As QPR prepare to welcome West Ham to Loftus Road on Monday night, LFW looks back at a farcical FA Cup tie between the pair from 1988 when Loftus Road almost burst at the seams.

Recent Meetings

QPR 1 West Ham 0, Saturday October 16, 2004, Championship

Despite their close proximity and similar recent league history, QPR and West Ham actually haven’t met competitively since 2004. West Ham were the newly relegated title favourites and QPR the freshly promoted upstarts back then, but the spoils went the way of Ian Holloway’s men as part of a remarkable seven match winning run. The campaign had started badly for Rangers who took four games to record a win and pressure was being applied to Ian Holloway by the board of directors, with new Italian invester Gianni Paladini apparently engineering a move for Argentinean Ramon Diaz behind the scenes. A 3-2 win against Plymouth at Loftus Road got Rangers going and away wins at Crewe, Brighton and Stoke sandwiched home successes against Leicester and Coventry. A capacity crowd was inside Loftus Road to see Matthew Rose maraud forward from left back and slot in the only goal of the game to stretch the run out to seven matches.

QPR: C Day, M Bignot, D Shittu (S Branco, 89), G Santos, M Rose, M Rowlands , M Bircham (G Padula, 89), K Gallen, L Cook, P Furlong, J Cureton (K McLeod, 85)

Subs not used: R Edghill, M Bean

West Ham: S Bywater, H Mullins, T Repka, A Ferdinand, C Powell, L Chadwick (C Cohen, 66), N Reo-Coker, S Lomas, M Harewood, S Rebrov , B Zamora (D Hutchison, 81) Subs not used: T McClenahan, R Brevett, J Walker

West Ham 2 QPR 1, Saturday November 6, 2004, Championship

The return fixture came less than a month later at Upton Park, and the old saying about familiarity breeding contempt certainly seemed to hold water on this occasion as a vile challenge from Tomasz Repka through the back of Tony Thorpe left the striker nursing an injury from which his career never recovered. With Repka still on the pitch West Ham opened the scoring with a Marlon Harewood penalty before half time but QPR pegged them back in the second half when Kevin McLeod netted from close range. Sadly for the R’s Harewood, who has always enjoyed scoring against QPR, bagged a winner six minutes from time.

West Ham: S Bywater, H Mullins, T Repka , C Davenport, C Powell , D Hutchison (A Ferdinand, 88), C Fletcher, S Lomas, M Etherington, M Harewood, L Chadwick (B Zamora, 75)

Subs not used: S Rebrov, J Walker, R Brevett

QPR: C Day, D Shittu, M Rose, G Santos, M Bircham, T Thorpe (G Ainsworth, 29), J Cureton, L Cook (K McLeod, 62), F Simek (G Padula, 87), K Gallen, P Furlong

Subs not used: S Branco, M Bean

Previous Results

Head to Head >>> QPR wins 19 >>> Draws 18 >>> West Ham wins 20

2004/05 West Ham 2 QPR 1 (McLeod)

2004/05 QPR 1 West Ham 0 (Rose)

1995/96 QPR 3 West Ham 0 (Gallen 2, Ready)

1995/96 West Ham 1 QPR 0

1994/95 West Ham 0 QPR 0

1994/95 QPR 1 West Ham 0* (Impey)

1994/95 QPR 2 West Ham 1 (Ferdinand, Sinclair)

1993/94 QPR 0 West Ham 0

1993/94 West Ham 0 QPR 4 (Ferdinand 2, Peacock, Penrice)

1991/92 West Ham 2 QPR 2 (B Allen 2)

1991/92 QPR 0 West Ham 0

1988/89 West Ham 0 QPR 0

1988/89 QPR 2 West Ham 1 (Maddix, Stein)

1987/88 QPR 3 West Ham 1* (Pizanti, Bannister, M Allen)

1987/88 West Ham 1 QPR 0

1987/88 QPR 3 West Ham 0 (Bannister, Brock, Stewart og)

1986/87 West Ham 1 QPR 1 (Fenwick)

1986/87 QPR 2 West Ham 3 (James, Byrne)

1985/86 QPR 0 West Ham 1

1985/86 West Ham 3 QPR 1 (Byrne)

1984/85 QPR 4 West Ham 2 (Bannister 2, Byrne, Fenwick)

1984/85 West Ham 1 QPR 3 (Byrne, Bannister, Waddock)

1983/84 West Ham 2 QPR 2 (C Allen 2)

1983/84 QPR 1 West Ham 1 (Stainrod)

1980/81 West Ham 3 QPR 0

1980/81 QPR 3 West Ham 0 (Silkman, Currie, Stainrod)

1979/80 West Ham 2 QPR 1 (Goddard)

1979/80 QPR 3 West Ham 0 (C Allen 2, Goddard)

1977/78 QPR 1 West Ham 0 (Cunningham)

1977/78 QPR 6 West Ham 1*(Busby 2, Bowles, Givens, Hollins, James)

1977/78 West Ham 1 QPR 1*(Howe)

1977/78 West Ham 2 QPR 2 (Eastoe, Lock og)

1976/77 QPR 1 West Ham 1 (Eastoe)

1976/77 West Ham 0 QPR 2** (Bowles, Clement)

1976/77 West Ham 1 QPR 0

1975/76 West Ham 1 QPR 0

1975/76 QPR 1 West Ham 1 (Givens)

1974/75 West Ham 2 QPR 1* (Clement)

1974/75 West Ham 2 QPR 2 (Bowles, Masson)

1974/75 QPR 0 West Ham 2

1973/74 West Ham 2 QPR 3 (Givens 2, Abbott)

1973/74 QPR 0 West Ham 0

1968/69 QPR 1 West Ham 1 (Clarke)

1968/69 West Ham 4 QPR 3 (Leach 2, Bridges)

1951/52 West Ham 4 QPR 2 (Gilberg, Hatton)

1951/52 QPR 2 West Ham 0 (Addinall, Shepherd)

1950/51 QPR 3 West Ham 3 (Clayton, Farrow, Duggan)

1950/51 West Ham 4 QPR 1 (Addinall)

1949/50 West Ham 1 QPR 0

1949/50 QPR 0 West Ham 1

1948/49 West Ham 2 QPR 0

1948/49 QPR 2 West Ham 1 (Hatton, Hudson)

1938/39 QPR 1 West Ham 2*(Cheetham)

1909/10 West Ham 0 QPR 1*(Steer)

1909/10 QPR 1 West Ham 1*(Steer)

1908/09 West Ham 1 QPR 0*

1908/09 QPR 0 West Ham 0*

* - FA Cup

** - League Cup

Memorable Match

QPR 3 West Ham 1, FA Cup Fourth Round, Saturday January 30, 1988

In 1988 QPR and West Ham were drawn against each other in an all First Division clash in the fourth round of the FA Cup. Jim Smith’s QPR side had won comfortably at Yeovil in round three, two goals from Mark Falco and one from Kevin Brock sealing a 3-0 win against the non-leaguers, while West Ham had beaten near neighbours Charlton at home.

The Hammers lost 3-0 at Loftus Road on the opening day of that season but had got their revenge with a 1-0 success at Upton Park in the return fixture just a fortnight before this match. The stakes were high, and the knockout tie attracted huge interest o both sides of the capital. So much so in fact that the clubs decided to make it all ticket. Depending on who you believe QPR then either oversold the away end, or West Ham fans laid their hands on several hundred forgeries, but however it came about it resulted in a farcical situation during the first half where Wet Ham fans spilled out onto the plastic pitch and had to be shuffled around the ground into any available space before play could restart. The match, played in front of an official attendance of 23,651, was delayed by an hour while order was restored.

To begin with QPR had the better of the play. In the twelfth minute a long throw, flicked on at the near post in a similar style to Terry Fenwick’s equaliser in the 1982 cup final, gave Martin Allen a chance to arrive late and head for goal but he could only direct the ball over the bar and into the dangerously overfilled terrace in the lower School End.

Minutes later a deep cross from Fereday picked out Alan McDonald at the far post, still up from a previous corner, but his angled header dropped just wide of the far post. But there was already clearly a problem behind the goal at this stage, with the action being played out against a backdrop of West Ham fans swarming onto the side of the pitch behind the goal. Despite the 1980s being known for football hooliganism the atmosphere seemed remarkably good natured as West Ham fans started to spread out around the pitch and sit down cross legged with their backs to the advertising hoardings. As polite chaos ensued police horses were brought onto the pitch to try and help the situation and it was a good hour before play could restart again.

With space found in various parts of the ground for the overspill Rangers picked up where they’d left off, going close to beating Tom McAllister in the West Ham goal when Falco got on the end of McDonald’s downward header and hooked wide of the target. That technique of getting McDonald free at the back post for set pieces almost paid dividends again as darkness fell when he nodded Brock’s cross back into the goal mouth and Gavin Maguire headed over.

Rangers hadn’t made their domination pay, but they then took the lead in spectacular fashion within four minutes of the start of the second half. Full back David Pizanti, starting for the first time all season in the absence of Mark Dennis ad Warren Neill, carried the ball down the left flank and when faced with little other option decided to let rip with a shot from fully thirty yards out wide on the flank that flew like a guided missile right into the stanchion in the top corner of the net.

The travelling thousands didn’t have to wait long to get back on terms though. Their second corner of the game was nodded down by Tony Gale and the near post and a young Tony Cottee was on hand from typically close range to turn in an equaliser.

Rangers retook the lead with another long range strike, this time striker Gary Bannister turning on the edge of the box after good build up from Dawes and Brock and catching McAllister out with an early shot that the keeper should perhaps still have done better with.

Forced to chase the game West Ham left themselves vulnerable at the back and when Bannister played Allen into the right channel they switched off, perhaps believing the midfielder was sure to cross from so tight to the byline. Instead Allen cut back onto his left foot, ran back to the corner of the six yard box and then thumped the decisive third goal into the roof of the net at the Loft End.

There was still time for Brady to curl a long range free kick goalwards, but Nicky Johns, deputising for David Seaman, saved comfortably in the top corner.

QPR: Johns, Dawes, Pizanti, Parker, McDonald, Maguire, M Allen, Fereday (Byrne), Brock, Falco, Bannister

Highlights >>> West Ham 2 QPR 2, 91/92 >>> QPR 3 West Ham 1, 1988 >>> West Ham 2 QPR 2, 1983/84 >>> QPR 3 West Ham 0, 1980/81 >>> West Ham 0 QPR 2, 1976 League Cup >>>QPR 3 West Ham 4, 1968/69

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Pictures – Action Images

Photo: Action Images

BrixtonR added 23:01 - Sep 27 Good to be reminded of the 3-1 win and the Yeovil game. Can't believe it was nearly 25 years ago. One small thing, we actually beat them 3-0 at Upton Park on the opening day (Paul Parkers debut I think) and lost 1-0 at Loftus road - Sorry for being pedantic !
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SonofNorfolt added 01:38 - Sep 28 Jimmy, a mate of mine had his car broken into, and got there at half time, and still saw the whole game.
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snanker added 08:36 - Sep 28 Billy Bonds 42 years old and still winning more balls in the air than the rest of that Hammers team put together but with a draught horse's turn of pace !! We had a laff in the Loft when we heard about the forgery's but by today's standard they probably only did less than a tenner each ! Great result great atmosphere and a great day out. How bad does that pitch look now in retrospect

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smegma added 09:24 - Sep 28 Those were the days. The 3-0 win on the opening game of the season (at Upton Pk!) put us top of the league come 5pm that day. As for the FA Cup tie, we made all the headlines on the front pages for obvious reasons. The Police,FA & QPR claimed that West Ham fans had hundreds/thousands of forgeries yet when WSC magazine and a few journalists asked for proof , not 1 forged ticket was shown as evidence. Conspiracy theorists had a field day. 15 months later we had what is now known as the Hillsbourough Disaster /Tragedy.

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probbo added 10:20 - Sep 28 I remember that Cup match in 1988. I was in the then terraced Loft with a mate left of the goal as you look up the pitch and there was actually a bit of standing room around us. I think at one point the police did contemplate shuffling some Iron's fans in to that part of the ground but wisely decided against it! The away end was absolutely rammed and without dwelling on the point, it was as well there were no cages/crash barriers at Loftus Road as there were in most other grounds at the time. And David Pizanti - didn't do much else for the R's but what a strike!

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JB007007 added 10:37 - Sep 29 A great cup tie, played when the FA cup seemed to mean more. Some great memories of West Ham games down the years. My brothers a big Hammers fan, so this is one fixture that has brought the worst out in us. One of the best was being given a ticket in the home section with him for our 2-2 draw in 91/92. Bradley Allen got his two goals right in front of me and each time I jumped up swearing and cursing, although some Hammers fans must of thought I was going a bit over the top. It was either that or take a pasting for celebrating! So confident is he that "West Ham are going to smash QPR on Monday", I get the tenner if we draw!

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themodfather added 11:59 - Sep 29 i was up in SAR, instead of usual paddock and that game will always stay with me...the ground was def over crowded and fans had to go onto pitch, when the "delay" happened john lyall came out to appeal to west ham for calm, there were..i was sitting with a load of west ham in what would be g block today and as i looked around it was cass and co. it was a great moment when pizanti scored and i shook hands with some of them, they thought i was west ham too!

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