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Boxing Day fixtures are always an odd affair. The early kick off tends to make it a poor atmosphere and this year was the same as usual. Most people in the ground were just trying to get away from watching Victoria Bloody Wood on the tv rather than getting behind the team. We started out reasonably against a Norwich side who looked to be very poor and lacking in confidence. We looked to attack from the start and got the ball wide and looked useful. We didn't create many chances but looked the better side. It wasn't long before we took a deserved lead. A Richard Langley free kick was whipped in from the right and Clarke Carlisle rose to head into the corner. At this point it looked like an easy win would follow as Norwich had offered nothing in attack so far. Straight from the re start I was proved wrong a Norwich carved us open but we cleared the danger for a corner. Norwich slowly got back into the game but neither side looked very good going forward. A huge blow followed when Mickel Ngonge went down injured and was replaced by Kiwomya who looked totally unfit and struggled to hold the ball up and read Crouch's flicks. We resorted to hoofs to Crouch who was trying his best but struggled up front losing possession too often and winning very little in the air. Langley was left doing far to much work in midfield. He was doing Morrows job of a holding man as Morrow seemed blind to the threat of Marshall and was the only creative player they had. Morrow was simply awful and just got in the way of Rose and did nothing to stop Norwich coming forward and offered nothing to the team. Why he stayed on for so long is a mystery. Stuart Wardley was trying his best, poor Stuart was getting so much stick but at least he ran his heart out for the cause unlike Morrow. Norwich eventually scored. A break from midfield saw no challenge at all, our holding player was checking his gloves and a cross in saw Iwan Roberts head in off the post. A very soft goal to give away at a crucial time in the game. But we responded very well. Straight from kick off we attacked and Kiwomya did very well to win the ball and cross for Stuart Wardley to fire into the net and send us supporters into ecstasy. Half time we felt we would go on and win the game and talk was of how a point on Saturday will be alright and we were all confident of safety. That confidence lasted about 50 seconds as we conceded straight from kick off. A quick attack by us was broken up and Norwich broke through our midfield as if it wasn't there and Marshall found himself in space to shoot past Miklosko for another soft goal. Morrow was again blind to the danger of Marshall in midfield. Norwich sensed they could win this and went for us. Many QPR supporters began to return to the stand shocked at the scoreline but it could have been worse as Norwich dominated for the next fifteen minutes. We looked a shambles and why Connolly wasn't brought on for Morrow was amazing. I mentioned to my g/f that Francis won't make the change until Norwich score again and I was right. We came back at Norwich with some pressure but only Carlisle managed an effort on goal. Norwich then broke late in the game and Langley gave the ball away on the edge of the box for the ball and the cross found the unmarked Roberts who scored easily. It is easy to blame Langley for this but he was only covering for Darlington (Thats something the holding man should do but of course he was checking his gloves again) and at least the rest of the defence could have marked Roberts. Francis finally stirred into action, sending on Connolly for the hapless Morrow, but obviously too late and despite a Carlisle shot which went wide the game was all over. The team was booed off and sections of the crowd had a go at Langley and one bloke seemed to have an argument with Baraclough. Its all getting very nasty at Loftus Road as the fans seem to be turning against the players and the manager seemed blind to the obvious problems we have in the team. Man of the Match : Clarke Carlisle PLAYERS RATINGS 1. Ludo - Not at fault with the goals and made some good saves. 7/10 22. Darlington - His crossing was poor and was left defending for most of the match. 6/10 3. Baraclough - Did well defensivly and whipped in some good crossed but can do better. 6/10 12. Rose - Coudln't bring the ball out of defence too often and had a poor game 6/10 19. Carlisle - Usual performance did very well gave his all and was unlucky to score again. 7/10 17. Plummer - Solid performance and has done well since his return to the side. 7/10 4. Morrow - Rubbish, Rubbish, Rubbish and thats being kind 1/10 27. Wardley - Tried hard and deserved his goal. 6/10 21. Langley - Was asked to do to much, he needed to create chances link the midfield to the attack and get back and defend. Despite doing all that he was still blamed for one mistake which led to the third goal. 7/10 28. Crouch - Tried hard but I thought this was his worst game for a long time. He never looked like scoring and didn't lead the line as well as he should. 5/10 9. Ngonge - Was doing well before he got injured. Subs 11.Kiwomya - Looked un fit and had a very poor game. 5/10 10. Connolly - Should have been on from the start, not a great player but offers more than Morrow.
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