"On This Day:" QPR 6 Chelsea 0 + Sousa & Waddock

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Twenty Four Years Ago: March 31, 1986

QPR Team: Barron - Dawes, Fenwick, Wicks, McDonald- Fereday, Allen, James, Robinson - Byrne, Bannister - Sub: Rosenoir

Scorers Bannister 3, Byrne 2, Rosenoir

QPR Official Site FROM THE ARCHIVES 4 Jan 2008...- QUEENS PARK RANGERS 6, CHELSEA 0- Easter Monday, March 31 1986 - Canon League Division One

- A glorious Easter Monday as Rangers smashed home six goals to kill off Chelsea's League title hopes.
- The R's went into this match in 14th place in the table. Chelsea were fourth and needed the points to rekindle their faltering challenge for the championship - especially after a 4-0 defeat against West Ham at Stamford Bridge on the Saturday.
- It was a windy morning with intermittent rain showers peppering our Omniturf pitch, which had been much-criticised by Chelsea chairman Ken Bates earlier in the season.
- For the first time in the history of this fixture, advance ticketing arrangements meant that there were no Chelsea fans infiltrating the Loft terrace. Cash admission was not permitted on the day so Rangers enjoyed terrific support from the all-ticket home end.
- It took the Super Hoops only eight minutes to open the scoring. John Byrne's initial shot was charged down but Gary Bannister followed up to drill into the bottom right hand corner from an acute angle at the School End.
-Cries of "Bann-is-ter...Bann-is-ter...Bann-is-ter..." (to the American marching tune) and "You're Not Singing Anymore..." rang out from the Loft terrace as the 4,000 Chelsea fans at the other end looked on in stunned silence.
- Rangers doubled their advantage on 25 minutes. Byrne was involved again with a right wing cross, Terry Fenwick nodded the ball on and Bannister arrived in the six yard box to head home. A very noisy rendition of "Singing The Blues..." followed from the Loft.
- A minute before the break, John Byrne picked up possession just inside the Chelsea half and lost his marker with a deft drop of the shoulder. He then dribbled past another four startled defenders amidst an orgy of skill before lashing into the net from just inside the box.
- It was the most spectacular R's goal of the season and our fans rejoiced with versions of "John-ny Byrne, John-ny Byrne, John-ny Byrne" (against using the marching tune) and "Easy...Easy.."
- The fourth came on 58 when Bannister tore away from the shambolic Chelsea back line and sent a low bullet-like shot into the right hand corner. Even the QPR stewards on the side of the pitch at the Loft End jumped up and down to celebrate. Meanwhile, the electronic scoreboard declared: "GARY HAT-TRICK BANNISTER"
- Then on 64 minutes, Bannister whipped in a low cross from the right and Byrne provided a crisp finish for goal number five with the Chelsea rearguard in shreds. The Loft boys bounced around in unison with chants of "Blame The Pitch, Blame The Pitch, Blame The Pitch..." directed at the ashen-faced Ken Bates in the main stand.
- Chelsea had striker David Speedie sent off two minutes later for flattening Ian Dawes with his elbow. The Rangers fans waved theatrically while singing "Bye Bye Speedie, Bye Bye Speedie..." (to the tune of Auld Lang Syne) as he plodded dejectedly from the arena.
- The sixth blue and white hooped goal in Chelsea's net came in the 82nd minute. Substitute Leroy Rosenior ran from the halfway line through a wide open defence before firing firmly past despairing goalkeeper Steve Francis. The jubilant Loft bellowed "We Want Seven...We Want Seven..." as the visiting fans headed for the exits.
- Chelsea manager John Hollins said afterwards: "It's been a very bad Easter for us, but I want to give QPR full credit for their performance."
QPR


John Byrne Remembers - QPR Official Site, March 20 2008
- "Probably the best game was when we beat Chelsea 6-0 at Loftus Road on Easter Monday 1986," recalls Byrne.
- "I'll never forget that day! It was just one of those occasions when everything went right for us. Banna was on fire - he scored a hat-trick and I got a couple too.
- "I remember one of my goals where I picked up possession on the halfway line. It was funny on that plastic pitch, because bodies would fall all around you if you got into your stride. So eventually I wriggled free and slotted a shot into the bottom corner.
- "There were some big name players in the Chelsea line-up, including centre-back Doug Rougvie who seemed like he wanted to kill somebody when the score was 5-0! He was certainly looking for blood!
- "We had the Milk Cup Final coming up and I remember saying to Banna with about 15 minutes to go 'I ain't going anywhere near Rougvie'. And Gary replied 'Neither am I!' So we both ended up playing on the wings with no one in the middle!... QPR