QPR's corner tally from the last two games stands at 25. Not once have we looked like scoring from one, and when the umpteenth was returned to Langley via the nearest defender's head with an hour gone against Blackpool, a collective sigh went up. Everyone expected Langley to control the ball and pump in another hopeful cross, but what followed was quite extraordinary. With the ball about to bounce, Langley unleashed the most stunning of left-foot volley's that sailed over the dozen or so players in the penalty box and gleefully smashed into the back of the net. After a moment of disbelief, Langley and every home supporter went wild. An absolutely fantastic goal.
I only hope the goal looks as good on TV as it did at first hand — the camera angle should be perfect to capture the best goal since Trevor Sinclair's bicycle kick against Barnsley some five years ago.
The goal put the game beyond Blackpool, who were a shadow of the side that destroyed QPR at Bloomfield Road back in September. But on this form by QPR, anybody in this league would have been made to look ordinary.
We may be down to bare bones, as Holloway recently pointed out, but the last two home games suggest there's plenty of life left in this season for QPR. I haven't witnessed two consecutive performances this season where we've actually looked comfortable playing 4-4-2 — all the more surprising considering the team is virtually having to pick itself due to all the injuries.
Bignot has finally found a position that suits him at left-back — he's been faultless in these past two games. We've missed the cool-headed Ben Askar in defence, whilst Palmer finally proved against Blackpool he can play in midfield. Griffiths has found an injection of confidence from somewhere and is starting to look OK down the left, whilst Gallen has found his scoring boots again. Only Pacquette has been found wanting from the two games, but with Thomson hopefully fit to start against Cardiff, Pacquette will benefit from the rest.
We slaughtered Wigan for the first 30 minutes but suffered in the second half because we failed to make the vital breakthrough. The same could have easily happened against Blackpool, but when Gallen volleyed home from close range shortly before half-time, the goal was in many ways just as important as the beauty he scored in the last minute against Wigan. There isn't many goalscorers in this team, so we need to make the pressure count when we can.
The second half saw a continuation from the first, with QPR dominant but squandering chances. But after Langley conjured up his magic to put the game out of Blackpool's reach, thoughts once again turned to a push for the play-offs.
Cardiff is a must-win game on Tuesday, but a point would be fine. We're due a decent show on our travels, form would suggest we might just get it…
QPR: 4-4-2 – Evans 6 – Forbes 7, Ben Askar 7, Shittu 7, Bignot 7 – Langley 9, Palmer 7, Rose 8, Griffiths 7 – Pacquette 5 (72mins Doudou 6), Gallen 7. SNU: Bull, Murphy, Thomson, Oli.