QPR 1-1 Millwall - 26th April 2014

It was ironic in the end that after so much hard work and determination from the Millwall players that it was a former West Ham player who made the mistake that gave the Lions a point at Queens Park Rangers.

 

Due to their lowly league position, it was a game that Millwall could not afford to lose, but they wasted early chances. Quality was at a premium for most of the game and neither side looked like taking control.

 

QPR - who are already assured of a play-off place - rested some of their key players, namely striker Kevin Doyle and winger Junior Hoilett and it showed as the players who started the match were unable to get past Millwall goalkeeper David Forde for most of the game.

 

The home side were sluggish for most of the first half, but sprung into life after the break. Joey Barton, Tom Carroll and Ravel Morrison all went close. Barton hit a shot wide of the right-hand post and both Morrison and Carroll fired over the bar.

 

It was QPR’s top scorer, Charlie Austin, who provided a moment of quality though. Simeon Jackson was adjudged to have handled Hoilett’s cross just inside the area and Austin slotted in the spot kick for his 17^th goal of the season.

 

The competitive performance from Millwall showed why they deserve to be in the Championship next season, but also highlighted that they need to strengthen in attack, as Stefan Maierhofer and Scott Malone both wasted good chances.

 

In the end, their persistence paid off as Malone’s scuffed shot was misjudged by QPR keeper Green and the ball went spinning into the back of the net to extend Millwall’s unbeaten run to seven.

 

 

Ian Holloway on the decision to award QPR a penalty: “I think handball should be deliberate. It might have hit his hand but was it in the box and was it deliberate?
 
“If there hadn't been a whistle, not one person behind that goal would have jumped up looking for a penalty - and I know this ground pretty well. I can't believe what I saw.
 
“I've had the benefit of watching it six or seven times, but even when watching it in real speed I thought it was harsh.”
 
 
QPR manager Harry Redknapp: “When you're 1-0 up in the last minute you expect to see the game out.
 
“It's difficult to balance a team and maybe we had too many players who are good when they have the ball and not so good when they haven't got it.
 
“When we didn't have possession we didn't close down as well as I would have liked. It's about finding that balance and a happy medium and that's what we've got to do for the play-offs.
 
“Millwall played well. They've got bags of enthusiasm and have had some great away results recently, so they've been in good form.”
 
On the penalty decision: “I haven't seen the replay, but everyone who has seen it says it was a penalty.”


I was at the match whilst on placement at The Sunday Times and attended it with legendary journalist Brian Glanville.