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.