From 1913: QPR (3) – Crystal Palace (0) 

Southern League (Division One) 

Team: Nicholls, Higgins, Pullen, Ovens, Mitchell, Wake, Thompson, Birch, Miller, Gregory, Ives 

Attendance: 10,000 

On 22nd November 1913, Rangers took on Crystal Palace at Park Royal. This introduction to the match, appeared a week later in the Sydenham Gazette: 

‘The Queen’s Park Rangers have greeted their new manager James Howie, with the best performance of the season, as the Royalists are the first team to defeat the Crystal Palace on tour during this autumn.  

The only other reverse of the Palace players was by Swindon at home, Swindon, however, are losing their victorious vein, and they are now four points behind the highest possible. 

There are now four internationals playing for the Palace. B. Bateman has been honoured with a place twice within the fortnight to play for the amateurs, the Rev. Kenneth Hunt, who has been often on the selected list, played for the South against Fulham on Monday, and Davies and Williams have in the past been included in the Welsh internationals.’ 

The match report then followed on: 
‘Although the Palace occupy a high place, and the Rangers are nearer to the bottom of the table than is altogether pleasant, the honours of the game, as well as the points, went deservedly to the “under dog” on Saturday, when the home team delighted their supporters by winning 3-0. 

The game was quite the best seen on the Park Royal ground this season. 

Within four minutes of the start, Miller had put the Rangers one-up, Johnson failing to clear a corner with the sun in his eyes. 

The Rangers kept up a series of hot attacks that the Palace had no time to retaliate or even settle down.  

Better half-back play than that shown by Ovens, Mitchell and Wake could not be desired.  

The play was vigorous, but not foul; it was at times clever and fast enough to keep the spectators at fever heat.  

The Palace started in all too confident manner. They soon found, however, that all their energies were required to keep the Rangers at bay, and with the exception of one or two raids by Bateman and Keene, the visitors were always on the defensive. 

Just before the interval, the Rangers got a second goal. A mistake by Hunt let Thompson through, and from the latter’s centre, Miller beat Johnson for possession and scored.  

After the change of ends the Palace improved somewhat, but Higgins and Pullen covered their goalkeeper so well that danger never appeared imminent, and within a short space of time the Rangers were again attacking. 

A fine movement by Ovens and Thompson giving Birch an opportunity for a first-time shot that beat Johnson completely. 

With a three-goals lead, the Rangers appeared satisfied. At times the Palace got going, and one notable chance of scoring was thrown away by Keene, who, with an opening forced by Bateman, sent wide of the net with only Mitchell to beat.’ 

The following week James Howie’s side drew 0-0 at Exeter. 

Steve Russell 

(Thanks to Colin Woodley for his assistance)