
This was it for QPR fans: apart from those deluded / faithful enough to think they'd get a point or 3 from Manchester City's Etihad Stadium on the last day of the Barclay's Premiership season next Sunday, Queens Park Rangers' game against Stoke City on the 6th of May 2012 was a vital win for the Rs if they had any hope of staying in the league. They knew Stoke would not lie down for them; not just for the sake of their pride, but also because a win for the Potters would increase their chance of ending the season in the top half of the Premiership, beating their previous best points tally in the top flight. City's intentions were clear from the team sheet as their manager Tony Pulis opted for an attacking 4-5-1 formation with Jerome & Fuller out wide, while Mark Hughes' similar formation meant Taarabt started back his 1 game red card suspension, with Cisse on the bench. The pressure on the home team at Loftus Road, coupled with Stoke's tradition of closing down teams, meant that the battle of the Welsh managers started a nervous affair, broken by former QPR player Crouch's flick on to Jerome's bursting run, only for Jerome to lift his shot over Rs' keeper Kenny's bar. But it was a corner a few minutes later, at the other end of the pitch, that seemed to explode west London. Much maligned Barton, fresh from his appearance with Jeremy Paxman on Newsnight earlier in the week, topped one of his best performances in the season by trying a shot on target. When it came out to <b>...</b>
Djibril Cisse goal
queens park rangers
QPR 1-0 Stoke
loftus road