celebrating our second goal. However, the ball struck the bar and was smothered by Foster in the Watford goal. Watford broke with amazing pace and Ashley Young curled a beauty into the top corner - 1-1! It was amazing, from celebrating what we thought was a 2-0 lead, Watford were level. Blink, and you would have missed it and to be honest, at the time, I did!!

Two minutes later and Rangers were down to 10 men. Darius Henderson should have got his marching orders for an elbow on Dan Shittu. But instead, the resulting melee saw Nygaard say too much to referee Andy D'Urso and recieve his second yellow card.

Despite the setback, Rangers lived with Watford comfortably enough and the game looked like ending in a draw. But on 78 minutes, a mix up between Jones and Santos, saw George misplace his header, past Jones and into the net.

Final Score QPR 1-2 Watford

QPR: P Jones, Bignot (Donnelly 79), Shittu, Santos, Milanese, Ainsworth, Bailey, Lomas (R Jones 83), Cook, Furlong, Nygaard. Subs not used: Cole, Evatt, Howell.

The manner of the defeat was just typical of our season. Yet again, a disappointing home result and a result that we just did not deserve. But when your down on your luck, these things seem to constantly go against you. It was a shame for George Santos as he was having a great match. On the positive side, it was great to see more youngsters off the bench. Scott Donnelly came on for Bignot, and 17 year old striker Ray Jones replaced Lomas on 83 minutes.

So next week, the curtain closes with a trip to already promoted Reading. Incidentally, Reading need 3 more points to break the Divisional record, and 3 goals to break the 100 goal barrier for the season... Betting slips at the ready!!

Norwich City v Q.P.R.

This is always one of my most favourite away days! It's nice and easy to get to, whether by car or train - lots of pubs, generally friendly all round with a good atmosphere inside the stadium. Three of the gang made the trip by car, and a breeze of a journey saw us arrive at 12.30 (due to Easter holiday makers, the journey home wasn't so easy, but that's another story...).

The Gang: Lofty,PK and DJ

So after taking in two of the lovely pubs in the city centre, we made our way to the Stadium to sample what were predicted to be, the best pies of the season. We were NOT disappointed...

Pie Rating - Just one word - SUPERB!! The meat and potato and the... wait for it... Roasted Meditteranean Vegetable were sampled and could hardly be faulted. I gave a 9.5 for the M and P. A perfect '10' was given for the veggie option, and Statto texted through a 9.5 for his choice. So as predicted, and surely the Championship Pies of the Season, Norwich score a massive 9.67/10 and are the new leaders.

With all this, and despite either team having little to play for, there was also a football match to be played this afternoon...



And the day just kept getting better and better. Rangers had played so well and frustrated Norwich, and their fans in the process. Despite many other chances and a goal that never was (Furlong's stab over the line being waved away by the referee), Rangers had stormed into a 2 goal lead with fine goals from Gareth Ainsworth(45) and Lee Cook(61).



So with the clock ticking away, and just 12 minutes left to play, surely we would have a fine away win to celebrate before the season finishes???

Final Score Norwich 3-2 QPR

Yeah, I still can't believe it either! This is just typical of how our season has gone. We were two nil up and comfortable, and to be really honest, it should have been 3 or maybe 4 nil. A mix up let Darren Huckerby give Norwich a lifeline on 78 minutes and Rangers then pressed the panic button. It was then no surprise at all when Earnshaw tapped home the leveller on 85 minutes. Earnshaw then won the game in the 90th minute, again firing home from close range.

Rangers: Jones, Bignot, Shittu, Santos, Milanese, Ainsworth, Lomas, Bailey, Cook, Nygaard, Furlong Subs not used: Cole, Howell, Kus, Bircham, Munday

Yet again, a good away day out at Norwich, but we all sat in the Holiday traffic home, still wondering how we managed to lose this game!

Q.P.R. v Derby County

Like most Rangers fans at this present moment in time(I presume), I really cannot wait for this season to finish now. With all due respect, Derby fans are probably feeling the same, so today's game was hardly eagerly anticipated. On the other hand, the game at Pride Park back in October, was one of the highlights of Rangers season...

http://loftyheights34.livejournal.com/48367.html

The Gang: Lofty, Corp, PK and DJ

Onto the game, and we finally got the changes that have been promised over the past few weeks. Scott Donnelly and Stefan Bailey both started in what was an unusual, 4-5-1 formation. This is a formation that Rangers normally struggle with and to be honest, was a strange one to pick for a home game. However, overall, this was a much better performance than the last 3 especially, but an end product was still sadly lacking. But on 58 minutes, Waddock made a change back to 4-4-2, sadly at the expense of Donnelly for Furlong... and just 60 seconds later, Rangers were ahead - Nygaard heading in a cross from Cook.





Derby then got back into the game and were level on 67 minutes - Smith smashing the ball into the left hand corner with a delightful finish. Rangers had chances to clinch the victory, but Paul Furlong squandered 2 great opportunities, ones that the Furlong of last season would have buried with his eyes shut... it just hasn't been his season.

Final Score QPR 1-1 Derby

QPR: Jones, Milanese, Evatt, Shittu, Ainsworth, Cook, Kus, Bailey, Donnelly (Furlong 57), Nygaard, Langley Subs not used: Cole, Santos, Lomas, Howell.


A better performance from Rangers, but yet another disappointing result. The highlight of the day was when Dan Shittu took it upon himself to liven up the Loftus Road crowd. Dan stole the ball in Rangers half and literally bulldozed his way through the Derby defence. Sadly, his powerful shot was saved by former Rangers favourite Lee Camp. Great to see you again Lee!!

Pie Rating - well due to most of the gang attending a stag night in Prague next week (why oh why did I choose to go to EVERY game this season!!??!!), the QPR pie rating has been decided a week early. PK, slightly over generous perhaps awarded an 8.5. Myself and Corp awarded a 7 each. Corporate explained his mark as Rangers aim to project 'frozen' pies, as a gap in the market. So the QPR pies have a rating of 7.5/10. The rating should put us around mid table overall, which sadly, will be an improvement of the first teams league position.

It is also worth pointing out, that the result today ensures Rangers Championship status for next season.

Burnley v Q.P.R.

Pie Rating - Maybe a late contender for the title here as a well priced, hot and tasty meat and potato was sampled by myself and Statto(Dan's new nickname by the way). However, the lack of choice, only 3 different on offer, have cost them dearly and the Burnley pies rate at 8.5/10.

You may have guessed, that with the Pie Rating being first on the agenda in tonight's report, is that they were the highlight of the day!



According to Gary Waddock, the players had the chance to redeem themselves last week... they didn't. So wholesale changes and a freshen up was promised for this game... we got 3! Kus for Bignot, Baidoo for Furlong and Langley for Lomas, with the latter being a strange decision to say the least.

As for the game, well this was woeful. Credit to Burnley who got the ball down and played some good football at times. But the Rangers players, like the fans, obviously feel that the season is over. There was very little heart, passion or urgency, until after Andy Gray had given Burnley a deserved lead on 78 minutes.

Final Score Burnley 1-0 QPR

Rangers: Jones, Kus (Lomas 58), Shittu, Evatt, Milanese, Ainsworth, Langley, Bircham (Donnelly 85), Cook, Nygaard, Baidoo

The Gang: Lofty, Tony D and Statto

After a long journey, this was so disappointing. We now sit 18th in the Championship and to be truthful, we deserve to be there. Barring an absolute miracle, we are safe from relegation, which is just as well because at present, I really can't see us getting another point this season.

Just to rub more salt into the wounds, we were treated to more than one flurry of hailstones and snow on the way home!! Hold on, it's April isn't it?? British Summer Time??

Due to huge public demand, here is the current Pie Rating league table as it stands today...



marks out of 10...

1. Sheffield United - 9.33
2. Southampton - 9
3. Crewe - 8.5
3. Crystal Palace - 8.5
3. Preston - 8.5
4. Sheffield Weds - 8
4. Watford - 8
4. Wolves - 8
5. Cardiff - 7.66
6. Northampton - 7
6. Stoke - 7
7. Ipswich - 6.5
7. Leeds - 6.5
7. Plymouth - 6.5
8. Coventry - 6
8. Leicester - 6
8. Millwall - 6
9. Blackburn - 5
9. Luton - 5
10. Derby - 4
10. Hull - 4
11. AFC Wimbledon - 2.5
12. Brighton - 0

There you have it! With just 3 away games to go, and of course the QPR rating, are Sheffield United going to be beaten? My outside tip is that Norwich, and Delia's efforts may well clinch it. But do newly crowned Champions Reading have Champion pies??

It's going right to the wire folks!!

Q.P.R. v Crewe Alexandra

Apologies again for this report being so late... but as mentioned previously, the gang and I went straight from the game to Uxbridge to see Gareth Ainsworth's band Dog Chewed The Handle. And what a great night it was too! In fact, the whole day was great and started with 'Pie and Mash' in Shepherds Bush, then onto the pub for the start of, what was a marathon drinking session. It was just a shame that there was a football match in between...

The Gang: Lofty, Corporate, Tony D, PK and Chris

Well after the Stoke game, there were apologies from the players, and we were promised changes. But the only change was forced through injury, and as for apologies, I think we are due another one now. A goal in each half from Lunt and Vaughan gave the bottom club a 2-0 lead.



To rub more salt into the still very open wounds, Ainsworth reduced the deficit with what was the VERY last kick of the game... too little, too late.

The Team: Jones, Bignot (Langley 63), Shittu, Evatt, Milanese, Ainsworth, Lomas, Bircham, Cook, Nygaard, Furlong (Moore74).

Final Score QPR 1-2 Crewe

Performances of note came from Milanese and Cook on the left hand side. We desperately needed to bounce back after Wednesday night and perhaps now, it is time for Waddock to start ringing the changes and start blooding the youngsters in for the remaining 5 games. To be fair, Waddock has kept faith with the established members of the squad and you can see why... but enough is enough. What has already been a disappointing season is in real danger of just fizzling out, if it hasn't already?

Pie(and mash) Rating - well if this was sold in the Rangers Stadium, there would be new Champions! Superb...10/10

The report for Q.P.R. v Crewe Alexandra will be delayed until Sunday morning. The gang and I are making a day of it and after the game, we are off to Uxbridge to see Gareth Ainsworth's band Dog Chewed The Handle



If anyone fancies a great night out with a great evening's music, the band are playing at:

The Crown and Treaty Pub
90 Oxford Rd
Uxbridge
Middlesex
UB8 1LU

You will not be disappointed!!

Pie Rating - Due to intense public pressure, the latest Pie Rating Championship table will be posted next week. With just 3 away games left, and of course the QPR pie rating, things are hotting up and I fully expect the result to go right to the wire!!

Q.P.R. v Stoke City

So far, under the Waddock regime, the matches and performances have overall, been pretty positive. So somewhere along the line, we were probably due a bad one... and boy did we get one tonight!

This was a re arranged game due to Stokes extended cup run. Realistically, both sides have little to play for and the second lowest Loftus Road crowd this season (including only approximately 100-150 Stoke fans), were not only extremely quiet, but it also seemed like this game was the last thing anyone wanted.

However, Rangers stormed into an early lead through Marc Nygaard, bundling the ball home from close range on 7 minutes. The game should have really been wrapped up on 25 minutes, when Lee Cook was bundled over in the box and the referee pointed to the spot for what I must say, looked a dubious penalty. With Gallen and Langley both missing, our very own Mr Reliable, Gareth Ainsworth stepped up... but his soft penalty was easily saved by Simonsen. With Rangers still dominant, little did we know just how costly this miss would be.



It looked a different Rangers side that came out for the second half and on 73 minutes, the referee awarded another dubios penalty, this time to Stoke. Russell burst through and went tumbling over from a challenge from Shittu. Hoefkens showed Mr Ainsworth how it was done and coolly slotted home. Shambolic defending then gifted Stoke an unlikely 3 points... the night got worse for Dan Shittu, who failed to clear Gallaghers pass and Sigurdson blasted home from close range.

Final Score QPR 1-2 Stoke

The penalty miss was obviously the turning point here and if Rangers had gone 2-0 up, there would have been no way back for Stoke. But there is no doubt that Rangers were terrible in the second half and simply gifted Stoke the win. We have another home game Saturday against Crewe, who despite being bottom of the table, are very much a side in form.

As mentioned earlier, it has mainly been all positive for Gary Waddock so far... and after seeing his team booed off at the end, it will be very interesting to see how he deals with this.

Cardiff City v Q.P.R.

Sadly, as a QPR fan, it's not often we get the chance to leave the country to watch our beloved team play. But seeing as European Cup competitions seem a lifetime away, we will have to make do with a trip across the border to Wales.



Well despite several offers and reminders that we had a spare seat in the car, only 3 of the gang made the trip along the M4 today. Due to myself and PK spending Friday night rolling back the years at a Bad Manners gig, and Dan also having mad one in Windsor, the trip was also subdued at times.

To be honest, Cardiff isn't the most appealing of away trips for any fan. The stadium could definitely do with a lick of paint, and the reputation of Cardiff's supporters also doesn't help. In saying that, the majority are both passionate and vocal about their team, which leads to an intimidating atmosphere within the ground.



Persistant and driving rain all afternoon, meant that this game was never going to be a great spectacle. But Rangers coped well with the play off chasing Bluebirds. Ian Evatt played his best game in a QPR shirt and alongside Shittu, snuffed out the threat of the lively Thompson and Jerome up front. Chances throughout were at a minimum, but the best fell to Rangers. Ainsworth's free kick was superbly saved by Alexander in the Cardiff goal... and how Marc Nygaard didn't score on the hour was anyones guess? Youssouf found him in acres of space, but he took forever to cue up his shot, which was eventually tipped onto the post by Alexander.

Final Score Cardiff 0-0 QPR

As I mentioned, this wasn't the best of games to watch. Rangers deserved their point against a strong and in form Cardiff side, and I would go as far to say that we perhaps deserved all three!

Pie Rating - a bit like their team really - good, but not outstanding. The balti was sampled by myself and Dan and was marked at 7.5 and 7 respectively. PK however tried the meat and potato, which was definitely the correct choice on the day and was marked at 8.5/10... giving an overall rating of 7.66/10

Well it is now Thursday evening, and there is STILL a space in the car. It looks very much now,like only myself, PK and Dan are venturing across the border.

So I have asked for the help of Delia Smith(who I lent a QPR scarf to) to make one final plea to the non attenders!!



WHERE ARE YOU???

WHERE ARE YOU???

LET'S BE 'AVIN YOU!!!!

p.s. there are some LAME excuses in there so far!!

Q.P.R. v Brighton and Hove Albion

Yet again, we face a team in the middle of a relegation battle, which can often mean that it won't be a game for the purists. But not only are the Seagulls second from bottom of the league, they are also on a quite awful run. However, it seems very much like an unwanted tradition, that teams/strikers in the middle of a bad run, must look for QPR on their fixtures list.

Rangers completely dominated the first half, and really should have had the game wrapped up. But they went in at half time with only one goal to show for their efforts... and a lovely goal it was too! After some great approach play, Lee Cook crossed to the far post for, who is surely(in my opinion)to be crowned QPR's Player of the Year - Gareth Ainsworth, who headed home from close range.



Brighton gained an unlikely advantage five minutes into the second half when Kevin Gallen was sent off. The Rangers captain received a straight red for allegedly swinging an arm at Brighton defender McShane. I really saw nothing in this at all. The two players were tussling for the ball, when McShane went down like he had been shot by a sniper in the crowd. Funnily enough, as soon as the referee produced the red card, he got up like it was some sort of miracle! Anyway, enough of that for now, I will wait until I have seen it again on TV until I make any more comments.

But despite the setback, Rangers were still dominant. Brighton looked a team in trouble and sadly, worthy of their lowly league position. They really didn't look like they were capable of scoring if they played till midnight. So it was fitting really that it was a Rangers player that gained them a share of the points. A wayward cross saw Marcus Bignot misjudge a nod back to Jones and the ball bobbled into the corner of the net. An own goal really was the only way that Brighton would score today!

Final Score QPR 1-1 Brighton

Well how we didn't win this game was anybodys guess? However, things don't look at all good for Brighton. Corporate thought they were the worst team he has seen this season and he wasn't far wrong. After seeing the way Sheffield Wednesday fought for their lives for their point last week, I will be very surprised if the Seagulls survive this time.

So, off to Cardiff next week for another tough game. Funnily enough, there is still a space in the car for the trip to Wales... I can't give the space away!!

I wonder why??? ;)

What has disappointed me the most over the past number of seasons, is that there is a distinct lack of a chant that we as QPR fans can call our very own.



I mean, many teams have their own theme tune, for example :

West Ham - I'm forever blowing bubbles

Man City - Blue Moon

Leeds - Marching On Together

Palace - Glad all over

Millwall - No one likes us

Stoke - Delilah

I could go on and on, but you get the idea? Why can't we have one? I mean the 'PigBag' tune is primarily for when we score but it is also now being used by Middlesborough. 'Cheer up Sleepy Jean' was used mainly during our relegation from the Premiership season. It sounded fantastic in full cry, but has now fizzled out completely.

As for this seasons efforts... well I don't see how constantly chanting about the Chelsea Managers alleged sexuality can lift the team when they are 2 goals down away from home. Also, 'Your The Face of Pukka Pies' may be slightly amusing when one of the opposition players is carrying a little extra baggage such to speak, but sadly shows little for any imagination.

Discuss...

Sheffield Wednesday v Q.P.R.

There is definitely a touch of deja vu here as I sit down to write this report... what I mean is, after an away day in Yorkshire! This time to visit the Owls who overall, have struggled coming to terms with this division again, and are currently in the middle of a relegation scrap.



But Hillsborough is always a lovely ground to visit, and of course now, holds some very fond memories for Rangers fans. Not surprisingly, the away support was about an eighth of what is was on 'that' Special day. But many fans travelling on the M1 were trying to recreate the occasion as many cars were decorated in QPR attire.

As for the game, well sadly it wasn't as memorable. The Owls worked very hard and never gave Rangers any space on the ball in the early stages. However some terrible defending gave Wednesday the lead on 13 minutes through Deon Burton. But Rangers drew level on the stroke of half time... Marc Bircham heading home Lee Cook's free kick. Onto the second half and the conditions deteriorated, but sadly so did the game. Wednesday had the lions share of the possession, but neither side were able to create enough to win the 3 points.

Final Score Sheff Weds 1-1 QPR

As per last week, a draw was about fair and this was a 'different' kind of Rangers performance. There wasn't the free flowing, passing football we have seen of late. But there was plenty of character, especially to come back from a goal down against an Owls side fighting for their lives.

Pie Rating - Overall, very good but not quite as good as their nearest rivals. The steak and onion was sampled by myself - tasty enough, but just about warm enough to eat - 7.5. Pk sampled the steak and kidney and gave an instant 8.5. Which gives the Sheffield Wednesday pies a creditable 8/10