SOBS: QPR

The final game of the league season saw QPR visit the SoL, and the Lads once again failed to function. With eleven corners to their one, they managed one shot on target, Patterson had next to nowt to do, but we didn't manage to beat their keeper. Their fifth minute goal was enough to ensure our worst run of form since we were last relegated and did nothing to instill confidence ahead of the double-header against...... Coventry.

If ever there was a game we needed to win, and win well, it was this one. Get the confidence, both on and off the pitch, back up and have us flying into the playoffs - and with the Hoops having effectively sacked their manager for applying for the West Bromwich job (with Albion saying that he's not even on their radar) they should have been in one of their messy streaks.

With Jobe and Riggy having been the recipients of awards, and the squad having had a few days in the sun, the Lads had every reason to feel relaxed and ready. Another early start meant that we'd know our destination next Friday night by half two (sorry, half three. I forgot Coventry)and could chase tickets to add to the ones that had caused Ticketmaster so much grief on Tuesday. Goodbye and good riddance to them, I say. I'd spent much of the last week trying to build a spreadsheet I could use to see which results meant which opponents, but it spontaneously combusted on Thursday. Even Monty the bus dog couldn't work out where I'd be on Friday, but he did find my sandwiches and very nearly got a bite.

Patterson

Hume O'Nien Mepham Cirkin

Neil (c) Bellingham Rigg

Roberts Mayenda Le Fee

..and a bench of Moore, Browne, Ballard, Isidor, Watson, Samed, Aleksic, Hjelde, and Jones.

QPR kicked off North in brilliant sunshine, backed by an impressive following. After only four minutes, and despite us giving Colback the boos, they cut us apart down our left and with no defensive midfielders, we allowed the ball into the box to be whacked high past Patto. Bugger - fancy QPR knacking our season up late on. They do have history for it.

Not the start we wanted or expected. Two corners in quick succession came to nothing, and with Jobe deep and Neil further forward, we lacked a clear route to Mayenda. As with all visiting sides, they knew we'd hit it down the weekend ngs to Roberts or Le Fee, and duly doubled up defensively there.

Cirkin looked a bit off the pace, and did well to keep out of the way of the their number 12, who seemed intent on committing GBH on anybody he could get close to. A bit of comment by Neil on the half hour brought a yellow - but at least it was a bit of excitement.

Another flurry of corners came with a couple of minutes left of the half, and we called for Ballard to come on and play up top, as Colback and friends did the wrestling stuff before ball was in play.

Two minutes were added, then some impressive music from The The and others was played to mitigate the fact that, as things stood, it'd be Coventry on Friday. Boo, but we spent the break reminding folks of Southampton's pre-playoff form a year ago.

It was worse than ours this season, honestly. Having said that, in the previous game and a half at home, we've conceded twice from two shots on target. Not much to be happy about

QPR brought on their Cuccurela lookalike (oh for a bit of chut to clag in his hair) while we made no changes for the second half, but moved Neil back to his natural position. There was a miss by Roberts that preceded some mad offside decisions against Lev Fee who was at least five yards on, then two others. Their 12 pretended to be hurt and Luke was booked for pointing out that it was a sham as the ref decided to make our day even worse than it already was. There was a yellow for Cuccurela for stopping us taking a goal kick, but we still couldn't really make any coherent headway.

On the hour, and with Colback pretending to be hurt, Mepham made way for Ballard. The ginger Pirlo wasn't exactly warmly applauded off. Enzo moved central for a brief period before a couple more daft reffing decisions then another two Hoops laid down. Isidor and Watson made ready as two visitors should have been off for being treated on the field - but none were. Le Fee was clattered late, and we eventually made the changes. Off went Rigg and Neil on 74.

Five later, with Le Fee again central, Roberts was fouled 25+ out and we hit the free into the wall. Typical.

We win a corner on 85, and took it short but a rugby tackle on the spot then a clear pull on Watson went unpunished. I wonder which opticians the ref doesn't use. Six added minutes were spent with Ballard up front, and he manfully hoyed himself into challenges but got nothing we could pick up on.

Given the performance they really shouldn't have bothered with the "lap of appreciation" but they'd promised it so I suppose they had to do it. Just to make things worse, Coventry were confirmed as our playoff foes.

I blame it all on my new flat cap, making its debut today and which chose Bellingham as our Man of the Match. Clever cap.