[themaclad]

QPR line-up: Lumley, Kane, Hall ©, Cameron, Pugh, Hugill, Eze (Amos, 87), Manning, Osayi-Samuel, Wells (Scowen, 67), Leistner. Subs not used: Barnes, Wallace, Smith, Ball, Chair.

PNE line-up: Rudd, Rafferty, Hughes, Pearson, Huntington, Storey, Barkhuizen (Nugent, 62), Browne ©, Stockley (Bodin, 57), Potts (Harrop, 62), Maguire. Subs not used: Hudson, Clarke, Bayliss, Ledson.

Attendance: 12,179 (1,305 PNE fans)

Onwards and downwards at the moment another defeat, no goals and generally not playing well, yep we have a few injuries but we still put 11 out on the pitch, Hughes returned at left back and Rafferty returned to his natural position of right back and duly had his worst game for a while as did most of them the honourable exception being Pearson whose battle with Eze was the highlight of a fairly mundane game.As in recent away games the build up was slow which gave the home side plenty of time to funnel back and stop us from playing through them the other alternative was to lob it long to Stockley who occasionally won them however with nobody around him was easy fodder for the defenders to pick up. Only action in the first 15 minutes waas Rangers scoring Eze with some neat footwork on the edge of the ball beat Pearson, Rudd did save the first but couldn't save the second effort. Deserved lead we were well off the pace until Pearson started to get the ball, we looked better Browne had a shot which hit the stancion behind the goal. North End seemed a bit vulnerable down the home right Hughes looked rusty however some of our passing was utterly abysmal. Both keepers were barely troubled during the first half.

Better in the second got into some decent positions but final ball was more often than not pap, slightly against the run of play Rangers scored a second from the spot, was a bit miffed that about a minute before the spot kick we probably should have had a free kick at the other end, it went to Rangers, as for the penalty Rudd brought someone down may have been a bit of a fortunate decision but Eze sent Rudd the wrong way. Not coming back from this although if Bodin's effort had gone in and not been saved may have been different, not to be though.

Need to freshen the line up for Tuuesday would like to see Messers Green, Ginelly and Bayliss.
The away following was less than impressed a coupe of ejections for falling out with their own fans however some decent totty in the main stand.

On the train down to the smoke today, last day of the Virgin franchise, no staff on the way down so no food, they gave us a packet of sweets on the way home and uniquely the train changed ownership to Avanti mid journey.

QPR manager Mark Warburton:

"The save he (Lumley) made late in the game, low to his left, was a world-class save. He's 24 and in goalkeeping terms that's very young still.

"He's come through a couple of mistakes and showed his quality - he was outstanding for us today. He's learned from his mistakes, the crowd supported him and I'm delighted.

"We've got Ebere (Eze), Nahki Wells and Jordan Hugill, so we've got front players scoring goals, which is what you need.

"The clean sheet also takes the pressure off the defence."

Preston boss Alex Neil told BBC Lancashire:

"First half we didn't really do too much going forward - we had probably two opportunities. I thought the second half was a bit better, we moved the ball better and looked more threatening.

"The key moments that came up in the game, they took. We should probably have had a foul on the far side, then the next move leads to their penalty.

"I think the penalty's a dubious one as well - the referee said he wasn't sure, hence the reason he went and spoke to his linesman and the linesman said he didn't see it.

"I don't know how you can give a penalty if you're not sure - there must be at least six bodies in front of him. That took the wind out of our sails a bit."