	Under the new management of Iain Dowie, Mahon and QPR began the 2008–09 campaign with five victories in their first six matches.<ref name="Games played by Gavin Mahon in 2008/2009"></ref> Mahon scored his first goal of the season in a 1–0 home victory over Cardiff City in November 2008, coming on as a 67th-minute substitute, before scoring a headed goal against a nine-man Cardiff side with just 10 minutes remaining. The goal was highlighted in the BBC documentary "The Four Year Plan", as joint-owner Flavio Briatore ordered sporting director Gianni Paladini into "going down to the touchline to order caretaker manager Gareth Ainsworth to bring Gavin Mahon off the bench. Mahon promptly scores a last gasp winner and Briatore, his football genius now proven, erupts in a mixture of self-righteous anger and joy in the directors' box". His second goal of the season came in April 2009, scoring with a diving header to equalise proceedings after QPR had trailed by two goals to Sheffield Wednesday — with Mahon atoning for his earlier own goal. QPR went on to win the match 3–2, all of their goals coming in the last half-hour of the match. He played under three different managers during the season, making 40 appearances as the club finished in mid-table.