QPR will face Watford at a sold-out Loftus Road in the fifth round of the FA Cup – the first time Rangers have been this far in the competition for 22 years.
Rangers will be hoping home advantage in front of a packed house under the lights helps them to victory – as it has done on other memorable Loftus Road nights.
After a goalless first leg, Rangers fans were hoping to recreate the atmosphere of a breathtaking victory over Oldham in the club’s only previous involvement in the play-offs.
The noise levels didn’t quite match those reached 11 years earlier, but it was still one of the nosiest, most memorable atmospheres at Loftus Road for many a year, with Rangers recovering from a goal down to win in extra time courtesy of Charlie Austin’s double. They would go on to win promotion against Derby at Wembley.
A crucial and dramatic win as Rangers escaped relegation, they somehow came back from two down to beat Liverpool 3-2. Djibril Cissé headed in an equaliser against his former club before Jamie Mackie went through to score the winner.
Unbeatable in terms of atmosphere, what a night it was at Loftus Road. Paul Furlong’s goal took Rangers through to the play-off final in dramatic style, sparking wild celebrations.
Whatever happens tonight, the current Rangers side would have to go some to match the drama, excitement and noise of a brilliant night in 1990, when Don Howe’s Rangers dumped Arsenal out in a frenetic replay on the way to the quarter-finals. In torrential rain, Kenny Sansom crashed in the opening goal against his former club, Roy Wegerle ran Arsenal ragged, it was a night which seemed to mark turning points in the QPR careers of the outstanding David Bardsley and Simon Barker, and Andy Sinton sealed the win with seconds remaining before diving into the Loft in celebration.
A packed Loftus Road saw Terry Fenwick’s goal secure a 1-0 win to take to Anfield for the second leg, where a draw clinched a place at Wembley. It was a night to remember – as was a fourth-round win against Nottingham Forest in which Gary Bannister and John Byrne scored last-minute goals.
This post was last modified on 15/02/2019