Newcastle United have taken a big step towards Premier League safety with a 2-1 win at Queens Park Rangers.
The Magpies went a goal behind early on, but recovered quickly with two goals before hal -time.
In the second half, neither team really created many opportunities but the visitors were forced to hang on when their goalkeeper was sent off for handling the ball outside the box, with 10 minutes left.
See how the action unfolded with Sports Mole's live coverage below.
Good afternoon and welcome to Sports Mole's live coverage of Newcastle United's visit to Queens Park Rangers.
This really is a huge game for the Magpies, and defeat would see them face a nervy final day against Arsenal. Even with a win, they could still be relegated if other results go against them.
QPR meanwhile, are already preparing for life in the Championship next season and I'm sure they would love to finish this season on a high.
The statistics are stacked against QPR though I'm afraid. They've only won twice at home all season and have failed to score in their last four games.
To add to that, Newcastle are unbeaten in their last seven games against Queens Park Rangers, with the R's last victory coming back in 1995.
It's not all good news for Magpies fans though. The visitors have won away from home just once this season!
Also, last week against West Ham United was only the second time Newcastle have kept a clean sheet away from home this season.
So, I think it's fair to say that both teams have had a disappointing season. Newcastle might just have the edge, as they're playing for their survival, whereas QPR are effectively only playing for pride, and they haven't shown an awful lot of that during the campaign.
I'm actually expecting a good game this afternoon. QPR can play without pressure and the likes of Loic Remy and Adel Taarabt provide them with plenty of attacking talent, while Newcastle really have to win so there will be plenty of onus on them to attack as well.
FULL TEAM NEWS...
QPR: Green; Bosingwa, Onuoha, Hill, Traore; Townsend, Jenas, Mbia, Hiolett; Remy, Zamora
Newcastle: Elliot; Debuchy, Williamson, Coloccini, Yanga-Mbiwa; Tiote, Cabaye, Gutierrez; Ben Arfa, Cisse, Gouffran
The visitors have gone with three in midfield, and a very dangerous attacking trio of Ben Arfa, Cisse and Gouffran. Having their skipper Coloccini back in defence is also a big plus, as the clean sheet at West Ham last week proved.
QPR are pretty much as expected with Zamora and Remy up front. Hoilett gets the nod over Taarabt on the left and Townsend, who has impressed while on-loan from Spurs, will provide a threat from the right.
I'm sure Newcastle fans will have one ear on the events at Norwich City, who face West Bromwich Albion, and the game between Sunderland and Southampton. Defeat today for Newcastle, and a win for Wigan Athletic on Tuesday would see the Magpies drop into the bottom three with one game remaining.
It really is unbelievably tight at the bottom this season. As I mentioned earlier though, I think Newcastle might edge it today, however that won't mean that they're definitely safe from relegation.
Newcastle have the likes of Anita, Marveaux and Obertan in reserve on the bench, while Taarabt, Park and Granero are among the home substitutes.
A key battle looks to be the one between the midfields today. How will Jenas and Mbia cope with Tiote, Cabaye and Gutierrez?
Back in 1984 these two were involved in an entertaining 5-5 draw at Loftus Road, wouldn't be too bad if we had something similar this afternoon.
An early goal could have a big say today, how will either side react to going a goal down? Neither side has scored many, or kept many clean sheets this season.
The sides are going through their pre-match handshakes as we approach kick off, and the atmosphere is good at Loftus Road.
Newcastle get us underway...
Both sides playing very direct in the opening minutes. QPR are looking for the long diagonal to Zamora, while Newcastle aim for Cisse. No one is really making the ball stick up front though.
Townsend comes in off the right to collect Jenas' pull-back but is brought down on the edge of the box by Tiote. Zamora steps up to take the free-kick but fires it over the bar.
Gutierrez falls awkwardly and needs a few minutes of treatment. As play resumes QPR are controlling possession, playing at a high tempo and causing the visitors problems in the wide areas.
PENALTY! Hoilett runs at Debuchy, who tracks him into the area and fouls him. Replays show it may have been just outside the box but Lee Probert points to the spot.
GOAL! QPR 1-0 Newcastle (Remy pen.)
Remy makes no mistake from the spot, send the goalkeeper the wrong way and firing to the left.
I mentioned earlier that an early goal could really put the cat amongst the pigeons. Newcastle need a response but at the moment are struggling to string three passes together.
Remy is played in on the right by Bosingwa, but Williamson does well to block his cross. From the resulting corner, Townsend's delivery is poor and Newcastle clear.
PENALTY! Ben Arfa has his shirt pulled in the box as he goes past Bosingwa and Lee Probert points to the spot for the second time in ten minutes.
GOAL! QPR 1-1 Newcastle (Ben Arfa pen.)
Ben Arfa takes the penalty he won, and smashes the ball past Green into the roof of the net to level the match.
Newcastle are really putting QPR under pressure now. Ben Arfa is coming off the wing and causing havoc in and around the box, but the home side manage to clear the ball.
Cisse thinks he has given Newcastle the lead after heading in Gutierrez's cross but the flag is up for offside!
It's QPR who are struggling now, Newcastle have gained confidence from their equaliser and the movement of Cisse and Ben Arfa in particular is causing the home defence problems.
The home side seem to have weathered that little storm and are back in the match, although they are not really threatening the Newcastle defence.
Williamsin lunges in on Jenas on the halfway line and receives a booking. Newcastle clear the free-kick but QPR are still on the attack and a neat one-two between Hoilett and Zamora ends with a good save from Elliot.
Some neat passing in midfield releases Hoilett on the QPR left, he tries to play in Remy but Newcastle clear for a corner. Elliot punches the ball away and release Ben Arfa on the break, he finds Gouffran but Bosingwa wins the ball.
GOAL! QPR 1-2 Newcastle (Gouffran)
An awful mix-up between Green and Bosingwa sees Ben Arfa almost nick the ball away from the goalkeeper. Green manages to get it away but only as far as Gouffran, who passes the ball into an empty net.
A break in play as both Elliot and Tiote need some running repairs. The goalkeeper has a change of gloves, while Tiote seems to be hurt.
QPR fail to clear a long ball into the box, and it falls to Gutierrez on the edge but the Argentinian fires high and wide.
The home side are pushing hard for an equaliser before the break, but are finding it difficult to get the ball to Remy and Zamora and Newcastle clear.
HALF-TIME QPR 1-2 Newcastle
After a cagey opening Newcastle dominated during the middle of the half, and always looked a threat going forward. They probably deserve to be ahead but QPR were starting to come back into it towards the end.
Another important half-time score regarding Newcastle over at Carrow Road, where Norwich City lead West Brom 1-0. Sunderland and Southampton are goalless at the break.
Another goal should do for Newcastle. Apart from the penalty, QPR only created one real chance, while the away side have looked a threat on several occasions through Ben Arfa and Cisse.
I think QPR need to get a hold of the ball in midfield. They started well but slowly Newcastle have increasingly dominated possession, and seem happy to play on the counter attack now that they have the lead.
QPR get the second period underway...
SUBSTITUTION Shaun Derry has come on for QPR at the break in place of Stephane Mbia.
A bright start to the second half from QPR, as Jenas tries to play in Remy but it just evades him and Elliot collects the ball.
SUBSTITUTION Tiote, who was struggling just before half-time, is replaced by James Perch for Newcastle.
Neither side really able to create anything at the moment. Newcastle are happy to let QPR control possession and are trying to break quickly, without much success.
Hoilett picks up a Zamora knockdown and plays a one-two with the striker but Zamora's return pass is not good enough and Newcastle clear.
Cabaye and Ben Arfa link up for the first time this half, as Newcastle enjoy a period of possession, but the winger's eventual shot is blocked by Hill.
CHANCE! Townsend comes in from the right and finds Hoilett, who skips past a couple of challenges and fires wide from the edge of the penalty box.
Cisse brings the ball down and lays it off for Cabaye, whose pass is wayward, and not for the first time today. No real chances at either end at the moment but QPR are keeping the ball much better.
Green picks up a back pass according to the referee, giving Newcastle a free-kick in the box. Cisse lays it to Ben Arfa but the wall rushes out and blocks his shot.
UPDATE! Elsewhere Norwich are 3-0 up against West Brom and Sunderland have just take the lead against Southampton.
CHANCE! Almost a comical own goal from QPR as Hill smashes it off Traore's back and allows Cisse to head it towards goal. A combination of Green's fingertips and Derry's clearance off the line save the home side.
Newcastle look comfortable heading away long balls into the box, without really keeping the ball themselves, that is until Ben Arfa picks it up and beat three players before playing Gouffran in but his shot goes wide.
Remy plays a good ball through to Townsend on the right, the winger cuts in and whips the ball into the box but it's cleared by Coloccini.
SUBSTITUTION Newcastle bring on Gabriel Obertan for Gouffran.
RED CARD! Newcastle goalkeeper Elliot is sent off! He's been given a second yellow card for handling the ball outside his box. The replays show that it was a very close call, probably just inside.
SUBSTITUTION Steve Harper, the reserve goalkeeper, comes on for Ben Arfa. Newcastle will have to see out the last ten minutes against ten men.
SUBSTITUTION QPR bring on Taarabt for Hoilett.
Newcastle break with Obertan who feeds Cisse, but the striker's 30-yard effort is easy for Green to catch.
QPR are pushing hard now, Townsend plays a one-two with Jenas, who then crosses for Zamora but the forward is offside.
CHANCE! A great run down the right from Fabio, as he beats two men before cross to Zamora. The striker brings the ball down well but fires well over with his right foot.
CHANCE! QPR really knocking at the door now. Townsend again causing problems, picking up Taarabt's lay off and firing inches over the bar from just outside the box. Three minutes of stoppage time.
FULL-TIME QPR 1-2 Newcastle
That is a huge result for Newcastle. They played well in the first half but had to hang on at the end. If Wigan lose to Arsenal on Tuesday, Newcastle are safe.
It was probably just about a fair result. QPR didn't create anything until the visitors went down to ten men, and even then, they offered little.
Elsewhere, Norwich confirmed their safety with a win against West Brom, but Sunderland aren't safe yet, drawing 1-1 with Southampton at home.
Thanks for joining and I hope you enjoyed the match. Have a good evening.
Written by
Daniel Cross
Daniel Cross
