The Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium, Loftus Road, home of Queens Park Rangers based in West London and compete in the 2nd tier of English Football in the Championship. Better known as QPR and they are nicknamed the “hoops” after the club’s hooped shirts. My first Football League ground in London!! And for the second time in 2 weeks, it’s the live Sky Sports Championship game at 12:30! Let’s hope for another cracker!
On the train to London St Pancras from Sheffield. 2 hours later and here I am! And now off to the London Underground I go! And here we are! £33 to watch this Championship tie! Be worth it! Out come the players to the famous Pigbag song!
Kick Off! “Come on you Rs!” QPR fans going for it early on! “Barnsley Barnsley Barnsley!” Barnsley fans in fine voice as well! 11 minutes in and QPR lose the ball in midfield and Barnsley play a good passing move forward, it comes to Clarke Oduor 20 yards out and he shoots… Good save by the keeper and it’s out for a corner, in it comes… QPR clear.
“We are QPR! Say we are QPR!” 14 minutes now and Barnsley play a chipped through ball down the left flank to Dominik Frieser, he runs onto it and gets into the box and he shoots… He scores!!! 0-1!! Barnsley lead here!
“We’ll never be mastered! By you southern b*****ds!! Barnsley fans giving it large now! “We are QPR! Say we are QPR!” QPR fans giving it back! 17th minute and Barnsley have a throw in on the right, they get it down the right wing and the cross comes in, a free header… It’s wide! Big chance there!
19th minute and QPR clear straight to a Barnsley man, they work it forward brilliantly to Cauley Woodrow, he’s 25 yards out and he shoots… Good save by the keeper… Goal kick given by the Referee… Poor decision! A definite save by the keeper there!
Barnsley playing well here today, the fans think it’s just like watching Brazil! 24 minutes in and QPR have a corner, played short… Barnsley force them back, QPR fight back and get it down the right and cross in… Over and out for a throw in for Barnsley. 27 minutes on the clock and Barnsley have a corner now, in it comes… Headed away, Barnsley get it back, it’s chipped into the box for Callum Styles who runs in on the right, he plays it across… It’s 2!!! Cauley Woodrow is there! And Barnsley look really comfortable here!
31 minutes now and the Barnsley keeper lumps it forward, it’s headed on to Frieser, he plays it back, brilliant football by Barnsley and it’s played through for Cauley Woodrow… Good save by the keeper and it’s out for a corner, in it comes… Headed away but only to Clarke Oduor and he shoots… Blocked! QPR clear.
33 minutes now and QPR give the ball away in their own half again… Clarke Oduor gets onto it and drives forward, he dances around the defence and gets into the box and he shoots… Wide. 36th minute and QPR make 2 changes, something’s got to give here! The game fizzles out and the score at half time remains a 2 goal lead for Barnsley!
Second half, 53rd minute and Barnsley have a corner, in it comes… The keeper tips it over! Nearly all the way in! Corner comes in.. it’s headed away to Romal Palmer who hooks it back in… QPR get there first and head away for another corner, it’s played to the edge of the box for Callum Styles to shoot… Scuffed! QPR break forward, challenge by Callum Styles… QPR fans are not happy! Yellow card shown to Styles. I thought so too I have to say.
57th minute and QPR have a corner, in it comes… Jimmy Dunne with the header… Just wide! Big chance there! 68th minute and here come QPR, the ball is played through for Charlie Austin… He scuffs his shot wide… he had time and space as he got into the box there…
70 minutes now and QPR have a free kick on the right hand side in a crossing position, in it comes… Here’s Charlie Austin!! What a save by the Barnsley keeper there!!! 75 minutes and Barnsley come forward now, Cauley Woodrow is away down the left, he plays it across to Dominik Frieser… It’s a bad ball and QPR clear… Could have easily finished off QPR there!
76th minute and QPR come forward now, Ilias Chair has the ball on the left, he beats his men and gets into the box, he drives towards goal and he shoots… It’s in!!! Off the bar!! It’s 1-2!! QPR are not dead yet!!
“ALLY ALLY ALLY O! QPR FC! BORN IN WHITE CITY!” QPR fans in fine voice once again! 80th minute and a goal kick for Barnsley comes forward… All the way to Cauley Woodrow… He gets around the keeper… Tight angle… He’s missed… He puts it over! Big chance there!
84 minutes on the watch and QPR have a free kick about 25-30 yards out, number 6 steps up… Off the wall! It’s played back in… Keeper collects. 90th minute and QPR come forward in search of the equaliser again, they have it down the left, it’s crossed in low and here’s Charlie Austin!!! HE’S DONE IT!!!!! 2-2!! Would you credit it!? Charlie Austin again for QPR!!!!
“2 nil and you f****d it up 2 nil!” QPR fans giving it to the Barnsley fans now! QPR come forward now… They couldn’t could they!? They drive forward and pile on the pressure but it is not going to be a copy of Peterborough last week sadly…
FT: QPR 2-2 Barnsley
Ratings
- Atmosphere: 8/10 – Both sets of fans did brilliantly today!! The QPR fans edging it in the atmosphere battle and had some great chants!
- The Ground: 7/10 – I like this ground! Really close to the pitch and it’s got a lot of character! Sadly though, it does have some restricted views which I hate…
- Expense: 9/10 – £33 may be a bit much, but with late drama like that, not too shabby!
- Overall Experience: 8.5/10 – I had a good time here overall! A good game in a good ground!
32.5/40