I know that many of my loyal readers enjoy the traffic reports section of these reports. I have had literally 000’s of e-mails saying how pleasing it was to find out that last Friday night the M6 to Wolves was relatively clear. I am quite often given compliments such as “at least the traffic reports are not such self-evident tosh as what you write about the match itself”. Well gentle reader, prepare yourself for a tale that will chill you to the core. Our lass turned up at my office just off Trafalgar Square at 4.30 and we hopped into my car parked under the office. The going was slow to Shepherd’s Bush and it was about 5.20 when we were driving past the pre-arranged pub on Shepherd’s Bush Green. All we had to do was turn up Wood Lane and head the 800 yards (according to Sat Nav) to the car park we always use, opposite the BBC Television Centre. At 10 to bloody 7 we were parking up! For crying out loud, what was all that about. We inched (exaggeration – it was slower than that) up Wood Lane as a succession of police cars and ambulances forced their way through the stationary traffic – not one of them stopping to ask “are there any football supporters desperate for a beer who would like to follow our blue flashing lights?”. I think the 999 services need some training on the real meaning of the word “emergency”.
Thinking the KO was 7.45 (it was in fact 8) we headed for the Springbok next to the ground calling the people whose tickets I had to let them know the change of plan. The Springbok was surprisingly easy to get served and we managed to top up to the level of alcohol needed to watch SAFC by the cunning ruse of drinking faster (I know you like a happy ending).
We were at 4-5-1 again. This time it was the big man up front ploy with 50% of Brown-Murphy playing that role (reports suggest it was the M bit – but personally I can’t see it as Brown-Murphy can be divided but not separated into its constituent parts). Yorke was dropped and I was confirmed in my conviction of how much better Kav plays when he is the lone experienced head in the middle. How frustrating – you wait ages for a calming influential experienced central midfielder to come along and then suddenly you get two at once. Somewhat surprisingly Deano was dropped (I suspect for having the same song as Keano) and the Nuggs was at RB – much to the delight of the travelling support for whom he is becoming an iconic figure of Dick Malone proportions. My own theory that he is in fact a genetically re-engineered Dick Malone but with different skin colour to throw us off is not gaining currency although anyone who has watched both play can no more tell the difference between them than Stork and Butter.
The game kicked off, which was an encouraging sign for those of us who enjoy such traditions, and we started winning. This was the SAFC of Elland Road. I thoroughly enjoyed the match. We should have murdered them – but at least we won. Both our goals came in the first half (hooray) but were down the other end (boo) but at least I’d remembered my glasses (hooray) and for once I was in the upper tier (hooray) so got a decent view of the. The first one was hilarious. The ball came out to Leadbitter at the edge of a crowded box and he sliced a shot somehere towards the right corner flag. Someone (Varga I think) headed it/it bounced off him (depending on how generous you are being) and it took some of the slice off it – straight at Murphy who headed it/it bounced off (depending on how generous you are being) into the net. Hooray and ha-ha we said (not necessarily in that order).
What happened next was not funny at all. Murphy might well have been offside (I certainly don’t know). The crowd in the corner thought he was and thought the linesmen in front of them should have thought so as well. At least two bottles were thrown at him that I saw. The ref stopped the match for several minutes – but it has to be said the policing and stewarding in the corner hardly seemed to increase at all. If this was Millwall they’d have the ground closed. I have nothing against QPR (in fact I rather like the club) but action needs to be taken when things like this happen. Those of us who have lived through some of the nastier times in football do not want to see them return and to state the blindingly obvious, you just can’t allow this.
Anyways, back to the football. QPR then “scored” but it was ruled offside. “Ah well that is football” said the QPR supporters. The silly billy of a tannoy announcer pressed the button to play their “victory” music and took an age to realise there was no goal. “Let’s not laugh at the opposition when they are down” we said.
Leadbitter then scored a peach. He controlled a long ball through to him and then rounded the goalkeeper. He more than anyone is benefiting from the 4-5-1 and is looking good at present.
The second half we again dominated but just couldn’t score. Wallace had two easy chances – one ludicrously so and missed them both. Elliott had a free header but sent it over. Connolly hit the inside of the post. Etc, etc. Inevitably they scored to make us sweat. And right at the end Ward made a terrific save getting down low to a ball on the line.
All in all, a very good three points, some very encouraging play – and like at, say, Hull and at home to Colchester, just a bit of frustration that we aren’t turning domination on the field into domination of the score line.
John aka Herts