My nerves are quite simply shot to pieces.
What a game that was and even for the neutrals it must have been a fantastic game to watch; a game that was played in the way footy is meant to be played, with both teams playing very openly and just going for the win.
Unfortunately, at the same time, it was technically shocking, especially defensively.
But who cares when you get entertainment like that?
We were without doubt the better side in the first half, even though QPR did well in taking the lead (albeit with some more awful defending). And then Benteke took the ball on the left, cut inside to shoot and got a deflection to beat Rob Green.
Benteke’s second came with a run on goal from near enough the halfway line, where he showed great skill in using the last man to blind Green and deftly finish.
2-1 at half time and deservedly so.
We came out in a similar vein in the second half, but Chris Ramsey made a couple of very early subs and while the timing seemed odd, they definitely worked, as Austen was allowed to play more central, when he’d been forced out wide in the first half.
QPR began to get more control in the middle and it wasn’t a big surprise when QPR scored from a corner to make it two each.
It was even less of a surprise to me when QPR took a 3-2 lead, as we’d lost all of our impetus, via of all people Charlie Austin, who took a touch and clattered it past Guzan.
Things were looking a bit ominous, but we got a free kick and Benteke hit a cracker, which went in off the left post.
Three each was the result and Benteke looked pretty upset and sat on his haunches for a fair while after the whistle blew.
I’d love to know what he was thinking, but my guess is it was either “What do we have to do to win a game?” or maybe more likely, “Why am I having to play with this load of rubbish around me?”
Because that’s the sad truth of it.
We’re a very poor team, who played another very poor team and even though we got a point, I’m disappointed.
We needed the win today and you won’t convince me a point is ok.
But still, that said, what a game.
So much better than most of the tripe we’ve witnessed for most of this season.
Even if we didn’t get the result we all wanted.
