Hoop Dreams - QPR FC

It has been a long and trying season for QPR. One that promised much in the early autumn but which also threatened unthinkable lows as spring came around. Now, with the first hint of stability which they've craved for so long seemingly in place, all eyes are already on next season.

In the meantime, the R's had a tricky final game against the champions Newcastle United, a side in need of just one further point to finish on 100 for the season. It provided the Hoops with an opportunity to show they can compete with the best teams in the league; conversely, it also threatened to mark up how far the gap is between the home side and that going into the Premiership.

The packed away end was suitably boisterous from the first minute, though they had little to cheer on the pitch in the opening exchanges. It was Rangers that forged the first clear-cut sight on goal after neat interplay between Akos Buzsaky and Jay Simpson left Tamas Priskin with the freedom to shoot just outside the area, but he ballooned his effort well over the bar.

Buzsaky wasted an even better chance not long after. The ball broke to him in the area but on the turn he too could only lift his effort high into the arms of the Geordies behind the goal. It was certainly the home side crafting the better opportunities inside the first twenty minutes though.

Alejandro Faurlin, a player with a very realistic chance of being awarded the club's Player of the Year award tonight, has brought much to the team, not least greater composure on the ball then many of his teammates can muster, but goalscoring is not a noted feature of his game. With just one strike to his name so far, he too went close, stinging a long-range drive at the palms of reserve keeper Tim Krul and Jay Simpson wasn't far off connecting with the rebound. Dusko Tosic could also have opened his account for QPR, cutting in from the left before curling a rather tame shot into Krul's arms.

Their fans weren't overly worried, singing through a roll-call of their team and past legends, including Bobby Robson throughout the half. The topless Northerner at a cold football game has been seen enough to border on stereotype, but one Magpies fan took it a step further, wearing a green "Borat" body-thong, which verged on the obscence. The sight below will not hopefully become too commonplace at football grounds around the country:

Up front, Shola Ameboi struggled to make any impact on the game, except for one shot on the turn which went comfortably over Radek Cerny's goal and he at one point so over hit his pass that he was taunted with "You're getting sold in the summer" by the Rangers fans.

Surprisingly, it was Rangers' top scorer who made the most wasteful intervention on the verge of half-time. Played through on goal, he had ages to compose himself and even take it round the goalie, but he chose to over-reach for the ball and shoot first-time, allowing his strike to limply land to Krul. You could tell this game wasn't to be taken too seriously when both sets of footballers stopped playing at the sound of a whistle which actually came from the Newcastle fans. The referee had to reconvene them to play a few more seconds.

One player will have wished the game could have ended there.

Few, if any, players have improved as much as Peter Ramage in the last few weeks as he has been shifted to his natural position at centre-back and few players will have had a greater emotional investment in this game, as a former Newcastle player. The switch in position meant it was Ramage who had to contend with Ameobi when he broke on goal straight after the break and in bringing him down on the edge of the area, he conceded a free-kick but most damagingly, was sent from the field of play. He looked distraught at the turn of events; some of the Newcastle fans sportingly sang his name.

It forced Neil Warnock into an earlier switch then he would have liked, bringing on youngster Josh Parker for Lee Cook. He went in at right-back, with Mikele Leigertwood moving to partner Gorkss at the back.

Amazingly, it was still QPR creating the better chances and a surging run and pass from Jay Simpson set up Tamas Priskin to lift the ball into the net, only to be judged offside.

Newcastle threw Peter Lovenkrands on but were still unable to make any advantage over the depleted Rangers side.

Simpson was threatening on the break but his decision-making had deserted him. Played into space on the wing by Hogan Ephraim, he chose to cut in and run at three players rather then attempt to find strike partner Priskin who was free in the centre of the box.

The lack of bite up front finally told when Lovenkrands opened the scoring. His ability in the top tier is still to be proven, but he produced a finish worthy of a higher stage, calmly clipping the ball over Cerny from a tight angle.

Simpson too could move up to a higher division, though it's unlikely to be with his own club Arsenal, but if this was his QPR swansong, he seemed determined to not mark it with goal. Within minutes of Lovenkrands' strike, he caught Fabricio Coloccini flat-footed and had a clear line to the net again, but struck the ball at Krul who was quick off his line.

The numerical advantage soon threatened to widen the gap between the two teams even further, Newcastle sub Harris Vuckic going close with a curled shot to the far post. Lovenkrands too could have doubled his tally with minutes to go, volleying on the turn but without enough power to trouble Cerny. A free header for Priskin at the other end should have levelled the game were it not for the commanding Krul, who was making a definite claim for more playing time.

A line of police prevented the pitch invasion that the Newcastle fans so dearly wanted on the final whistle but they could already turn their minds to a quick return to the Premiership. QPR too couldn't be downhearted about this result and a performance which showed that if they build on the early promise under Neil Warnock, they could yet follow Newcastle's path one day.