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.

Lightning definitely doesn't strike twice...

Match Review: QPR 0-3 Liverpool

Ranger's latest attempt to re-start the kick-start to their season took place today in front of the Sky cameras at Loftus Road. But unlike last year's fixture between the two sides which proved the turning point in their season, this one was a disaster...

The team was 'freshened up' by the reintroduction of Julio Cesar in goal after Rob Green's disastrous error versus West Brom, as well as the welcome (on the face of it) return of Onuoha, Nelsen and Diakite outfield.

Rangers were extremely slow out of the blocks and seemed to lack energy and determination right from the first whistle. On 3 minutes a Suarez shot was well saved by Julio Cesar, apparently on his way directly to a festive fancy dress party dressed as a banana. On 10 minutes, Suarez was proving a nuisance once again and mugged Liverpool fan Clint Hill, strode forward unopposed and stroked the ball in for one nil, which silenced the capacity crowd.

Banana man looking beaten before the game has even started!

The game continued with QPR frenetic, and Liverpool controlled and were threatening whenever in possession. At the quarter hour Traore was missing from his full back post as Suarez cut in from the right. His shot across goal was played directly back to him by Onuoha and Rat boy scored again as he continued moving when the QPR defence didn't. What was most remarkable about this is that the goal went down as a Stewart Downing assist - surely the midfielder didn't mean it?

Rangers first attacking spell of any note saw a Taarabt free kick clip the wall on 20 minutes and Mbia attempt an audacious overhead kick. Soon Downing broke down the right again with Traore nowhere in the picture and Nelsen just cleared his own bar. Two minutes later a short corner was played to Gerrard who had all the time he needed to measure up and swing in a perfect cross for the unchallenged Agger to head home for three nil. Liverpool, sensing a score to rival Chelsea's recent eight and Arsenal's seven, pressed on with every attack down either wing causing mayhem. Traore and Onuoha were AWOL from their full back positions almost every time the Scousers attacked, the former having been guilty of neglecting his defensive duties for much of the season so far.

The first half concluded with Mbia, not for the first time, rolling around on the floor like a toddler throwing a tantrum, looking for a free kick that never came. Rangers thoroughly deserved being booed off at half time having offered nothing - no quality, no ideas, no spirit; only three nil was something of a blessing.

For the second half Cisse was withdrawn with the veteran Derry coming on to stiffen up midfield, which will no doubt have angered the Frenchman who will feel he did little to deserve to be hauled off. However this was all about damage limitation now... 

Liverpool felt at 3-0 the game was safe (2-0 wasn't last year was it!) and were now playing in second gear, probably saving themselves for tougher challenges this week versus Sunderland and Mansfield. They also seemed to over-concentrate on trying to set up Suarez for his hat-trick.  In an all-South American duel on a winter's day in miserable England, Cesar saved well from the Uruguayan on 50 minutes. From a short corner on 53 minutes Jordan 'somehow capped by England' Henderson shot over. Mbia picked up his customary booking on 56 minutes, this time for overdoing things in the theatrical department.

A rare Rangers attack on the hour mark saw Traore put in a good cross but Mackie couldn't make a connection. Granero was brought on for QPR and Lucas for Liverpool. Granero's first action was to argue with Taarabt over who should take a freekick. Unfortunately the Spaniard won, and delivered a very poor effort from as decent a shooting position as we had found all game. 

The change meant that Rangers were now playing a bizarre formation with Wright-Phillips at right back, Onuoha and Hill at centre back with Nelsen left back, Traore left wing and Mbia up top with Mackie. Presumably this was down to Redknapp finally realising that it was no good relying on Traore to defend. But after 15 minutes of this experiment clearly not working and Liverpool easily holding Rangers at arms length, SWP was withdrawn as an act of  mercy. Fabio was brought on for the home team and did nothing other than get booked and booed for his Manure links. Lucas was also booked for tugging Granero. 

Added time was played out with nothing of note other than the ball striking my knee from another wayward Mbia effort.

In summary then, the damage was all done in the first half hour after which there was no way back for Rangers. Liverpool's slick passing opened up Ranger's defence at will. Derry did indeed prevent further humiliation after the break but I don't recall Reina making a single difficult save. Onward to Stamford Bridge on Wednesday....

Man of the Match: It pains me to say it because he is everything that disgusts me about modern day footballers - a cheat, a diver, a serial complainer, unsportsmanlike and generally a prat, but there is no denying that Luis Suarez is a gifted footballer. Yes, there was Sunday league like resistance between him and the goal today, but his determination, chasing of lost causes, ability to run in behind defenders, skill and this season's newly discovered ability to finish chances make him a real handful. I've no idea how playing Daniel Sturridge along side him might work though!

Off the bottom

Match Review: QPR 2-1 Fulham

Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeees! That is all.

Such is the relief that there isn't a zero next to our name in the Premier League table any more that I can't conjure up a witty title or subheading for this blog post. The mighty Superhoops have won a league game for the first time since May 6th. But this wasn't just any old victory: they beat West London rivals Fulham, who they hadn't even scored against since last beating them in the league in 1983. And best of all, they thoroughly deserved it!

Harry Redknapp appears to have finally realised that Bosingwa and Granero are not good enough and don't have enough stomach for the relegation battle ahead and has brought back forgotten men Nedum Onuoha and Alejandro Faurlin from the cold. He also decided to be positive enough to play Mackie and Djibril Cisse up top with Taarabt in his favourite attacking central midfield playmaker role in front of Derry and Faurlin, the classic Championship-winning combination. 

The proactiveness and positive mindset of Redknapp clearly had a galvanising effect on the side, and QPR started the game with a real purpose, freshness and tempo about their play. There was an energy in the passing and closing down that we haven't seen all season and this immediately got the home fans engaged and supportive. Fulham, on the other hand, didn't appear to be expecting any sort of tempo from the home side at all and appeared to have turned up expecting to play a side emotionally drained and bereft of confidence. Jamie Mackie nearly made them pay for their sluggishness when John Arne Riise's casual backpass to Schwarzer was intercepted by some quick thinking by the Scotland striker, but he put the ball agonisingly wide when it seemed easier to score. What was hugely frustrating about this chance was that if the mistake was made by us, you could put your mortgage on every other team in the Premier League clinically punishing us for it. 

QPR were the better side throughout the first half but suffered the same old familiar problem of not finding enough ways to test Schwarzer, who was even brought out early during half time to warm up (I think Jol was taking the piss!). At least in this match we weren't treated to the sideways football of Hughes! Adel Taarabt was looking determined and in the groove, Faurlin was spraying passes around like he always has done when in QPR colours, the play was not so skewed to the right hand side as it has been in recent weeks and Traore was bombing forward which was encouraging to see - the over-reliance on Bosingwa and SWP down the right this year has been completely unnecessary and reaped no rewards. Mbia was finding plenty of room to operate in the middle, Nedum Onuoha looked solid and able to support in attacks where required and, for a change, even the 'mature' central defensive partnership of Hill and Nelsen were not having any problems. Fulham's best chance came from Armand Traore inexplicably letting a pass from Taarabt through his legs to roll all the way back to Green when there were Fulham players in the vicinity. Luckily the goalkeeper was alert but it is this kind of lapse that has changed some of the games we have been involved in this season in the blink of an eye. Apart from this, Green only had one awkward cross to deal with, which he caught rather than flapped at as Cesar would have done in the same situation. Dimitar Berbatov did show glimpses of the class player he is but wasn't given much room to manouevre. A neat flick had the tourists in the away end "whoo"-ing with ecstasy but it didn't lead to anything, and overall his impact on the game was minimal. 

The second half began much as the first had ended, with QPR once again in the ascendancy. Adel Taarabt was being given plenty of room to stretch his legs in his attacking central midfield role even with Steve Sidwell chipping away at his ankles (and those of other QPR players). On one of these occasions, he made a straight run forward at the Fulham defence who parted like the red sea. Taarabt found himself with just Brede Hangeland and Mark Schwarzer in front of him and, in true Taarabt style, shot from way out with what appeared at first to be a fairly poor effort, but had sufficient pace behind it to ricochet off the backtracking Hangeland and completely fool Schwarzer. This was exactly the sort of luck we need and resembled the lucky break we got at Wigan the previous weekend, only this time, we were the side in control and had not looked anywhere near as frail as we did at the back that day. The moment was soured a little by referee Martin Atkinson, who has a long history of poor refereeing decisions when it comes to QPR and football in general (Clint Hill v Bolton away anyone). This time he was determined to make the headlines by booking Taarabt for over celebrating. What really grated me about this was that Taarabt didn't even remove his shirt and if you're a struggling team at the bottom there is bound to be an outpouring of emotion in moments like this. There was absolutely no need for it; yet more rubbish from one of the league's worst officials.

Moments after going into the lead it really really really should have been 2-0. Chris Baird was put under pressure by Ryan Nelsen (caught in the opposition penalty area for the 2nd match in a row!) and the ball fell to the feet of Djibril Cisse, who, instead of providing the simple finish, decided he would try to beat Schwarzer with a curling effort off the ground but it went inches wide. Cisse has got it in him to be an excellent and lethal finisher but for some reason this campaign he has tried to score with the spectacular more often than the simple finishes. Luckily for him though it soon did become 2-0. Taarabt marauded his way through that central midfield area once again and this time, with no defender in front of him and time to think about how he would finish the chance, he produced an astonishing curling effort with the outside of his boot which took the daisies on the ground with it beyond Mark Schwarzer and precisely into the bottom corner. A beautiful finish! 

The 2-0 lead relaxed QPR a bit and whilst the home fans rejoiced, the players took their foot of the gas and stuck to possession football. As he always is against QPR, Steve Sidwell was an annoyance throughout the match. I'm not often ginger-ist and I have many orange headed friends, but he plays football exactly how I'd imagine an annoying strawberry blonde to play - kicking seven shades out of people and getting away with it! In the 76th minute, Martin Atkinson, with extreme pressure from the crowd, finally booked him for what I'd guess was his seventh foul of the match. In case you hadn't noticed, I'm not too keen on him...

The last ten minutes was just a little bit too relaxed and QPR became happy to let Fulham have the ball. With three minutes to go, it was the heart-in-mouth time that we have grown so accustomed to over the years as Rangers fans. Mladen Petric, fresh off the tourists' bench, got a run at the QPR defence and a sight at goal and... well, wouldn't you just know it. The shot took a wicked deflection to carry it past Rob Green who was at full stretch. It was a real shame that this had to become such a nervous end to a game we had controlled and Green had been so quiet, but it wouldn't be QPR if it wasn't this way.  The goal seemed to breathe life into both sides, with Fulham suddenly sensing an unlikely shot at an equaliser, but the R's were disturbed from their slumber. In fact, the game's final chance fell to the Hoops, where Armand Traore produced the kind of wonder cross we all know he has in his locker but hardly ever see, Djibril Cisse got excellent contact but it was well anticipated and very well stopped by the Aussie custodian. Fulham regained possession after QPR gave away free kicks in stoppage time but were unable to cause any further damage to the scoreline and the R's held on for a much needed victory that maybe, just maybe, makes things a little bit more interesting down the bottom.

In summary then, this was the best R's performance since at least Tottenham away. A clean sheet would have been nice but this will do. QPR were by and large dominant, determined, fluid and excellent and not the side Fulham were expecting to play.

So, for now at least: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3GwjfUFyY6M

Man of the match: When he's interested, engaged, in the groove and that first trick of the game comes off for him, he can be unplayable. Adel Taarabt was terrific in this match and Fulham just could not live with him. 

When are Wigan-na win again?

Match Review: Wigan Athletic 2-2 QPR

Three points out of three games including two aways for Harry is not a bad start, and statistically he is undefeated. But the calibre of opposition, such as today's, is a truer reflection of the job in hand. These three games were all against teams around us, and all games where the opposition were there for the taking.

And now for something completely different: I'll start this post by painting you a nice picture of Wigan in 2012. Apart from the modern and imposing 'landmark' that is the DW Stadium, the place is one that time has forgotten. There are entire shopping malls vacated of shops and devoid of people. Primark, Card Factory and the Pound Shop are the only hives of activity on the High Street and the shutters are pulled firmly down on many. The walk to the stadium takes you through a derelict industrial estate which is now host to a hotch-potch of "I'll mind your car for a fiver mate" match day parking arrangements. Then you pass over a ditch, a path made of dog crap and after you cross the heavily polluted dumping ground that is the canal, the stadium finally comes into view. A thoroughly depressing place, especially when the weather each time I have been has been grey, murky, drizzly and just generally miserable. This is a shit hole, I want to go home...

The DW Stadium, set amongst the delightful surroundings of Wigan's abandoned industrial wastelands and canals. Spot the shopping trolleys in the canal!

Literacy levels are among the highest in Wigan

Fortunately for the residents, the town has a nice, modern stadium home to a Premier League team right on its doorstep. Benefactor Dave Whelan is a Wigan man born and bred and dearly wanted to give something back to the local community. And they are very lucky he is there indeed to subsidise all this. You can get a half season ticket here for under £180 which will even guarantee your ticket to Manchester United at home, their only guaranteed sell-out fixture at this 25,000 seater ground. 

The visit of bottom of the league QPR can't particularly have whetted the appetite of many, but over 17,000 were here to witness the match on a cold dull winter's day. Not bad for a side in the lower realms of the football league not all that long ago.

Anyway, I've bored you enough of Wigan as a town, let's talk football. Rangers began the game brightly even if a little unconfident and the depleted Wigan side, without first choices such as Alcaraz, Ramis, Maloney, Caldwell and Figueroa (four of those five usually contenders for a place in defence), looked shaky, confused and every bit as depleted as that list suggests. They were there for the taking on their home patch. What isn't, however, factored in to that, is that QPR's first choice defence look equally shaky and confused in spite of having played together for most of the season! 

After testing Al-Habsi a couple of times early on, the first warning delivered by the hosts was a David Jones free-kick special (you'll remember the one that came off once when he was playing for Wolves where he flicked it up in the air and volleyed it towards goal - well, he still thinks people don't know about that one!). This all came about from Jose Bosingwa (my favourite, as you know) conceding a needless free kick in a dangerous position when up until this point his side had been in control of possession, dictating the game and growing in confidence. Green saved the free kick and it was partially cleared, and then, to everyone's amazement in red, a corner was given. The Rangers defence were agitated by this award by Mr Dowd and so fuming that they forgot to concentrate when the corner came in. Yes, you know what's coming next: the corner was only partially cleared and nobody was quick enough to spot James McCarthy waiting on the edge of the penalty area for any loose ball that might come his way. He had time to take aim through a crowd of players who seemed to just step aside as his daisy cutter rifled straight through them all into the bottom corner for 1-0. Utterly ridiculous, and the nerves of the home side and crowd completely disappeared. Another soft, soft goal to concede and yet again as a result of poor marking from a set piece.

One of my biggest gripes with QPR in recent games is their failure to exploit the left hand side, the side from which so many goals resulted towards the end of last season. We seem to live under the false belief that Jose Bosingwa and Shaun Wright-Phillips offer our best attacking threat, but in fact Armand Traore is one of the best crossers of the ball we have had at the club in a long time. He might not be able to defend, but he provides an excellent overlap for a winger - shame we don't have one on that side! How ironic then that moments after moaning to my father next to me about not using the left hand side enough, the ball should break to the left, Traore gallops forward and forces a QPR corner for the first time in the game. Taarabt took said corner and yet again he failed to beat the first man. Fortunately for him this time though, there was some movement in the box, and as the ball drifted over and all QPR fans fully expected to see Adrian Lopez clear this one with ease, Ryan Nelsen popped up and escaped the attention of Lopez to firmly win the ball with a face full of determination. The ball was powered past Al-Habsi and it was 1-1. Why don't we do any of that more often? Maybe we won't come up against someone quite as inept as Lopez every week, but plenty of the other sides I've seen us play have defenders who can be ran ragged like this at set pieces. Just a little bit of movement and determination to win the goal, and look. Bang. Goal. 

But instead of grabbing the game by its throat as they should have at this point, QPR didn't put their foot on the gas. Instead their passing was lethargic and they looked tired, unfit and as though they really didn't want to be out in the cold. Not many of the Wigan players did either and, bar causing one moment of panic in the Rangers defensive area, this made for a dull affair. The game only really livened up whenever Di Santo was around (he ran around like a headless chicken in search of the ball, fouled a lot and fell over a lot to con free kicks out of the regularly woeful Phil Dowd) or when the ball was played out to Beausejour on the wing, who the Latics fans enjoyed seeing ease past double Champions League winning League Two standard defender Jose Bosingwa. Dowd continued to annoy for much of the half, blowing for soft free kicks and not awarding cards for some cynical fouls committed by each side until Taarabt eventually went in the book for chopping down a Wigan man on the wing. I've never seen Dowd referee a game without being whistle happy or making a contentious decision. The referee was rightly booed off by the travelling fans at half time.

Grey, murky, wet and miserable

In the second half Wigan came out galvanised and had a phase of play early on where they created chance after chance against the weak R's back line. Green stood up well to each test he was presented with, saving well from James McCarthy with his legs when the Latics man was one on one with him after Shaun Derry inadventently played a perfect through ball to him. They went on to force a series of further stops from Green and hit the bar with one Jordi Gomez attempt. The defending was absolutely shambolic, and Jose Bosingwa, the main guilty party in letting all this happen, had the cheek to shrug his shoulders and wave his warms around as if it was everybody else's fault. I thought we signed a Portuguese international right back who is a double European champion and winner of the Premier League! Please can we have Nedum Onuoha back Harry or play Fabio on the right hand side? Did I really just say that?

So having finally won the ball back after a mistake at the back by Wigan and just a tad of ambition was shown by Shaun Wright Phillips to close down a Wigan defender, suddenly it was 2 v 2. Wright Phillips, not being able to cross of course, elected to side foot the ball into substitute Djibril Cisse's path and he steered it first time into the bottom corner beyond Al-Habsi who was off his line. The first away win in over a year was on!! I dared to dream that having wethered the Wigan early second half storm we would have confidence flooding through the team and go on to score another against the fragile stand-in Wigan defence. This was the season turning point. But with QPR, dreams are often shattered moments after you've dared to start believing, and sure enough three minutes later it was "Desmond". The ball came down Wigan's left and Bosingwa was turned once again by Beausejour, and once again the QPR players all stood off James McCarthy and by the time he had the ball and five defenders in front of him obscuring Green's vision, it was too late, and two two. This absolutely destroyed the players that care about the predicament we are in.  Green went ballistic and Clint Hill and Shaun Derry were smacking the ground in despair. Nobody could believe this had happened. 

Following the equaliser, Wigan's reserves sensed a winner and began to pile the pressure on the one man defence of QPR (Rob Green). He made some outstanding saves to keep the scores level, whilst his QPR team mates didn't go on to create a single further chance in spite of this being yet another 'must win' game. Harry threw on the out of form and short of interest Esteban Granero who proceeded to play sideways football, not beat the first man with a corner and swivel around when in possession as he always does. I think that this key substitution, three minutes after conceding the equaliser, was the one Harry got wrong. I'd have brought on Ale Faurlin, who must be reeling at the fact he is on the bench after having done very little wrong this season and played such a vital role for QPR in the last couple of seasons prior to his ACL injury. Even Cisse was poor after the equaliser: he looked disinterested and every time he tried to get involved with the game, he fell on his arse. As predicted in the Villa match report, Mackie was marked out of this game and therefore anonymous. This is not at all what we need up front, especially when we're so vulnerable at the back. Sparky has left us so so short of options and we are so desperate that even Rob Hulse and DJ Campbell wouldn't be a bad shout. What a Hughes mess!!

Man of the Match: Given the wretched start he had to his QPR career and the poor treatment by Hughes, I think Rob Green showed today why despite making many high profile mistakes in his career, he has been in the reckoning for the England jersey. This was an excellent display, but he was overworked and his defence didn't do him any favours.

Another fruitless away trip

 Match Review: West Bromwich Albion 3-2 QPR

QPR (without a win) went to The Hawthorns this weekend to face West Brom (with a 100% home record and having not conceded a goal there). The omens were not good, but yet again they showed they can compete at this level... in some areas anyway.

The Superhoops were forced into one change but Hughes elected to make several others. Anton Ferdinand and Jose Bosingwa returned to the starting eleven after a few weeks off each with leg related injuries. Nedum Onuoha was dropped to the bench after a horror show against West Ham on Monday night and so the back line from left to right read Hill, Nelsen, Ferdinand, Bosingwa. Armand Traore made a welcome return to the bench but with the Senegalese man you just never know if he really is fit or not. The decision to start Hill at left back suggested not. Even so, Hill at left back was a crazy decision from Hughes. This is the Premier League. A league well renowned for pacey counter attacking teams that will punish any defensive mistake. And Clint Hill is 33 and desperately short of both pace and confidence. Surely the versatility of even an out of form Onuoha would have been a better choice for the position? West Brom's right winger must have been licking his lips at the prospect of facing Hill... With Samba Diakite suspended, QPR had a ready made loony as a replacement in Stephane Mbia, who was shifted from central defence into the position of 'tough tackling' defensive midfielder. Taarabt was rewarded for his display against the Hammers on Monday with a start and he was preferred to the also out of form Cisse, leaving Zamora playing the role as lone striker.

Standard player warm up drill photo - I never find time to take pictures during the game itself!

And from early on, the travelling R's faithful's worst fears were realised. Hill was being absolutely roasted by Shane Long who was getting in behind him every time the ball was played forward. Sure enough, on five minutes, it was 1-0 for that very reason. Oh, and crap marking by Ferdinand which left Morrison a free header. Oh, and Cesar was also poorly positioned. Far too many individuals making errors and yet another early goal conceded. Absolutely infuriating stuff because yet again it was so avoidable. 

QPR responded in kind by stringing some passes together and weathered the early storm. But the R's are their own worst enemies at the moment, and after over-committing men for a short corner routine (why do we bother with those?!), the ball was given away and there were not enough people back who could catch up with Odemwingie. He played a great ball across to Shane Long who somehow managed to sky a chance from four yards when the goal was at his mercy. 

The defensive shambles continued and at times there were two and sometimes even three going for the same ball. Park and Bosingwa were particularly guilty of overlapping each others' defensive duties, whilst I can recall one occasion where Gareth McAuley had three men marking him on a set piece who ended up just falling over one and other. The lack of communication at the back was alarming and it was only a matter of time before the 2nd goal would go in. It arrived courtesy of some comedy defending that simply isn't good enough for a Premier League team. Morrison's misplaced cross was not dealt with by Ferdinand who had nobody around him and time to calmly clear but instead he elected to try to rush his clearance, slipped and inadvertently gave the ball to Zoltan Gera. With Ferdinand arsing around on the floor, nobody was within a mile of Gera who had time to set himself, look at Cesar's position and slot in to the gaping goal. 

The R's fans' frustrations were pouring out now, and sections of the away support joined in with the home fans as they told Hughes he would be 'sacked in the morning'. The frustrations were beginning to show from the players, too. Adel Taarabt managed to catch a ball from the air before it went out for a throw and then complain at the referee for giving a free kick as a result (he was lucky not to go in the book for that) whilst Mbia was looking increasingly like he could get sent off, flying into challenges Diakite-esque. This prompted the beleaguered Clint Hill to expend some more of his limited energy and run over to try to calm Mbia down, which to his credit he did to great effect. 

But then, out of nothing, QPR were back in the game. A superbly weighted pass forward (or possibly long hopeful punt) by Granero had Adel Taarabt latch on the end of it. The man who found his mojo again on Monday night then produced a superb chest and volley combination to beat Ben Foster all ends up. "Taarabt's too good for you" sang the travelling support, but in reality he is too good for us. The only reason he is with us is because he isn't one bit a team player. And I feel the same can be said for a number of our players. West Brom, on the other hand, have no real big names but work effectively as a team, and look where they are compared with us! 

For the rest of the half, QPR, who should have taken inspiration from Taarabt's moment of brilliance, continued to look shaky. Clint Hill was clearly being targeted and forced into errors, Park continued to show he is off the boil right now and SWP and Bosingwa were just god damn awful! The rest of the midfield and attack (i.e. Granero, Taarabt and Zamora) looked OK but were very shot shy. West Brom created one further clear cut chance before the half time whistle but were thwarted thanks to some Julio Cesar heroics, as he saved when one on one with Gera. These openings were arising where the West Brom attack was getting in behind the static R's back line all half and the lack of movement was unbelievable. 

Sparky had to change it at half time and so he did, replacing the 'out of his league' Clint Hill with Armand Traore. QPR dominated possession from this point but failed to test Foster at all, their best chance being ballooned over by Granero, who again seemed to take an age to work the perfect position before trying to shoot. Whatever happened to shooting on sight? Surely Mark Hughes, as a former striker, should be preaching that in the Premier League defenders won't give you time to score the perfect goal (QPR defenders aside, that is). SWP was the only player ever in space for QPR, but perhaps WBA knew he presented no danger - he can't cross, is woeful at taking on players and is generally a waste of space. Fans have even taken to sighing when he gets on the ball! Finally he got the hook midway through the second half but in spite of cries for Junior Hoilett, it was another out of form player, Jamie Mackie, who Hughes introduced. As a consequence, QPR continued to boss proceedings but still not testing keeper. And yet again I find myself referring to the moral of my previous match reports - it is essential to score when you are on top!! No surprise then when QPR were made to pay by the Albion, who, after getting a free kick which took the sting out of the R's passing game, afforded Gonzalo Jara Reyes time to plant an accurate pass into the area which was swept home by Youssouf Mulumbu (who incidentally is better than Kaka, I'm led to believe!). 

It occured to me at this point that the lack of pace in the side is the root of our problems. Granero has skill but no pace, Park has tenacity and determination but no pace, a snail would give Zamora a decent race and Mackie and Taarabt are not desperately quick either. Our only hope for pace on the field, substitute Armand Traore, was clearly not fit enough to play here, stopping his running about five minutes after coming on. Junior Hoilett was introduced when it was late enough that Hughes recognised this but had no effect because like Granero, he waits for the most perfect of openings and consequently allows defenders time to recover. Shoot on sight for god's sake!! As the board went up for five minutes of injury time, QPR found themselves in the West Brom half and at long last, the defence were caught out and Granero had enough time to look up and produce an excellent effort to beat Foster from the edge of the area. 3-2 and with two minutes of injury time to go, the Hoops sensed an unlikely equaliser and suddenly, in the last minute of added time, they had a corner. Rangers piled men forward and when the ball was partially cleared, it bounced back into the area to an unmarked Jose Bosingwa at the back post, who summed up his and QPR's performance when he blazed over with so much time and space to do so much better. 

If ever there was a game that summed up QPR's season to date, this was it. Not enough chances created, suicidal defending, but other than that, we've actually been alright (so in conclusion, not very good then!). We've played some pretty football at times and I still have faith yet, but these individual errors and our shot-shyness are costing us dear. 

The only way is up!

Man of the match: It's only fair that I reward Adel Taarabt for a couple of good performances. He goes missing at times and did so here but so do all good attacking players, and then pop up with the goods. When he was in the game, he was QPR's shining light. I just hope he finally has found his Championship form in the Premier League, particularly since Cisse has looked so poor of late. 

C