Away Day Wiz Diaries #17 – Sheffield United 2-1 QPR

Our resident diarist is back, and just in time to see a win – in London, of all places.

Alan Pickard

At the top of the shop today, I’d like to publish a ‘thank you’ to Sam for writing from Luton. You see, I take the wife away for her birthday, and it clashed. So I was following along from slightly up north, in Iceland. Stunning place, if you've never been.

Going alright so far this season isn't it? There's been the odd blip, like in the last game against them from up the M1, but on the whole it's been a positive season. And I have to say, the mood on the 7:30am party bus to London was phenomenal. I've no idea what it is about QPR away, but our fans always seem really up for it? Strange one, but let's embrace it.

Speaking of blips. An apology. Those of you that still like to read my ramblings will have noticed no entry was made for Derby. This isn't because I wasn’t there. This is purely because I spent the Sunday and indeed Monday trying to work out why my head felt like I'd done 18 rounds with Mike Tyson. Suffice to say, lack of self control was to blame. And lack of memory was to blame for not making a diary entry. The picture below was taken at around 10am... so, yeah. You can imagine how the rest of the day went. Wavy day on the rattler that one. Will do better moving forward... Promise!

QPR, then. Today's plan of action is go straight to Shepherd’s Bush, see a few sights, find a pub, have a few beers. And that we did. We found the Wetherspoons first, which was home fans only. Except it wasn't, because the bouncer wasn't paying attention. Around 75 of us plotted up there. When the manager realised, we had to leave, but not before the nicest, and some might say thickest, person you could ever meet, Andrew, had poured his Eggs Benedict (don't ask, he's just odd) over himself!

There are a couple of designated away pubs down there though, so we walked round the corner to Belushi’s, and had a good old sing song, watched the beginning of Leeds’ demise (I'm not actually sure they'll fall apart, but it'd be funny if they did) and had a quality pinch of snuff. It does amaze me, whenever I bring a pot of snuff with me, just how many people want some! And somehow, I managed to lose the tin today. Wonder if we'd bother if it wasn't for the song?

Loftus Road Stadium: it's as tight as, well, something that's tight. Four stands reyt on top of the pitch, not the biggest, but engineered into a space that doesn't seem big enough. An old-school throwback if you like. We used to be allocated the lower and upper – indeed I've stood in both multiple times – but today we've only been allocated the upper. And the concourse has just enough room to swing a cat (do not try this at home).

First half, we looked in control bar the odd foray forward for QPR, which we repelled with ease. Our one-nil lead at the break coming from BBD who got himself on the end of a searching cross from the Brazilian, Vini Souza. He was, yet again, my MOTM. He's probably now more important than any player in the team, alongside Super Cooper.

Second half we got ourselves two up, BBD this time turning provider, Tyrese Campbell delivering a rasping strike into the top corner from 25 yards, keeper not standing a chance. The referee then somewhat harshly deemed Harrison Burrows to have deliberately handled and awarded them a penalty, which was duly converted, setting up a tenser than expected finale – but we saw it out pretty comfortably.

So, back within three points of the leaders, five in front of third (as I write) – all to play for isn't it? I'd love us to get the title. We always finish second!

Alternative MOTM today: I've had a good long think about this and I'm going to award it to Bobby Davison. Those two goals, on the 11th March, 33 years ago on my seventh birthday is the happiest I'd ever been watching footy as a kid. I turn 40 on that date this year. And the next time I consider writing about an away day will be a report from the dump…

See ya there, Wiz.

Gulp!