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With 7 games left — 3 of which are against clubs around us — we'd probably need 5 wins — quite a tall order.
We started the game well enough with Palmer at last looking comfortable in his midfield role and Pacquette looking lively upfront. Pacquette has been the subject of some very unfair criticism lately. He's 18 and needs people to get behind him. He needs to toughen up though. I don't mean by getting himself sent off (like at Cardiff!) but by showing just a little more aggression and not being so nice all the time. There were a couple of occasions today when the defender brushed him aside far too easily. Hopefully this will come though as he gains more first team experience.
The subs bench today was a complete contrast to recent games when we've had young kids on it and was probably the strongest we've had all season: Thomson, Doudou, Peacock, Murphy & Bull. Although Holloway decided to bring Thomson, Doudou and Peacock on altogether, Peacock was largely anonymous and Thomson missed a sitter when he somehow put his shot wide from 6 yards out.
Chesterfield could have won it at the end when through for a one-on-one with Evans but the striker failed to bring the ball down under control.
I still think we are making progress and we should remain positive — I didn't think we'd make the play-offs at the start of the season so I'm not too disappointed with our current position.
There's been games earlier this season where some of the players attitudes have been questionable. Against Chesterfield you could see every player was desperate for the victory — it may not have been the result we wanted but you can't fault their effort and commitment.
My ratings;
QPR: Evans 6; Forbes 6 (Peacock 6), Ben Askar 7, Shittu 7, Bignot 6; Langley
7, Rose 6, Palmer 7, Griffiths 5 (Doudou 6); Pacquette 6 (Thomson 6), Gallen
7. SNU: Bull, Murphy.