MILLWALL go into their penultimate league fixture needing to win to ensure they have a chance of reaching the play-offs on the final day of the season.
However, the Lions will need to break a run of nine games and more than 31 years without a win at QPR to guarantee their involvement in a last-day shootout for sixth.
Alex Grace spoke to Rangers fan Chris Hermitage this week.
Why do you support QPR?
My Dad is a QPR fan but he never forced it upon me.
My first game at Loftus Road (now Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium) was a 4-3 win against Wycombe in Division 2. Two red cards, three penalties and so much action. From that game I was hooked. We got season tickets the next year and have done ever since.
What has been your favourite season following Rangers?
Easily the 2010-11 season when we won the Championship under Neil Warnock.
Seeing Adel Taarabt at his very best was a joy to watch. We had the perfect combination of defensive solidity, hard work and goal-scoring ability in that squad.
I doubt any Rangers fan in the past 25 years would say it’s a different season. (Possibly promotion from Division 2 under Ian Holloway in 2003-04.)
We didn’t expect a lot at the start of that 2010-11 season, ended up winning the league with the best player I’ve seen in a QPR shirt. Taarabt had us on the edge of our seats every game.
And the worst?
2012-13. Relegation from the Premier League, bottom of the league and four wins all season.
Beating Chelsea away 1-0 that season was the only highlight. It’s the season that epitomises being careful what you wish for when your club is close to promotion. Two goalkeepers on a combined 150k a week, Chris Samba, Jose Bosingwa, etc. Bad, bad memories. That was an ugly season.
It was a great start to the campaign for Rangers, but things have tailed off – has this season been a success in the eyes of the fans?
In my eyes it has been a success. Before the season a lot of fans were very worried we would be involved in the relegation battle, so being clear of that whilst scoring as many goals as we have done can only be seen in a positive light.
We are the fifth highest scorers in the league and we haven’t been close to that in a long time. Manager Mark Warburton brought in 16 players in the summer with us continuing to trim the wage bill. He’s done that well whilst playing the best football we’ve had in years.
The loss of Nakhi Wells was a big blow in January, we expected it but it hurt all the same. He linked up with Ebere Eze, Bright Osayi-Samuel and Ilias Chair so well in the front four.
It’s been a difficult return for QPR since lockdown with just one win so far – why do you think this is?
It’s been a massive struggle to understand our awful run since lockdown. Putting it down to effort seems simplistic but that’s a big aspect of it.
The loss of captain Grant Hall due to him not agreeing to an extended or new deal has certainly had an impact. We were second in the form table pre-lockdown and we felt we had an outside chance of the play-offs with Barnsley and Charlton our next games. We showed so little against both so those hopes were gone quickly.
A 3-0 defeat to Sheffield Wednesday was the lowest point of the season for me, we looked so disinterested and couldn’t muster anything of quality.
Those home games would have been a lot different with fans in the stadium urging the players on, now it’s about how quickly the season can end.
This is Mark Warburtons’s first season in charge of the club – is he the man to carry on next season?
100 per cent he is.
He’s got the best out of our young talent playing good and exciting football. We need stability and a manager who has clear plans. He has that.
He understands the club doesn’t have a lot of money and is about finding talent, developing it then selling on for profit. Warburton seems to have a good relationship with director of football Les Ferdinand and CEO Lee Hoos which is what the club needs.
Millwall signed Matt Smith last summer, and he is the Lions’ top scorer this season. What was the feeling amongst the fans when he departed?
He didn’t fit the way Warburton wanted to play so the fans understood it and wished him well.
Matt Smith did well for us, came up with big goals and was always a danger in the box. I’m glad to see him scoring goals at doing well at Millwall.
What are your thoughts on Millwall’s season and Lions boss Gary Rowett?
You’ve had a great season and Rowett has outperformed my expectations from the outside. To be that close to the play-offs without spending a lot of money is a great achievement
Do you think Millwall could steal that last play-off spot?
I don’t think so but it will be very close. The loss to Middlesbrough seems like a key one. Cardiff’s final two games should see them pick up the points required against Boro and Hull.
If you could sign one Millwall player, who would it be and why?
Jed Wallace. Always an attacking threat with goals and assists in his game.
I imagine most managers facing Millwall create a game-plan to try to nullify him and rightly so. He also said on a podcast earlier this season that Ebere Eze is the best player in the league so the fact he recognises that goes down well!
What is your predicted team and formation?
3-4-3
Lumley; Masterson, Cameron, Barbet; Kakay, Ball, Amos, Manning; Osayi-Samuel, Chair, Eze.
With no Jordan Hugill our striker options are very limited so Warburton will likely start our best three attacking players and they will rotate and swap positions. Same front three we played against Luton and we got a point.
Will you be following at home?
Yes I will, but won’t be expecting much given the previous games.
Finally, a score prediction?
2-0 to Millwall.
Graphic: @ShedCreative