Millwall's brief ascent to the summit of English football in the late 80s featured a pair of QPR trips to The Den, the second of which went rather better than the first.

Memorable Match

Millwall 1 Queens Park Rangers 2, Saturday February 24, 1990, First Division

Millwall’s Second Division title winning season of 1987/88 lifted them into the top flight of English football for the first, and as yet only, time in their history. With a front two of Tony Cascarino alongside a young Teddy Sheringham, a midfield bossed by the uncompromising Terry Hurlock, and the early days of Neil Ruddock at the back, there was a formidable team waiting to face the household names of the time at the old Den. Former QPR men Jimmy Carter and Ian Dawes were also counted among the numbers.

As 1988/89 dawned the Lions initially took the top flight by storm. Derby, Charlton, Everton, Luton and Newcastle were all beaten early doors, and it took until the end of October and 11 league and cup games into the season for them to suffer a first defeat — away at Middlesbrough. Jim Smith’s QPR were one of the early victims. In a thriller down Cold Blow Lane, they were beaten 3-2 thanks to a towering Cascarino header, a second for the ‘Irishman’ after a disastrous backpass sent him and Hurlock screaming through on stand in keeper Nicky Johns together, and then one for Hurlock himself after more tentative defending and sloppy passing. Trevor Francis had equalised initially with QPR’s first attack, but the latest disastrous entry into his sodding one-step penalty scrapbook meant that by the time Martin Allen made it 3-2 it was mere consolation. It was a result that put Millwall top of the division, while bitter rivals West Ham sat bottom (and were eventually relegated).

Francis would soon take over as QPR player manager when Jim Smith was poached by another of the clubs destined for relegation Newcastle United. Millwall, meanwhile, perhaps inevitably fell away rather, though not without a flurry of wins through February which included them completing the double over Rangers with a 2-1 victory at Loftus Road — they finished one place higher than Manchester United in the final league table. They did, however, fail to win any of the final ten games that season which, with the team’s leading lights soon to be picked off by those with bigger budgets, perhaps should have been an omen for what was to come.

By the time QPR returned to The Den in 1989/90, looking absolutely resplendent in the old Influence red and black number, Francis had been moved on having been fatally holed below the waterline by the Martin Allen affair, and Don Howe was putting together an attractive, attacking team with a great mix of youth and experience. Paul Parker was preparing to head to the World Cup with England as part of a sweeper system that included Alan McDonald and Danny Maddiz with David Bardsley and Kenny Sansom as the wing backs. Ray Wilkins pulled the strings for Andy Sinton and Simon Barker in midfield. Colin Clarke initially prolific but ultimately unhappy spell in W12 was nearing its end by this point, but Roy Wegerle alongside him would become a West London folk hero. This attractive and brilliantly coached side would carry QPR on a memorable FA Cup run of multiple replays through to a desperately unluck quarter final defeat away to Liverpool.

When they visited Millwall in February, the green shoots of recovery from a traumatic autumn were starting to show through. There had been a 3-0 away win at Crystal Palace when Ray Wilkins and Peter Reid were teamed in one of the oldest central midfield pairings in English top flight history, a rampaging 4-2 home win against Chelsea when Mark Falco rolled back the years with a vintage volley and a young Les Ferdinand gave hint of his promise, and further victories against Everton and Norwich to go with that FA Cup fourth round replay win against Arsenal in the teeming rain which those who were present still talk about fondly to this day.

Millwall, meanwhile, had initially flown out of the traps again, unbeaten in the first five, with early victories against Southampton, Forest, Coventry and Sheff Wed once more raising them to the summit for a brief moment in September. From there, however, it rather fell apart. They won only once more in the league all season, in 29 games, and for once it was Aston Villa rather than QPR who treated them to that. They lost 12 and drew two of the final 14 league fixtures after Cambridge had dumped them out of the FA Cup, and QPR got in early in that run with a 2-1 win in South East London.

With Roy Wegerle tormenting a beleaguered home defence, Ray Wilkins was able to bundle a ball through into the left channel for Clarke to chase, catch, cross, and set up Simon Barker for a close-range opener in the first half. Millwall’s failure to take numerous opportunities to clear a second half corner proved their undoing for the second — Wegerle tapping into an empty net from half a yard after Simon Barker’s low shot had been miraculously kept out on the goal line by Dawes. Carter’s thrice deflected cross, turned in by Cascarino, did subsequently have the deficit but QPR held on to win and followed that up by repeating their FA Cup dose to Arsenal in the league, beating Spurs to complete a North London double, and then sticking a 2-0 win on Brian Clough’s Forest as well. A fantastic couple of weeks for the R’s. Wawll, eventually, relegated in dead last. QPR finished in the top ten after a nightmare start to the season, but really were left to lament what might have been in the FA Cup.

QPR: Seaman; Bardsley, McDonald, Maddix, Parker, Sansom; Wilkins, Sinton, Barker; Clarke, Wegerle

Attendance: 11,505

Classic Encounters

LFW regular and AKUTR’s columnist Dave Barton has set up a QPR Memories YouTube channel, with a mixture of clips, classic games, and old highlights packages. His three recent meetings with Millwall are embedded below, give him a subscribe on YouTube or follow @QPR_Memories on Twitter.

Recent Meetings

QPR 1 Millwall 1, Saturday September 21, 2024, Championship

QPR were lucky to escape the first meeting this season with a draw as the R’s continued their clunky start to the campaign and Millwall put in their best performance at Loftus Road for many years. Duncan Watmore’s opening goal ten before half time was very much deserved, and only Paul Nardi’s heroics kept the visitors from scoring several more. Michi Frey’s equaliser five minutes later was skillfully set up by Karamoko Dembele and beautifully finished by the Swiss striker, but definitely against the run of play.

QPR: Nardi 7; Dunne 5, Cook 6, Clarke-Salter 6, Paal 6; Field 6, Madsen 5 (Varane 69, 6); Dembele 6 (Celar 90+3, -), Andersen 4 (Lloyd 69, 6), Saito 6 (Smyth 60, 5); Frey 7

Subs not used: Ashby, Santos, Dixon-Bonner, Morgan, Walsh

Goals: Frey 40 (assisted Dembele)

Yellow Cards: Paal 60 (foul), Varane 84 (foul)

Millwall: Jensen 6; Leonard 6, Cooper 7, Tanganga 7, Bryan 6; De Noore 7, Saville 7; Esse 7, Honeyman 6 (Wintle 90+3), Watmore 7 (Azeez 75, 6); Langstaff 6 (Ivanovic 75, 6)

Subs not used: Emakhu, Hutchinson, Kelly, McNamara, Wallace, Roberts

Goals: Watmore 34 (assisted Langstaff)

Yellow Cards: Saville 86 (foul)

QPR 2 Millwall 0, Saturday January 20, 2024, Championship

QPR injected some life into their flagging Championship survival prospects with a hard fought 2-0 home win against Millwall in January. Favourable cup draws and the switching of the opening day game with Watford had given Marti Cifuentes’ side a month of home games, but they’d already been beaten at Loftus Road by Cardiff, Watford and Bournemouth in consecutive games prior to this one. Ilias Chair settled nerves with a first half opener. There was terror to come, as Asmir Begovic let a shot squirm through his hands requiring a last ditch goalline clearance, but Sinclair Armstrong settled the debate from close range late on. Millwall were probably the worst side we played through the second half of the season.

QPR: Begovic 5; Cannon 5, Cook 7, Clarke-Salter 6, Paal 6; Field 7, Colback 8; Willock 5 (Adomah 84, -), Dykes 7, Chair 7 (Larkeche 90+4, -); Armstrong 7 (Dixon-Bonner 89, -)

Subs not used: Dunne, Fox, Drewe, Walsh, Pedder, Talla

Goals: Chair 27 (assisted Willock), Armstrong 87 (assisted Colback)

Millwall: Sarkic 4; McNamara 5, Harding 5, Cooper 6; Norton-Cuffy 5 (Tanganga 67, 6), Honeyman 6, Mitchell 5, Bryan 5 (Wallace 67, 5); Watmore 4, Flemming 4, Nisbet 4 (Longman 56, 6)

Subs not used: Campbell, Saville, De Norre, Esse, Bialkowski, Grant

Yellow Cards: Mitchell 32 (foul), Flemming 85 (foul)

Millwall 2 QPR 0, Tuesday December 26, 2023, Championship

QPR’s already flimsy survival hopes were dealt a blow on Boxing Day when one of their worst performances of a dreadful season condemned them to a 2-0 loss. Defensively laughable goals by Tom Bradshaw and Murray Wallace at the end of each half sealed a comfortable win for the hosts. Rangers lost before Christmas at Sheff Wed having led in the 86th minute, a result that would have put them ten points ahead of the Owls. Wawll had been on a long losing run prior to this game and sunk to within touching distance of the R’s, only for this result to spark three successive wins and put them back out of reach.

Millwall: Sarkic 6; Leonard 6, Harding 7, Cooper 6, Bryan 5 (Wallace 71, 6); Norton-Cuffy 7 (McNamara 85, -), Honeyman 6, Saville 7, Emakhu 6 (Nisbet 83, -); Bradshaw 6 (Flemming 71, 7), Watmore 6 (Esse 83, -)

Subs Not Used: Hutchinson, Longman, Bialkowski, Mitchell

Goals: Bradshaw 45+3 (assisted Saville), Wallace 90 (assisted McNamara)

Yellow Cards: Emakhu 33 (foul), Honeyman 44 (foul), Wallace 90+3 (foul)

QPR: Begovic 5; Kakay 4, Dunne 3 (Cannon 63, 5), Clarke-Salter 6, Larkeche 5 (Dixon-Bonner 63, 5); Dozzell 5, Field 5, Paal 6; Smyth 5 (Adomah 79, 5), Dykes 4, Chair 6

Subs not used: Duke-McKenna, Archer, Richards, Kelman, Drewe, Armstrong

Yellow Cards: Dunne 9 (foul), Smyth 37 (foul), Chair 75 (foul)

QPR 1 Millwall 2, Saturday February 11, 2023, Championship

Despite the emergency additions of Jamal Lowe and Chris Martin to the attack, QPR’s season continued to crater when Millwall won at Loftus Road in February 2023. Martin headed a late first goal for the club but Duncan Watmore had already given the visitors the lead and Oli Burke made it two deep into the second half when QPR committed a typical piece of defensive suicide from a long throw. There were big defeats against Sunderland and Middlesbrough to come later that week before Neil Critchley was fired after a dozen games in charge.

QPR: Dieng 6; Laird 4, Dickie 4, Dunne 4, Paal 4; Dozzell 4, Johansen 6 (Martin 64, 6), Field 5; Lowe 5, Chair 5, Armstrong 6 (Willock 69, - (Adomah 76, 5)

Subs not used: Kakay, Archer, Gubbins, Iroegbunam

Goals: Martin 82 (assisted Chair)

Bookings: Armstrong 69 (handball)

Millwall: Long 6; McNamara 7, Cresswell 7, Cooper 7, Wallace 6; Mitchell 7, Saville 6; Honeyman 7 (Leonard 90+2, -), Flemming 7 (Shackleton 85, -), Watmore 8 (Burke 68, 7); Bradshaw 7 (Boglsammer 85, -)

Subs not used: Malone, Bialkowski, Esse

Goals: Watmore 31 (assisted Flemming), Burke 78 (unassisted)

Bookings: Honeyman 85 (foul)

Millwall 0 QPR 2, Wednesday September 14, 2022, Championship

QPR started to hit their best form for 2022/23 in September when they won comprehensively at The Den. Chris Willock opened the scoring with a low shot into the bottom corner from the edge of the box ten minutes after half time. When Millwall subsequently fell fast asleep at a Rangers corner, Stefan Johansen collected a short pass from Ilias Chair and finished the chance, and the game, across the keeper and into the side net.

Millwall: Bialkowski 5; Shackleton 6, Cresswell 4, Cooper 5, Wallace 5, Styles 6 (Malone 77, 5); Mitchell 5, Saville 5 (Honeyman 77, 6), Voglsammer 5 (Burey 62, 5); Flemming 7, Bradshaw 6 (Afobe 62, 3)

Subs not used: Long, McNamara, Evans

QPR: Dieng 6; Laird 7, Balogun 7, Dunne 7, Paal 8 (Kakay 90+6, -); Johansen 8, Field 6, Iroegbunam 6 (Bonne 85, -); Chair 7 (Adomah 85, -), Willock 7 (Dozzell 78, 6), Roberts 5 (Dykes 78, 6)

Subs not used: Archer, Masterson

Goals: Willock 54 (assisted Chair), Johansen 71 (assisted Chair)

Millwall 2 QPR 0, Tuesday February 15, 2022, Championship

Not a lot of romance in the air for QPR’s Valentine’s trip to The Den, with the collapse of their promotion push in full swing and the home side in rampant form. Millwall could, should, have been in front within the first thirty seconds, and with wing backs McNamara and Malone having an absolute field day behind Adomah, Odubajo and Wallace down both flanks it proved to be a long old night. Mason Bennet’s finish on the end of a cross field, and back again, team move was one of the kore aesthetically pleasing goals of the whole Championship season. Burey quickly followed up with a second. In truth, had Wawll won 4-0, it would have been a fair score and you could have said nothing about it.

Millwall: Bialkowski 6; McNamara 8, Hutchinson 7, Cooper 7, Wallace 7, Malone 8 (Pearce 82, -); Kieftenbeld 7, Mitchell 7, Wallace 9; Burke 6 (Burey 28, 7), Bennett 7 (Saville 89, -)

Subs not used: Long, Mahoney, Evans, Lovelace

Goals: Bennett 48 (assisted Malone), Burey 64 (assisted Wallace)

Bookings: Wallace 59 (foul), Burey 65 (over celebrating)

QPR: Marshall 6; Adomah 3 (Amos 76, 6), Dickie 4, Dunne 5, Barbet 4, Wallace 4 (Odubajo 21, 4); Johansen 3 (Austin 76, 4), Field 5, Chair 4; Willock 5, Dykes 3

Subs not used: Dieng, Gray, Sanderson, Hendrick

Bookings: Dickie 45+3 (foul)

QPR 1 Millwall 1, Saturday August 7, 2021, Championship

QPR’s pre-season optimism was dealt something of a reality check by a fast start from Millwall at Loftus Road on day one. With Rangers slow to get going, Jed Wallace scored a fabulous opening goal for the visitors which sent the away end into raptures. The high quality scoring didn’t stop there though, with Rob Dickie striding out of defence and finding the top corner from 30 yards to equalise before half time.

QPR: Dieng 6; Odubajo 7, Dickie 9, De Wijs 8, Barbet 7, Wallace 6; Ball 5, Johansen 7 (Thomas 73, 5); Willock 6, Dykes 5, Austin 5 (Dozzell 68, 6)

Subs not used: Kakay, Archer, Dunne, Bettache, Adomah

Goals: Dickie 31 (unassisted)

Millwall: Bialkowski 7; McNamara 6, Ballard 7, Hutchinson 7, Wallace 7, Malone 6; Evans 6 (Mitchell 88, -), Kieftenbeld 7, Saville 7 (Leonard 68, 6); Afobe 5 (Smith 78, 5), Wallace 8

Subs not used: Long, Bradshaw, Pearce, Mahoney

Goals: Wallace 11 (unassisted)

Bookings: Ballard 15 (foul), Wallace 43 (foul), Saville 59 (foul)

QPR 3 Millwall 2, Tuesday March 18, 2021, Championship

Two more contrasting halves of football you’d struggle to see. Millwall so dominant in the first it was astonishing they only had Jed Wallace and Mason Bennett goals to show for it as QPR’s tactical switches to try and combat their supposed physical dominance upset the rhythm of their post-Christmas revival. Second half, totally different story, as Charlie Austin and Stefan Johansen swiftly drew Rangers level and then Jordy De Wijs towered to head home his first goal for the club and win the game with four minutes left for play.

QPR: Dieng 7; Dickie 6, De Wijs 6, Barbet 6; Kane 4 (Adomah 76, 6), Cameron 4 (Field 70, 6), Johansen 7, Willock 6 (Chair 70, 7), Wallace 7; Austin 6 (Bonne 79, 6), Dykes 7 (Ball 90+1, -)

Subs not used: Lumley, Kakay, Hämäläinen, Thomas

Goals: Austin 51 (assisted Cameron), Johansen 67 (assisted Wallace), De Wijs 86 (assisted Chair)

Bookings: De Wijs 56 (foul), Johansen 88 (foul)

Millwall: Bialkowski 6; Hutchinson 5, Pearce 5 (Burey 89, -), Cooper 6; Romeo 7, Woods 6 (Mitchell 77, 6), Evans 6 (Bradshaw 89, -), Thompson 6 (Williams 77, 6), Malone 6; Wallace 7, Bennett 6 (Bovarsson 77, 5)

Subs not used: Fielding, M Wallace, Ferguson, McNamara

Goals: Wallace 6 (assisted Woods), Bennett 39 (assisted Cooper)

Millwall 1 QPR 1, Tuesday December 8, 2020, Championship

QPR were in the midst of a ten-game winless run when these sides last met at The Den before Christmas, but they really should have snapped that in a televised game dominated by off field issues. Ilias Chair gave Rangers a deserved lead from long range at the start of the second half and Chair, Lyndon Dykes and Bright Osayi-Samuel all came close to adding a second before the standard give-away from a QPR throw and lapse of concentration from a resulting free kick allowed non-scoring striker Jon-Dadi Bodvarsson in for an equaliser.

Millwall: Bialkowski 7; Hutchinson 6, Pearce 6 (Bodvarsson 66, 7), Cooper 7; Romeo 8, Woods 6, Williams 6 (Smith 64, 6), Malone 6; Wallace 6 (Burey 89, -), Bennett 6 (Leonard 64, 6), Parrott 6 (Bradshaw 74, 6)

Subs not used: Fielding, Wallace, Thompson, Ferguson

Goals: Bodvarsson 70 (assisted Wallace)

QPR: Dieng 7; Kakay 6, Dickie 7, Barbet 6, Hämäläinen 6; Ball 5, Cameron 6; Osayi-Samuel 6, Carroll 7 (Thomas 77, 4), Chair 8 (Bonne 77, 5); Dykes 5

Subs not used: Kane, Willock, Masterson, Bettache, Kelman, Kelly, Adomah

Goals: Chair 53 (assisted Carroll)

Bookings: Ball 16 (diving) Barbet 75 (foul), Bonne 90+1 (foul)

QPR 4 Millwall 3, Saturday July 18, 2020, Championship

QPR completed a double over Millwall in fine style in July, snapping a dreadful run of form in lockdown with a riotous 4-3 victory at Loftus Road. Conor Masterson got the fun underway, reacting first and converting a rebound from Bialkowski’s parry at a forty second minute corner for his first goal for the club. Matt Smith haunted his former club with an equaliser straight after half time after Jed Wallace got in behind Ryan Manning, but the Irish left back made amends soon after with a long range shot that squirmed through Bialkowski and made it 2-1. Ilias Chair then skilfully freed Ebere Eze for a cutely finished third but that old familiar failing at opposition corners cost the R’s when Hutchinson headed home at the near post. Todd Kane’s super diving header straight off the bench looked to have settled it but Molumby’s stoppage time goal halved the deficit again and had Rangers fans living on their nerves through an extended period of stoppage time.

QPR: Lumley 6; Kakay 7, Masterson 6, Barbet 5, Manning 8; Ball 8, Cameron 6, Amos 7 (Bettache 90+3, -); Chair 8 (Oteh 84, -), Eze 8, Shodipo 6 (Kane 72, 7)

Subs not used: Kelly, Gubbins, Clarke

Goals: Masterson 43 (assisted Eze), Manning 52 (unassisted), Eze 62 (assisted Chair), Kane 73 (assisted Ball)

Millwall: Bialkowski 6; Romeo 5 (Smith 45, 7), Hutchinson 5, Pearce 6 (Mitchell 87, -), Cooper 6; Leonard 5 (Molumby 57, 6), Woods 6, Ferguson 6, J Wallace 7; Bennett — (Bodvarsson 11, 5), Bradshaw 5 (Mahoney 57, 7)

Subs not used: M Wallace, Williams, Thompson, Steele

Goals: Smith 47 (assisted Wallace), Hutchinson 67 (assisted Wallace), Molumby 90+5 (assisted Wallace)

Bookings: Cooper 20 (foul)

Millwall 1 QPR 2, Saturday September 21, 2019, Championship

QPR won, and won well, at Millwall back in September 2019 pushing home hero Neil Harris closer to The Den exit door. Toni Leistner stood tall against the Lions’ Matt Smith-led bombardment and the resilience paid dividends when Nahki Wells whipped a half chance into the far corner ten minutes after half time. The standard shambolic concession from a corner looked to have earned Wawll a point but almost immediately home keeper Bialkowski committed a howler on the edge of his own area and Wells was able to slot into the empty net.

Millwall: Bialkowski 4; Hutchinson 6, Pearce 6 (Mahoney 76, 5), Cooper 6; McCarthy 6 (O’Brien 88, -), Ferguson 6; Wallace 6, Molumby 5, Thompson 7; Smith 5, Bodvarsson 5 (Bradshaw 69, 6)

Subs not used: Wallace, Williams, Steele, Leonard

Goals: Hutchinson 71 (assisted Smith)

Bookings: Thompson 47 (foul), Hutchinson 85 (foul)

QPR: Lumley 6; Cameron 7, Leistner 8, Barbet 7; Kane 7, Manning 7; Chair 6 (Pugh 83, -), Ball 8, Eze 7; Wells 7 (Scowen 77, 6), Hugill 6

Subs not used: Smith, Mlakar, Masterson, Kelly, Alfa

Goals: Wells 56 (assisted Kane), 72 (unassisted)

Bookings: Cameron 33 (foul), Hugill 51 (foul), Wells 73 (overcelebrating)

Millwall 0 QPR 0, Wednesday April 10, 2019, Championship

Better finishing by Matt Smith with his head before half time, and Bright Osayi-Samuel when sent screaming through on goal after it, could have seen QPR claim a first win away to Millwall since 1990 when these sides met at The Den in April 2019. That said, Rangers, under the caretaker stewardship of John Eustace, were just glad to arrest the slide after a 4-0 weekend humping at Norwich. They showed better spirit here, led by the recalled Toni Leistner and Josh Scowen, and eased what relegation fears remained by posting another point.

Millwall: Martin 6; Romero 6, Cooper 5, Pearce 6, Meredith 6; Wallace 6, Tunnicliffe 5 (Morrison 83 5), Leonard 5, Marshall 6 (O'Brien 78 5); Thompson 6, Gregory 6

Subs not used: Amos, Mcauglin, Williams, Elliot, Skalak

Bookings: Marshall 14 (foul), Tunnicliffe 30 (foul)

QPR: Lumley 6; Furlong 6, Leistner 6, Lynch 6, Manning 7; Scowen 8, Luongo 7, Cameron 6, Freeman 7 (Wszolek 90); Wells 6 (Osayi-Samuel 62, 8), Smith 7

Subs not used: Ingram, Cousins, Eze, Walker, Hemed

Bookings: Lynch 24 (dissent), Manning 33 (foul), Luongo 49 (foul)

QPR 2 Millwall 0, Wednesday September 19, 2018, Championship

QPR won comfortably 2-0 when these sides met at Loftus Road in September 2018 in what has turned out to be one of the high points of the season at Rangers. The R’s had already gone close with a Nahki Wells free kick and Jordan Cousins one on one chance from a tight angle when they took the lead as Mass Luongo flicked home from a clever corner routine. Ebere Eze got his inevitable goal against the club that released him as a teenager moments later, turning in from close range off a Jake Bidwell assist. Rangers were lucky to survive one off the bar from Cooper at the start of the second half but could have scored a third on multiple occasions during prolonged second half pressure, with a late Massimo Luongo one on one chance with Amos particularly gilt edged.

QPR: Lumley 6; Rangel 6, Leistner 7, Lynch 7, Bidwell 6; Cameron 6, Luongo 6; Cousins 6, Eze 8 (Smith 88, -), Freeman 7 (Scowen 81, -); Wells 8 (Hemed 72, 5)

Subs not used: Ingram, Baptiste, Osayi-Samuel, Wszolek

Goals: Luongo 30 (assisted Wells), Eze 32 (assisted Bidwell)

Bookings: Leistner 63 (foul), Freeman 70 (foul), Eze 84 (diving)

Millwall: Amos 4; McLaughlin 5, Wallace 6, Cooper 6, Meredith 5 (Elliott 79, 5); Wallace 5, Williams 4, Leonard 6, O’Brien 5 (Skalak 74, 5); Gregory 5, Bradshaw 5 (Morison 46, 4)

Subs not used: Romeo, Martin, Webster, Karacan

Bookings: Williams 16 (repetitive fouling), Skalak 82 (foul)

Millwall 1 QPR 0, Friday December 29, 2017, Championship

QPR turned in one of their worst performances 2017/18 in the New Year game at The Den. Only a string of typically brilliant saves by Alex Smithies had kept the Lions at bay until Jed Wallace cut the keeper out of the game with a deep cross and Steve Morison bundled in his first goal of the season in his 25th appearance from close range. Rangers went long and narrow for the final half an hour in search of an equaliser which against Millwall was nearly as stupid as the arrangements for QPR fans after the match which saw many of us still within 500 feet of the ground at approaching 23.00. Manager Ian Holloway spent the night goading and winding up the home fans, who loathe him for his part in their previous relegation, behaviour and performance that went a long way towards costing him his job at the end of the season.

Millwall: Archer 6; Romeo 7, Hutchinson 7, Cooper 7, Meredith 7; Wallace 8, Tunnicliffe 6, Saville 7, O’Brien 6 (Williams 69, 6); Morison 7, Gregory 7 (Onyedinma 81, -)

Subs not used: Craig, Thompson, Martin, Twardek, Mbulu

Goals: Morison 55 (assisted Wallace)

Bookings: Cooper 90 (foul)

QPR: Smithies 6; Baptiste 6, Onuoha 6, Hall 6; Wszolek 5 (Smith 56, 5), Bidwell 6; Luongo 5, Cousins 5, Freeman 6; Osayi-Samuel 6 (Oteh 69, 6), Sylla 5 (Wheeler 81, -)

Subs not used: Furlong, Washington, Manning, Lumley

Bookings: Wszolek 51 (foul)

QPR 2 Millwall 2, Tuesday September 12, 2017, Championship

A harsh red card for Millwall forward Lee Gregory just before half time swung the first meeting of 2017/18 back in QPR’s favour after a strong start from Neil Harris’ men. The Lions had already taken a spectacular lead through McLaughlin after six minutes and physically dominated Rangers from the off — Steve Morison almost lobbed in an outlandish second from long range. When Jed Wallace made it 2-0 from an acute angle at the start of the second half the game looked to be up but Rangers laid siege to the Millwall goal thereafter and in the end Massimo Luongo and Matt Smith forced two of the thirty shots the R’s had across the 90 minutes into the net for a draw.

QPR: Smithies 7; Baptiste 6, Onuoha 6 (Smith 46, 7), Robinson 5; Wszolek 6, Bidwell 6; Scowen 6, Luongo 6, Freeman 6; Washington 5 (Sylla 52, 7), Mackie 5 (Lua Lua 62, 6)

Subs not used: Furlong, Manning, Lumley, Wheeler

Goals: Luongo 73 (assisted Freeman), Smith 85 (assisted Lua Lua)

Yellows: Onuoha 11 (foul), Freeman 39 (foul)

Millwall: Archer 7; McLaughlin 6, Webster 7, Hutchinson 7, Meredith 6; Wallace 7 (Tunnicliffe 58, 5), Williams 6, Saville 6, Ferguson 6 (Cooper 58, 5); Morison 7, Gregory 6

Subs not used: Craig, Onyedinma, Romeo, Martin, Twardek

Goals: McLaughlin 6 (assisted Wallace), Wallace 50 (assisted Williams)

Reds: Gregory 39 (dangerous play)

Yellows: Williams 26 (foul), Morison 51 (dissent), Archer 70 (time wasting), Tunnicliffe 80 (foul), McLaughlin 83 (foul)

Previous Results

Head to Head >>> Millwall wins 34 >>> Draws 26 >>> QPR wins 25

2024/25 QPR 1 Millwall 1 (Frey)

2023/24 QPR 2 Millwall 0 (Chair, Armstrong)

2023/24 Millwall 2-0 QPR

2022/23 QPR 1 Millwall 2 (Martin)

2022/23 Millwall 0 QPR 2 (Willock, Johansen)

2021/22 Millwall 2 QPR 0

2021/22 QPR 1 Millwall 1 (Dickie)

2020/21 QPR 3 Millwall 2 (Austin, Johansen, De Wijs)

2020/21 Millwall 1 QPR 1 (Chair)

2019/20 QPR 4 Millwall 3 (Masterson, Manning, Eze, Kane)

2019/20 Millwall 1 QPR 2 (Wells 2)

2018/19 Millwall 0 QPR 0

2018/19 QPR 2 Millwall 0 (Luongo, Eze)

2017/18 Millwall 1 QPR 0

2017/18 QPR 2 Millwall 2 (Luongo, Smith)

2013/14 QPR 1 Millwall 1 (Austin)

2013/14 Millwall 2 QPR 2 (Austin, Kranjcar)

2010/11 Millwall 2 QPR 0

2010/11 QPR 0 Millwall 0

2005/06 QPR 1 Millwall 0 (Nygaard)

2005/06 Millwall 1 QPR 1 (Nygaard)

2004/05 Millwall 0 QPR 0

2004/05 QPR 1 Millwall 1 (Furlong)

1994/95 QPR 1 Millwall 0* (Wilson)

1993/94 QPR 3 Millwall 0** (Barker, Ferdinand, Sinclair)

1989/90 Millwall 1 QPR 2 (Barker, Wegerle)

1989/90 QPR 0 Millwall 0

1988/89 QPR 1 Millwall 2 (Falco, pen)

1988/89 Millwall 3 QPR 2 (Francis, Allen)

1987/88 Millwall 0 QPR 0

1987/88 QPR 2 Millwall 1 (Bannister, McDonald)

1972/73 Millwall 0 QPR 1 (Givens)

1972/73 QPR 1 Millwall 3 (Bowles)

1971/72 Millwall 0 QPR 0

1971/72 QPR 1 Millwall 1 (Marsh)

1970/71 QPR 2 Millwall 0 (Marsh, Francis)

1970/71 Millwall 3 QPR 0

1969/70 Millwall 2 QPR 0

1969/70 QPR 3 Millwall 2 (Bridges 2, Clement)

1967/68 Millwall 1 QPR 1 (Marsh)

1967/68 QPR 3 Millwall 1 (R Morgan, Keen, L Allen)

1965/66 QPR 6 Millwall 1 (Marsh 2, R Morgan, Collins, L Allen, Lazarus)

1965/66 Millwall 2 QPR 1 (Leach)

1963/64 Millwall 2 QPR 2 (McLeod, Leary)

1963/64 QPR 2 Millwall 0 (Bedford, McQuade)

1962/63 QPR 2 Millwall 3 (Leary, McCelland)

1962/63 Millwall 0 QPR 0

1957/58 Millwall 5 QPR 0

1957/58 QPR 3 Millwall 0 (Locke 3)

1956/57 Millwall 2 QPR 0

1956/57 QPR 0 Millwall 0

1955/56 QPR 4 Millwall 0 (Clark, Shepherd, Ingham, Smith)

1955/56 Millwall 2 QPR 0

1954/55 QPR 1 Millwall 2 (Shepherd)

1954/55 Millwall 0 QPR 1 (Clark)

1953/54 QPR 4 Millwall 0 (Kerrins, Clark, Pounder, Smith)

1953/54 Millwall 4 QPR 0

1952/53 QPR 1 Millwall 3 (Smith)

1952/53 Millwall 2 QPR 1 (Smith)

1950/51 QPR 3 Millwall 4* (Parkinson 2, Addinall)

1937/38 QPR 0 Millwall 2

1937/38 Millwall 1 QPR 4 (Lowe, Cape, Cheetham, Fitzgerald)

1936/37 QPR 0 Millwall 1

1936/37 Millwall 2 QPR 0

1935/36 Millwall 2 QPR 0

1935/36 QPR 2 Millwall 3 (Blackman, Lowe)

1934/35 QPR 1 Millwall 0 (Farmer)

1934/35 Millwall 2 QPR 0

1927/28 Millwall 6 QPR 1 (Beats)

1927/28 QPR 0 Millwall 1

1926/27 QPR 1 Millwall 1 (Goddard)

1926/27 Millwall 2 QPR 1 (Middleton)

1925/26 Millwall 3 QPR 0

1925/26 QPR 3 Millwall 0 (Cable 2, Whitehead)

1924/25 Millwall 3 QPR 0

1924/25 QPR 0 Millwall 0

1923/24 QPR 1 Millwall 1 (Parker)

1923/24 Millwall 3 QPR 0

1922/23 Millwall 0 QPR 0

1922/23 QPR 2 Millwall 3 (Parker, Davis)

1921/22 Millwall 0 QPR 0

1921/22 QPR 6 Millwall 1 (Chandler 2, Birch, Grant, Smith, Edgley)

1920/21 Millwall 0 QPR 0

1920/21 QPR 0 Millwall 0

1899/90 QPR 0 Millwall 2*

* - FA Cup

** - League Cup

Connections

Danny Shittu >>> QPR 2011-2012, 2001-2006 >>> Charlton 1999-2002

Lagos-born Danny Shittu kick-started his own professional football career by constantly writing to managers, coaches and scouts, badgering teams across the South East of England for a trial. Norwich had a look at him but it was Charlton who offered him pro terms. Shittu has rarely had a good word to say about the long-serving and well-regarded Addicks boss of the time Alan Curbishley however, saying he rarely spoke to the younger players at the club.

During 2000/01 Charlton loaned Shittu first to Blackpool, then the following season to Ian Holloway’s Queens Park Rangers side in League One. Rangers were in administration, but putting a decent side together under Holloway’s supervision. Shittu was signed right on the deadline for a Tuesday night league game at Peterborough where he started at centre half, not knowing half of his team mates, and was sent off for two clumsy tackles in a 4-1 defeat.

An inauspicious start then, but Shittu’s enormous frame, deceptive pace and physical approach to marking opposition strikers quickly made him a fans’ favourite at Loftus Road. He was also a very lucrative first goalscorer bet — always listed at 33/1 and a prodigious threat when going up for attacking corners. He opened his QPR account with a typical header from one such set piece in a 3-2 win at Chesterfield.

Despite the administrators overseeing things at Loftus Road, Rangers were able to buy Shittu for £250,000 from Charlton thanks to generous funding from the Winton family — who also financed the acquisitions of DouDou and Marc Bircham around this time. The moves provoked anger among rivals clubs, with Brentford chairman Ron Noades — who’d made a cash offer for Shittu himself — a particularly outspoken critic. Clubs in administration have been placed under transfer embargoes by the league ever since.

But Shittu was signed and sealed at Loftus Road and formed a formidable centre half partnership with Clarke Carlisle in the third tier. He became a cult hero, and although his ruptured knee ligaments in a match at Bournemouth midway through the 2003/04 season threatened to derail QPR’s promotion push, the fact that he played on for 70 minutes of that match with a knee injury that reduces most players to a crumpled, screaming heap on the floor only added to his attraction. Surgeons grafted part of his hamstring into his knee to repair the damage — Holloway remarked that this was no problem as Shittu had more hamstring than the rest of the team put together — and by the time he returned to action the R’s were a division higher.

Shittu continued to impress in the new division. A whole new league of strikers, not used to his unconventional shape, underestimated him to their pain and suffering — Cardiff’s Alan Lee made the mistake of elbowing Shittu in his gentleman’s area as he climbed for a header and after 30 seconds on the floor to gather his breath Shittu left the field, pointing at his assailant, and shouting that he was coming back for him. The following hour was as brutal as you’ll ever see within the rules of the game and Lee was removed with 25 minutes still to play for his own safety.

As Rangers struggled for cash with Gary Waddock in charge and Gianni Paladini as chairman, Shittu was sold to Watford for £1.6m in August 2006. Aidy Boothroyd’s Hornets had just been promoted to the top flight but the Premier League proved beyond both Shittu and the rest of the team and they were relegated comfortably before the end of the season. Shittu remained, and Watford initially looked a good bet to return, before falling away into more financial trouble.

Shittu spent an unhappy two years back in the Premier League at Bolton where he made just 11 appearances, but reignited his career with a spell under his former QPR coach Kenny Jackett at Millwall in 2010/11. His form there on a short term contract brought QPR calling again in January 2011, looking for extra bodies to solidify their own push for the Premier League.

Shittu’s form was fairly wild during his second spell at Loftus Road — excellent in wins against Ipswich at home, Middlesbrough away and Watford away, absolutely dreadful in away defeats at Scunthorpe and Millwall. Bizarrely, he finished the season playing as an auxiliary striker on the final day of the season as the R’s lifted the Championship trophy with a home game against Leeds.

Panic set in that summer when Tony Fernandes’ perspective takeover of the club dragged on into August, and existing owner Falvio Briatore refused to finance new signings knowing he was leaving the club. The signatures of Wayne Routledge and others were missed as a result and Warnock renewed contracts for players like Peter Ramage and Shittu while knowing they weren’t good enough for the top flight — in fact, Warnock had decided Shittu wasn’t for him after his catastrophic performance and red card in that return to Millwall the previous season. Takeover complete and 25 man squad named without him involved, Shittu found himself out in the cold for a year.

He returned to Millwall as captain, and took part in their run to an FA Cup semi-final, before retiring. A real character, and somebody who will always be remembered fondly at QPR.

Others >>> Matt Smith, Millwall 2019-2022, QPR 2016-2019 >>> Ian Holloway, QPR (manager) 2016-2018, (manager) 2001-2005, 1991-1996, Millwall (manager) 2014-2015 >>> Shaun Derry, Millwall (loan) 2013, QPR 2010-2014>>> Rob Hulse, Millwall (loan) 2013, QPR 2010-2013 >>> Patrick Agyemang, QPR 2008-2012, Millwall (loan) 2011 >>> Jason Puncheon QPR (loan) 2011, Millwall (loan) 2010-2011 >>> Adam Bolder, Millwall (loan) 2007-2008, 2009-2010, QPR 2007-2009 >>> Stefan Moore QPR 2005-2008, Millwall (loan) 2004 >>> Steve Lomas, Millwall (manager) 2013-2014, QPR 2005-2007 >>> Andros Townsend, QPR (loan) 2013, Millwall (loan) 2011 >>> Marc Bircham QPR 2002-2007, Millwall 1996-2002 >>> Rhys Evans, Millwall 2008, QPR (loan) 2001-2002 >>> Marcus Bignot Millwall (loan) 2007-2008, 2008-2009, QPR 2004-2007, 2001-2002 >>> Chris Day, Millwall 2006-2008, QPR 2001-2005 >>> Kenny Jackett Millwall (manager) 2007-2013, QPR (coach) 2001-2004 >>> Justin Cochrane, Millwall 2008, QPR 2001-2002 >>> Darren Ward, Millwall 2010-2013, 2001-2005, QPR (loan) 1999-2000 >>> Danny Dichio, Millwall 2004-2005, QPR 1993-1997 >>> Andy Impey, Millwall (loan) 2005, QPR 1990-1997 >>> Ray Wilkins, Millwall (coach) 2003-2006, 1997, QPR (player manager) 1994-1996, 1989-1994 >>> Tony Witter, Millwall 1991-1998, QPR 1991 >>> Mark Falco, Millwall 1991-1992, QPR 1988-1991 >>> Ian Dawes, Millwall 1988-1995, QPR 1982-1988 >>> Ian Stewart, Millwall (loan) 1982-1983, QPR 1980-1985 >>> Jimmy Carter, Millwall 1998/99, 1987-1981, QPR 1985-1987 >>> Clive Allen, Millwall 1994-1995, QPR 1981-1984, 1978-1980 >>> Gary Waddock, QPR (manager) 2006, 1991-1992, 1979-1987, Millwall 1989-1991 >>> John Byrne, Millwall 1992-1993, QPR 1984-1988 >>> Gavin Maguire, Millwall 1993-1994, QPR 1984-1989 >>> Dean Neal, Millwall 1981-1985, QPR 1979-1981 >>> Frank Saul, Millwall 1972-1976, QPR 1970-1972 >>> Tony Hazell, Millwall 1974-1978, QPR 1964-1974 >>> Frank Neary, Millwall 1950-1954, QPR 1945-1947

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