Swansea give R's whipping

Match Report: Swansea 4-1 QPR

Just when you thought Rangers' defence had tightened up a bit under Harry and that scoring goals would be the key to us staying up, this happened.

When Swansea and Rangers came up together from the Championship two seasons ago, it was a not uncommon view that QPR would stay in the Premiership for the long haul while the Welshmen would struggle to sustain their status as they were still very much a work in progress and lacking the finances of the boys from W12, particularly after the arrival of Tony Fernandes. Since then, both teams have done their absolute best to turn this reasonable logic on it’s head.  Swansea have spent wisely and under consecutive ‘bright young thing’ managers have created a system of retaining possession and a cutting edge, allied with a reasonable sturdiness at the back. QPR have spent like a gambler in Vegas, with each long shot punt looking more forlorn than the last.

This was an invaluable trip for learning Welsh. I even know how to say "you're rich and you're effing shit" now!

Rangers started without the injured Remy and Fabio and looked set up to soak pressure and try and sneak a set piece goal to win it. This lasted five minutes before Michu mishit home a shot spilled by Cesar and then the R's completely imploded when 12 minutes later local hero Angel Rangel did the same thing. Cesar has been the shining light in recent weeks for the R's and proved an extremely dependable last line of defence, but he was flappy here and clearly uncomfortable with pass backs which he was repetitively sold by his frail defence in front of him - it was revealed after the game that Cesar had played with an injury sustained against Norwich, which won't have helped and it is questionable whether it was a good idea to play him from the outset. For the rest of the half QPR had no Plan B and with Derry and Mbia willingly conceding ground allowed Swansea to totally dictate the game with the inevitable ‘tippy tappy’ Jacks enjoying themselves without even having to try - particularly when twisting and turning around  the statues of Clint Hill and Armand Traore. Reflecting at half time, the only two efforts on goal Rangers had created were a wild blast from Taarabt long after the whistle had been blown for which he was booked and a set piece culminating in a header from Onouha that ended up further away from the goal than it had started. That was it, absolutely diabolical. A similar first half performance to that in the Norwich home game, only more damaging.

In fairness to Redknapp, he responded at half time, bringing on Zamora and Granero for Derry and the anonymous Jamie Mackie (who couldn't seem to decide whether he was a striker or winger). Within two minutes it was ‘game on’ as this time Vorm did the spilling: Taarabt shot from 25 yards and Zamora was quickest to react and scored with a tap in. This was but a fleeting moment as the sea of dross and ineptitude was resumed as Pablo Hernandez waltzed his way through the right side of QPRs defence and scored with what looked like a cross. Cesar, after single-handedly keeping Chelsea, Spurs and Man City at bay in recent weeks, was having a stinker. Apparently this was the first time three Spaniard’s have scored for the same team in the Premier League.

Compared to the limpness of the first half, there was just a fraction more conviction about Rangers and when Townsend’s cross was deliberately handled in the box by Williams there appeared to be an opportunity to get back into the game again (last week’s penalty miss notwithstanding). But referee Swarbrick and his assistants couldn’t or wouldn’t so didn’t and from the resulting corner Mbia had a goal-bound shot turned off the line.

A couple of weeks ago we saw Swansea begin pursuing innovative ways of breaking down opposing team’s momentum through time wasting tactics with the infamous ballboy/Hazard incident. Today saw three ball changes because they were not inflated to satisfactory levels for total football and a ridiculous amount of feigned head injuries that all added to Rangers' frustration.

On 67 minutes the away end half emptied as Michu shrugged off £13m man mountain Samba (how?) and poked home the fourth with ease. With the game long over and Swansea already thinking of Wembley in a fortnight, QPR began to play and eventually created chances: Taarabt curled around the post and SWP (introduced in a lightweight for lightweight exchange with Jenas) hit the bar on 90+2.

Swansea looked like a decent outfit but were made to look better by Rangers being toothless, set-up wrong and playing incredibly badly. In all probability this was always on the cards as the moment Bunn saved Taarabt’s penalty last week heads dropped as they realised that the size of the task was too daunting and they couldn’t be arsed anyway. Next up, Manchester United!

Man of the match: Miguel Michu continues to stun everyone in the Premier League and proved as he did on the opening day against Rangers where he announced his arrival to English (Welsh) football just what a class act he is. I can't see the Swans holding on to him for much longer, but at least he'll win them a first major trophy. 

A huge outlay but still nil return

Match Review: QPR 0-0 Norwich

After another Transfer Deadline Day with no shortage of drama at Loftus Road and more silly prices and wages being dished out to more 'has been' players or players way out of our league if it wasn't for the money, there is still no change in luck on the pitch for the hopeless Hoops, as they squandered another opportunity for three points that, looking at the fixture list ahead, they really needed to take.

Deadline day signings Andros Townsend (who I personally have never rated having seen him go on loan to almost every Championship club and look every bit an average Championship player) replaced the completely off the boil Granero, whilst Christopher Samba replaced Toronto bound Ryan Nelsen. The other changes were forced by injuries to Nedum Onuoha, who has produced his best displays in a blue and white hooped shirt since returning from compassionate leave, and Loïc Rémy, the striker whose goals we have pinned all of our survival hopes on. In came SWP whilst Fabio was switched to right back. 

Both sides came into the game short of goals and with Rémy injured, Rangers started with Jamie Mackie as their lone striker which looked toothless and a negative set up even before it began. Norwich had their signing Becchio on the bench with part-time traffic island Grant Holt starting up top for them.

The first half was instantly forgettable. A low quality affair served up by two nervous teams. Amongst the yawns, the few moments of quality came through Taarabt for Rangers and Snodgrass for the Canaries, who looked a real quality player, but then again so do most wingers when they face Armand Traore! Neither keeper made any saves of note with off target long range efforts, scuffed shots and weak headers the order of the day. Mbia was booked on a totting up basis for a number of silly tugs to further break up any vaguely coherent moves. Free kicks were conceded in non-threatening positions and the quality of delivery from all set pieces was poor. Despite the low key proceedings and lack of any controversy whatsoever, motor-mouth Holt still found it necessary to confront headmaster referee Jon Moss as they walked off at half time.

The second half just had to be an improvement and it was. Rangers were much more positive and on 46 minutes Garrido conceded a cheap free kick to SWP. Taarabt's delivery was much improved but, not for the last time, the lack of determination to get on the end of it meant that it sailed through the six yard box without anyone getting a vital touch. But it wasn't all at one end and QPR's fragile defence needed Julio Cesar to make a fabulous one-handed reaction save to keep out Wes Hoolahan's close-range flicked effort. Cesar also made a decent stop from Bradley Johnson. Norwich were committed and niggly but gradually QPR began to get on top. The game's pivotal moment arrived in the 55th minute. Jamie Mackie, isolated and muted all game, found himself chasing a poor backpass by Garrido and was fouled by keeper Mark Bunn for a penalty. Ironically, Rangers' only other penalty this season was at Norwich away, where Cisse's effort was saved before Zamora scored the rebound. Sadly, Taarabt's shot was too close to the diving Bunn and this time the effort was turned round the post. Taarabt held his head in his hands, knowing the golden chance had gone, and as often happens when something doesn't go right for him in a game, he lost his way a little. He did still manage another couple of efforts, a free kick and a driven shot but as he faded from the game, so did QPR. Townsend showed some good energy down the left and with Zamora introduced for SWP had a different kind of target to aim for. Admittedly, Zamora actually looked more of a handful than the disinterested man who said he plays football 'because it is my job' before his injury, and his introduction did seem to cause Norwich to become very physical and pick up bookings for rash challenges. Jermaine Jenas and Tal Ben Haim came on for Mbia and Fabio as Harry tried his utmost to give Norwich different questions to answer but Rangers offered nothing in the way of a killer pass and were always short of bodies in the box. 

And so it ended 0-0, an improved second half offering some entertainment, but not disguising two teams low on confidence and out of form. The new boys did well but the lack of attacking threat and Norwich's lack of ambition meant that a stalemate was always likely. It's not quite all over yet for Rangers,  but games are running out and the gap is not narrowing. The immediate worry has to be just how long Rémy and Onuoha will be out of action. 

Man of the match: I still can't look beyond Julio Cesar as his exceptional shot stopping continues to ensure the clean sheets on which the unbeaten league run this year is founded. "Triffic" stuff from QPR's first ever Brazilian international.

Rangers Cesar point from the champions

Match Review: QPR 0-0 Manchester City

It is staggering to think that QPR fans have only seen eight home league goals this season, but given the circumstances and the season so far I think solid defensive shut-outs and points against the big boys are more welcome than entertainment value right now. As we discovered on transfer deadline day this week, value for money is something QPR don't deliver in any department anyway!

Coming in to this fixture QPR were on a reasonable run of league form , 1 win and 2 draws so far in 2013, albeit with only 2 goals scored but a miserly 1 conceded. Manchester City, on the other hand, had won all 3 fixtures since the turn of the year, scoring 7 to nil against. The R's team was much changed from the McCup humiliation and bizarrely included 2 keepers on the bench, a nice subtle 'I'm down to the bare bones' message from Harry ahead of his second favourite date of the calendar year (the other being 31st August).

In swirling misty rain the game started pretty evenly with most of QPR's play going through Taarabt while City had more possession and attacked in particular down the left hand side. Mbia had his customary early injury scare and lie down before the Champions really began to ask the questions. A succession of inswinging corners were dealt with, some less comfortably than others. It took 16 minutes until Man City played their way through with Aguero getting round the side of Nelsen and attacking the box with a low cross put behind by Hill. Corners continued to rain in from Milner and Silva with Cesar punching or more precisely flapping when under pressure. At the end of this sequence Milner broke in from the left, Silva attracted all 4 of QPRs markers and then when Zabaleta was picked out instead he had acres of space but only hit the bar with his header. Makeshift City centre half Javi Garcia then hit a screamer from fully 35 yards which faded just off target. Later in the half Taarabt barrelled his way through in a counter attacking move and forced Hart to rush out to save. This was a rare moment as by now the R's game plan of soaking up pressure and hoping for Taarabt to slip something through to Remy on the break was obvious. The slick interplay, attacking flair and incredible ball retention of the City players, particularly that of David Silva, showed the gulf in class between the two sides. It was a City onslaught and a goal looked certain.

Mbia, freshly booked for clipping Clichy, lost his footing and Tevez attacked. He found Aguero who hit his shot firm and true but it was turned round by a wonder save from Cesar.  Part 1 was completed at 0-0. Given this was against the Champions, against the wind and effectively with 10 men (as Granero seemed, at times, to be conspiring with his fellow Spaniards Garcia and Silva who had basically run the game), this was no mean feat.

The second half was more of the same but with three slight twists; QPR began to play with a bit more attacking intent and made some chances, referee Dowd started going all 'Big Team' bias and City began to look frustrated. Granero got booked and Remy opened his body to attempt a curler that went too high and wide, but it was still mostly City in the ascendancy. Dzeko was introduced for Nasri but Cesar continued to repel all efforts. Mbia had his second lie down of the evening and when fouled again on 77 minutes Rangers had a slightly off-centre free kick 25 yards out - ideal Taarabt territory. Unfortunately, and not for the first time this season, Granero exerted his seniority and blasted high and wide, prompting angry waving and boos from the terraces. Shortly after Hart had been teased by the crowd for his shampoo endorsements came the first of two controversial penalty claims, one for each side. On 73 minutes Remy was brought down in the box as he cut in from the right but Dowd ignored the appeals (a look at the replay revealed that Remy certainly made the most of it, which perhaps was what made the referee's mind up). On 87 minutes Onuoha looked to foul City bench warmer Scott Sinclair at the far end, but again, with a strong suspicion of evening things out, it wasn't given. In between Cesar had produced another pergunto salvar (that's Brazilian for wonder save) from Silva. Three subs from Harry (Park, Faurlin and Zamora) saw out the 4 minutes of added time. A clean sheet was the least Nelsen deserved on his last appearance and it was down to the stunning efforts of Cesar that this was achieved.

In my calculation of 36, 37, 38 or however many points for safety, I had nothing down for this one, so it represents a good point. Norwich on Saturday, however, will see a whole different level of expectation. Especially with the teams around us continuing to match or better our positive results!

Man of the match: As suggested by the title, it has to be the one Mark Hughes signing who has really lived up to his reputation (well at least in recent weeks). Julio Cesar has frustrated some of the world's best footballers in the last few weeks, conceding just once in the league since the turn of the year. Here he turned in another heroic display, with stunning saves from Barry in the first half and Silva in the second here.