The ACN Match Review: Queens Park Rangers (a)

How did we play?

In the middle of a hectic run of fixtures, with illness and injury in the squad, on a recently ploughed field, against a team who had won their last four at home… we did just fine. Took some of our chances, created a few more, solid in defence, never stopped working.

What was the best bit of the game?

With the fourth official having declared a horrible nine minutes of injury time and The Fear descending on all of us, Jovon Makama made it all go away with one swing of his boot. (Plus a helpful deflection.)

What was the worst bit of the game?

Three minutes later when Vlad let a pot shot go through him and The Fear returned. But it all turned out fine in the end. Because it’s 2026 and everything is going to be OK.

What was the atmosphere like?

A sold-out away end (despite QPR’s usual outrageous ticket pricing) was in good voice. As is standard at Loftus Road it took so long to get out of the ground that the chants of “Big Phil’s Yellow Army” are probably still echoing into the west London night now as the last stragglers leave.

Hero of the match

Though I haven’t gone back to check, I strongly suspect Matěj Jurásek hasn’t received this accolade during his time at the club so far. But today he fired a warning shot with our best chance of the first half then came alive again within a minute of the restart to beat his man with ease and put in a delicious cross directly on to Josh Sargent’s head. More of that sort of thing please Matej. It was nice to see several of the players make a beeline to him for the celebration too.

Summary in Five Words

Won every game this year.