QPR 3-0 Grimsby

By: Richard Lord
Date: 11/04/2004

A late equalising goal at Sheffield Wednesday kept the Mariners out of the bottom four this afternoon, despite a disappointing 3-0 defeat at high-flying QPR.

Brentford were on the verge of a vital victory at Hillsborough to take them out of the relegation zone, but a late goal denied them all three points and the Bees have had to settle for just the one.

Town manager Nicky Law decided to make three changes to the team that beat Sheffield Wednesday last weekend. Two were enforced as Rankin and Mansaram were injured so Antoine-Curier and Rowan filled the breach up front.

More crucially, Law handed a rest to Stacy Coldicott and Craig Armstrong replaced him in central midfield alongside Jamie Lawrence.

However, the plan went out of the window very early in the game when Lawrence appeared to suffer serious damage to his leg. It remains unclear as to how serious the injury is, but it's likely that he won't feature again this season.

Coldicott came on in place of Lawrence, but minutes later it looked as though Rowan was struggling with an injury, but he played on and completed the match.

QPR, undefeated at home in the league this season, took the lead minutes before the break. Paul Furlong controversially netted the opener despite claims that Fettis was fouled in the process.

Antoine-Curier was replaced with John Thorrington for the second half, with Phil Jevons moving to play up front alongside Rowan.

Gareth Ainsworth then appeared to strike Jevons in the face, but with the linesman just yards away, the referee gave Coldicott a talking to.

Towards the end of the game, Armstrong pulled up with an injury and was replaced by Paul Warhurst, who slotted in at the back and Tony Crane moved up front in order to find an equaliser.

Six minutes from the end, QPR doubled their lead when Marc Bircham volleyed home from 18 yards. It was 3-0 two minutes later as Furlong netted his second of the game.

Fettis pulled off a great save to keep it at 3-0, but the final whistle couldn't have come soon enough for the Mariners.

Wycombe, Notts County and Chesterfield all lost today, and Brentford's point fails to take them above Grimsby in the table so Town drop just one place after Stockport won handsomely at Saltergate.

Oldham's late equaliser at home to Peterborough keep both teams in the danger zone, and Rushden failed to pull themselves clear following a 3-2 home defeat to resurgent Barnsley.

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