Chris King on the stand out performers from the Stoke match at the weekend and the horrors that lie in store for us at Manchester City this Sunday.

With 93 minutes on the clock, and Adel Taarabt’s trickery earns Queens Park Rangers a corner. The Moroccan sends the ball in, but Vincent Kompany heads it away. Seconds remain, the referee brings his whistle to his lips, as the ball drops at the feet of former Manchester City midfielder Joey Barton. The R’s skipper lashes the ball into the roof of the net, sparking scenes of jubilation among the assembled Rangers fans behind the goal. Barton runs the length of the pitch and collapses in front of the exultant blue and white mass, as the final whistle blows. QPR are safe, and the title is snatched from City’s grasp.

And then I woke up. This marvellously optimistic vision for the final day of the season aside, Sunday’s last gasp Djibril Cissé goal means that the relegation race will go down to the wire. Bolton Wanderers had survival in their grasp, 2-0 up against West Bromwich Albion at home with 20 minutes to go, and they blew it. Rangers, on the other hand, made it five home wins in a row thanks to Adel Taarabt’s pin-point corner (he finally reverted from useless short corners to pacy out-swingers), which found the unmarked Anton Ferdinand, whose header proceeded to beat Sorensen and land at the feet of Cissé, also unmarked, to sweep home.

QPR had been frustrated by the Potters, who showed typical obstinacy and a lack of respect for the referee, Andre Marriner, for whom this didn’t appear to be an issue. Robert Huth’s man-handling of Jamie Mackie provoked a torrent of abuse for the Stoke defender, who admittedly should have been booked or at least reprimanded by Marriner at various points in the game. Some of the polemic from the supporters in the Loft was particularly venomous and pointedly aimed at the former Chelsea defender’s German nationality, but it would be unfair to say it ever crossed the line.

However, a tweet sent to Huth’s account by a self-confessed R’s supporter, Jack Collins, re-tweeted by the 27-year-old, certainly did. It read: “U dirty German c**t I bet one of your family died in the war and we keep the flag flying high # England #QPR #WeAreStayingUp.” Huth, despite his aggressive and manipulative display, clearly has a sense of humour, however, tweeting the following message after the game: “Oh and thanks to all the QPR fans for reminding me that I am actually a German.”

Mr Collins appears to have forgotten that we require a positive Stoke result this weekend.

This drama aside, Huth’s commanding display against Mackie, both with his elbows and on the pitch, exposed Mackie’s fatal flaws. Namely, the winger’s lack of a proper footballing brain. His enthusiasm is infectious, and for sheer “have a go” spirit he is always worth a place in the starting line-up. However, when in possession of the ball in promising positions, the Scottish international almost always chose the wrong option, and was easily dealt with by the visiting backline.

As for Taarabt, things could not be more different. Since Mark Hughes' arrival as manager the Moroccan has improved exponentially as a footballer. He is now, by all accounts, a professional capable of channelling the talent which we could all see he possessed from the moment Taarabt stepped out onto the Loftus Road pitch after signing from Tottenham Hotspur. He does still have a slight tendency to want to shoot when team-mates are better placed, but on Sunday he demonstrated a decent command of the formerly unthinkable (for him) skills of tackling, tracking back, and dropping deep to set up counter-attacks. It would take only the harshest of critics to suggest that Taarabt, whatever division we end up in next season, shouldn’t be allowed to leave the club if he wishes to: he owes us nothing at all anymore.

Many an eyebrow was raised by Djibril Cissé being dropped to the bench for this most vital of games, and until his introduction just after half time, a change clamoured for by the home supporters, the R’s were very flat indeed. Bobby Zamora, for all his endeavour, had a thoroughly fruitless afternoon, with Huth, Upson and Shawcross more than capable of nullifying any physical threat he may have hoped to pose. Cissé, on the other hand, put the fear of God into the visiting defence. A stat which has been bandied about since, but is still worth repeating, goes as follows: having played seven games for QPR, Cissé has scored in five and been sent off in the other two. One of these dismissals, against relegated Wolverhampton Wanderers, cost us all three points. The matches he missed, meanwhile. They probably don’t bear thinking about.

Moving on to the midfield, despite Akos Buzsaky demonstrating once again that he is patently not cut out for Premier League football, it was a vintage display from the evergreen Shaun Derry, Rangers’ very own Paul Scholes. Barton, meanwhile, and pause for a moment to take this in, was exceptional. He looked every inch a captain, chasing after every loose ball, right in the thick of the action, and keeping the spirits and concentration up of a side that for the vast majority of the 90 minutes looked incapable of breaking down Stoke’s defensive wall.

Whatever happens next weekend, we have done all we can. Loftus Road rocked on Sunday, the jubilation as Cissé crept onto Ferdinand’s header at the far post part of what feels rather like an inexorable sweep towards something good. Perhaps we will have to endure the downpour of relegation before we see our next rainbow, but for now, Queens Park Rangers Football Club and all those who suffer in unity and blue and white hooped shirts, can be proud and pray to the sound of The Smiths’ Please, Please, Please, Let Me Get What I Want between now and 5pm on Sunday 13 May.

Tweet @loftforwords, @chriskking

Pictures – Action Images

Photo: Action Images

ingeminate added 00:51 - May 9 Great write up - no doubt esp appreciated by us who couldn't be there!
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newgolddream added 01:37 - May 9 'JackCollins appears to have forgotten that we require a positive Stoke result this weekend'. Well said Chris. If we can't save ourselves at Eastlands, hopefully Stoke will get a result against Bolton for us. Was always a big fan of Crouchie (and Abbey) and he not let us down. He certainly didn't at the weekend. Roll on Sunday and let battle commence.
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TacticalR added 02:18 - May 9 Great stuff. Huth did do a job on Mackie, who could find no way round the mountain. Plus Mackie was often double-marked. But, as Noel Coward put it during our last tiff with our our Teutonic neighbours, 'Don't Let's Be Beastly To The Germans'. It's true Adel had some dodgy shots from too far out, but that was generally when there wasn't much else on offer. One reason he has not scored so many goals this season is that the keepers in the Premiership are at a higher level, and his attempts to curl the ball into the net from distance generally don't work against them. His goal against Arsenal, which was taken from nearer the goal, and with a bit of power, gave Szczesny no chance. Maybe Taarabt shoots too readily, but poor old Buzsáky was the opposite - he just couldn't get a shot away. Under the circumstances Derry has been amazing, especially when you think that the Palace fans told his legs had gone more than two years ago. If he can stay in his natural position and doesn't have to roam around too much he is OK. Olé, olé, olé, Cissé, Cissé!

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Nov77 added 03:25 - May 9 How many has Kenny let in from distance this season? Beaten at his near post a lot of times too. http://balancedsports.blogspot.co.uk/2012/01/statistical-breakdown-of-premier-le These stats have cerny in the top 8 keepers in the prem for save percentage, Kenny is the second worst. I'd feel a lot more confident with cerny starting this weekend, if news leaks early to the Britannia that we're getting a drubbing that can only lift Bolton.

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timcocking added 04:41 - May 9 "U dirty German c**t I bet one of your family died in the war and we keep the flag flying high # England #QPR ". How embarrassing and disappointing.
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xian added 05:34 - May 9 It's daft to say its out of our hands. We gave City a good run for their money
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xian added 05:36 - May 9 ...at home and we have a better team now. There is no reason why we cant get a point but have to start with right attitude. The stats are in our favour - bottom v top often produc es odd result and their home run/our away run must both be broken at some time
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R_in_Sweden added 08:07 - May 9 Good write up! Embarrassing abuse of Huth, intimidate and scream at him by all means but don't resort to John Terry style terminology. Taarabt is learning by the week, Hughes has lifted Adel's game. Of course he's still making wrong decisions but these will be gradually eroded. I fear that we'll lose our star man before the start of next season. Barton has bucked up his ideas as well since the Liverpool game, the booing made him realise that he isn't bigger than the club and he has knuckled down admirably. Come on Stoke do us a favour!

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QPRski added 08:21 - May 9 Good article Chris and I think that we all have "that dream" you describe. However, I polemise with the title of "but it's out of our hands now". Of course it will be difficult and highly unlikely that we even get a point at City. But it is poosible. Imagine the difference in stress and pressure on Bolton should we be losing by 3+ goals or by only by 1 goal. In the latter case, should we score one (as prefectly enisaged in your dream) we are up. With that added stress they are more likely to make mistakes even if they may be playing well To summarise, it is in our hands. But it is highly probable that our future will depend on the Bolton match. I hope that MH gets the team in that positive frame of mind as it makes a difference.

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Toast_R added 09:17 - May 9 Well done Chris. The Huth abuse is very embarrassing, this guy should be utterly ashamed. Completely ignorant and in my opinion far worse action then the John Terry alleged comment. Bit harsh on Mackie mind, the lad is still learning his trade in the Prem coming back from a bad injury with no pre seaon, I still think he can get alot better and he's done very well given the circumstances.

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Myke added 11:02 - May 9 Good piece but I don't agree with your criticism that he almost always picks the wrong option. Actually he has shown great awareness of where his teammates are this season. Diakite's goal against Arsenal is an obvious case in point, but there have been many other occasions (Barton in the same match for instance), when his ability to pick out a teammate in a better position has not been rewarded. The only time he gets his head down and runs with the ball as far as he can (often a remarkable distance) before losing it, is when he knows he is the furthest player forward. While I agree with you that Tarrabt has improved immeasurably since Hughes took over, he is still prone to try silly long range shots when HE is the furthest player forward. The irony here is that if he opted to run with the ball like Mackie he might be more successful given his range of skills.

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N12Hoop added 12:28 - May 9 Huth is certainly a beast, but he's exactly the sort of player we could have done with at CB earlier this season when we showed the strength of a wet paper bag. To abuse on the sidelines in the heat of the moment is 1 thing, but to form it into a considered twitter message shows this person up to be a Grade A pr1ck.
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BathRanger added 14:03 - May 9 Nov77 - those stats were compiled in January so are well out-of date. Would be interesting to see an updated table but I'd be surprised if Cerny replaces Kenny for Sunday. Also, it states at the bottom of the page: "it bears reminding that these numbers don't reflect the quality of the goalkeeper, but the quality of the defence in front of them."
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francisbowles added 14:27 - May 9 Good piece but now is not a time for fault finding, it is a time for togetherness for one last push to see if we can control our destiny. I believe Gerry Francis coaches Stoke. Gerry has blue and white hooped blood and he will surely get them up for a 'high' end to their season. I can't be there on Sunday but all those who can, make the support even better than usual and hope, wish and pray for the right outcome.

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HastingsRanger added 14:38 - May 9 Anyone on twitter able to send Huth some form of apology on behalf of the rest of the QPR fans, along the lines of "Though we detested his robust playing style, any references to his family are totally inappropriate."? We might be just relying on him next weekend too! Left unexplained, it's reads like the the sort of thing Chelscum's JT would come out with.
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M40R added 14:44 - May 9 Regarding the "has Jamie a footballing brain?" debate: I'm struck by how few people have remarked about how we won the corner that led to the goal. SWP went on a run and had a shot blocked. It bobbed up into the 6 yd box almost but not quite in reach by Mackie. He let it go out for the corner instead of attempting a difficult uncontrolled shot. Struck me as quick smart thinking?

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Nov77 added 16:19 - May 9 M40R that is a quality piece of barrel scraping there in defending Mackie, talk about damning with faint praise. BathRanger I would argue Kenny has got a lot worse since January. Goalkeepers in general shouldn't be beaten at their near post from outside the area, but Kenny was beaten there v chelsea, west brom and blackburn. A 50% save ratio is ok at home when opponents aren't peppering your goal, but it will be different at City on Sunday. Hope I'm wrong, but I would trust Cerny more in this game. He played against Liverpool, Arsenal and Man Utd and kept the score respectable, (34 shots on target in those 3 games, conceded 4).

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TacticalR added 16:54 - May 9 I think I'm with M40R on Mackie. It's true that Mackie sometimes pushes the ball too far ahead when and then tries to bulldoze through opposition players (or perhaps he simply gambles that he will come out of a ruck of opposition players with the ball), but he does seem to have a cool head in the box. It's also true that there is something wrong with Paddy. He's got some sort of injury and is not fully mobile and seems to have a particular problem getting down to low shots. But Cerny fell out of favour for a reason - he always seemed to commit at least one howler per game.

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BathRanger added 18:10 - May 9 I certainly agree that Cerny did a good job when he was called up to play this season and Kenny has let in some poor goals too (can't comment on whether his form has got worse since January because I haven't been to enough games), but I would think that if Cerny was able to do a better job than Kenny, he'd already be in the team. I'm sure I've seen some other comments that he's not 100% fit.

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PinnerPaul added 17:23 - May 10 Good old Rs pessimism is alive and well in whoever wrote the headline. We get a point and we're safe - that is NOT "out of our hands"
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