On the balance of play this is a game we should have won, but we had to come from behind after defensive errors had gifted Queens Park Rangers a two goal advantage. So in the circumstances Daniel Farke claimed to be satisfied with a point.

We came into this game having to battle our trio of demons of our poor record in the endless 12.30 kick-offs, our poor record in London, and that dreadful performance at Loftus Road less than a year ago, which drove the final nail into the coffin which contained our fading hopes of automatic promotion.

Despite all that our manager opted for the more positive of his starting line-up options, by sticking with Rothwell rather than going back to Gruev, obviously deciding that this was an away game when he ought to be aiming for all three points.

And we began the game on the front foot, looking determined to expunge the memory of last season’s defeat, but didn’t manage to create any clear-cut chances. There was a fairly wild shot from Piroe which flew over the bar, and that was about it, before the home side took the lead in the 17th minute.

Saeto made his way in from the left, and Aaronson moved to intercept his pass, but was then far too casual when he tried to lay the ball off to Bogle, showing no awareness of Saeto having continued his run into that space. The Japanese player took full advantage, with a first-time curling shot which gave Meslier no chance.

We continued to dominate the possession but again failed to break down a stubborn QPR defence, and the some side again scored against the run of play on the half hour. A looping cross found Cook completely unmarked, and he took full advantage of the space he’d been given to pick his spot and direct his header right into the corner where Meslier couldn’t reach it.

We needed to get back into the game by, and thankfully we were able to pull one back five minutes before the break. Several players were involved in the move as we approached the area, but when Solomon played the ball across and goal and it was seemingly bundled in by a combination of Firpo and Bogle, I thought it was bound to have been offside.

But the goal stood as QPR protested, and the replay showed that Bogle (the only one in an offside position) hadn’t touched the ball once he realised it was going in anyway. In any case, it’s now gone down as an own goal by Fox, and if he did get the final touch (it’s hard to tell from the replay) then Bogle wouldn’t have been offside even if he had knocked the ball over the line himself.

After all our possession we shouldn’t have been going off at half time a goal down, but it’s difficult to complain if you give goals away through shocking defending. After his first half horror show Aaronson was replaced by Gnonto was for the second half, in the hope of gettng a bit more potency up front.

Many of our fans have been calling for this change for some time, and our manager might have come round to their way of thinking, as he praised Willy after the match. "I was convinced he would make an impact. The feeling is he's playing more and more to create good situations in the centre and that's what he did in the second half."

It took only six minutes of the second half for our more positive formation to bear fruit. Gnonto’s pass found James behind the QPR defence, and though the winger’s cut-back from the touchline was deflected, Solomon had to turn but still managed to get a his shot in. This was saved by Nardi, but came out to Bogle, and our full back didn’t panic, but steadied himself before rolling the ball into the corner, beyond Nardi ‘s reach.

At that stage it looked like we had the momentum to go on and win the game, but a number of dangerous balls into the box were met by defenders who were able to hack it clear, and the breakthrough we needed never arrived. And there were a few anxious moments at the other end, with Meslier making a decent save from Cook and Struijk needing to make a vital interception.

To try and freshen up our attack for the closing stages Ramazani came on for Solomon, with the Israeli international looking highly displeased to have been removed. But it seems there are no hard feelings, with Solomon having taken to Instagram to send a message of encouragement, and Farke saying that he likes the winger’s attitude, and that he’d calmed down after the game.

Six minutes of injury time were announced, and as they began, Saito felled James to stop a promising break, and was shown a straight red card. That looked very harsh at first, but the replay showed his lunge was quite high and caught the Welshman on the back of the leg. The referee had a good view of the challenge, and was justified in sending the player off.

But it was far too late for the extra man advantage to count, and in fact the final whistle came when the R’s were pressing for an unlikely winner. So a point it was, and Daniel Farke claimed that he was happy with the result as he spoke to the BBC. "During this period of the season when you have to play the third game in six days and you are 2-0 down after 30 minutes, it's a good point”.

"QPR deserved to be in the lead because we were poor in the first 25-30 minutes. What was good was the reaction of my team today. Last season we were 2-0 down after 20 minutes but today we fought back. Second half we were completely on it, pressed the game, had four or five good situations where we were so, so close in the six-yard box”.

"Yes, of course, we wanted to win this game [but] after the story of the game it's a good point on the road." I would certainly have settled for a draw when we were two down, but was it really a good result? It didn’t look like it when Burnley won at Swansea later in the day, to close the all-important gap to third place to a mere two points.

We now have to hope the useless Owls can get a result in the Sheffield derby this lunchtime. And we haven’t yet started the phase when the wheels came off last season, which was after the March international break. Can we hold it together this time in the midst of another dreaded three-horse race for the two automatic promotion slots?

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