LUSC EA News

QPR Report

A win’s a win, even if it is a result of a scrappy fairly average performance.

Given it looked like the game was following last years pattern with a bit of stupidity and some play-acting costing us 2 points, you have to be happy with the points.

However, we weren’t good, just workmanlike and only the total averageness of QPR enabled us to hold onto the win.

Few chances first half, after an early miss when Hulse and Douglas both failed to connect with Lewis’s cross it was largely a battle of attrition, with little decent football played. Furlong should probably have scored but hit a weak shot straight at Sully and little else happened. Luckily for us QPR failed to remember to mark the big centre-forward from a set-piece and Hulse tapped in an easy goal.

Second half started in much the same way, with another goal not really looking likely, though Healy decided to liven it up with a bit of stupidity. A bit of argy-bargy on the edge of the area whilst waiting for a throw in, and Bircham who’s just been booked for a crude hack on Gylfi, gives Healy a dig in the ribs. Healy reels away looks at the ref who does nothing and promptly runs over and treads on Bircham’s foot as he runs past. Hardly a stamp but in full view of the ref, and as Bircham squeals like a stuck-pig, a red card was inevitable. Bircham could have gone as well for the initial foul but for a while it looked like the stupidity might cost us.

Cresswell replaced Hulse up-front, presumably just for fresh legs in the loan strikers role, and we expected to be put under pressure. It never really happened, we were fairly comfortable with the few crosses and corners that came in, and QPR were just not good enough to use their man advantage to create some pressure or clear chances. The most worrying moment came when Gregan miscontrolled on the edge of the area and then hacked down the man going past him, looked like a pen to us, though Rangers fans in the pub later said they thought it was outside. Luckily Kelly blocked the free-kick and even four minutes of injury time didn’t really threaten us.

Scores (With equivalents from our recent past for those who don’t see the current crop much)


Sullivan (Nigel Martyn)	6	Did what he needed to, though caused some unnecessary panic with some poor throws out first half.
Crainey (David Robertson)	5	One good covering tackle notwithstanding had a bit of a shocker in the first half – giving the ball away regularly and lacking basic control at times. Improved in the second half, largely helped by QPR bringing on a winger and deciding not to pass to him.
Kelly (Gary Kelly)	7	A largely excellent game, covered well behind centre-backs, made a few good blocks and always available going forward.
Gregan (Paul Beasley)	4.5	Pretty dreadful, a masterclass in sliced clearances, misjudgements and aimless hoofing. Most of QPR’s chances game from Gregan’s poor decisions, could easily have been sent off first half for clattering Ainsworth after already having been booked and then nearly gave away a penalty second half.
Butler (Jon Newsome)	6	Solid enough, did his work with a minimum of fuss and the high ball in rarely troubled us.
Lewis (Scott Sellars)	6	Not quite the player we hoped he might be, better with the ball than tracking back. Did work harder than normal second half.
Derry (Chris Kamara)	7	Clearly our best player this season, though slightly less effective yesterday. Has a tendency to try over-ambitious passes at times, but generally knits the team together nicely.
Einarsson (Mark Ford)	6	Gets around the pitch and was quite effective as a destructive player, a bit lost when he has the ball with time to play it, but his threat at set pieces probably gives him the edge over other midfield candidates at present. Did well to block off a defender for the goal.
Douglas (Bruno Ribeiro)	6	Tidy unspectacular game, should have scored first half but generally held his position nicely without every looking lie doing anything earth shattering.
Healy (Robbie Keane)	5	Was having a pretty decent game, pulling off defenders nicely to find space and getting some decent crosses in, then does something stupid.
Hulse (Lee Chapman)	6.5	Another good strikers goal and is always a nuisance to the opposition defenders.

Matt