Records are made to be broken
and on a weekend where all the media’s eyes are on Arsenals
attempt to equal the 42 game unbeaten run, QPR finally
lost a home league game for the first time in 18 months.
Ian Holloway produced a surprise with his team selection.
Injuries to Gnohere and Ainsworth gave opportunities
to Forbes and Lee Cook whilst Dan Shittu was back on
the subs bench despite being three weeks away from full
fitness. It was made clear on the Public Address system
that Shittu would only come on if both central defenders
got injured and Danny was selected on the bench against
the wishes of physiotherapist Prav Mathema.
The teams came out in the bright West London sunshine
and Derby had Lee Camp in goal who got a superb reception
from the QPR fans, which he seemed to appreciate. Rangers
started off showing they really mean business.
Lee Cook got on the ball out wide on the left and his
trickery got his past two defenders and he crossed superbly
for Gallen to head past Camp And give Rangers a dream
start. Sadly the linesmen’s flag went up instantly to
rule Gallen as offside and the players continued to
celebrate the goal as Derby took the free kick and played
on. It was hard to tell if Gallen was offside from where
I was but having seen it again on TV since the decision
did seem a little harsh.
Derby went straight up the other end and should have
opened the scoring themselves. Ian Taylor had the freedom
of Loftus Road to look up and shoot. His effort beat
Day but hit the post and came out for Tommy Smith totally
unmarked from eight yards out but he scuffed his shot
wide. It was dire defending by Rangers but an exciting
start to the game.
Derby were looking a threat every time they came forward
with Rose pulling up early on looking in pain with an
ankle injury. Forbes looked nervous and was very hesitant
when going up for headers giving the away side plenty
of chances to build attacks.
We looked promising going forward with Lee Cook causing
all sorts of problems and Gallen had an effort blocked
after good work by Cook.
Referee Mike Reilly was showing why most Premiership
managers slag him off every week with an incompetent
display. A good Forbes tackle on the edge of the area
was deemed as a foul and after blowing his whistle to
get our wall back ten yards he just gave up instead
of pushing his authority onto the game.
From the free kick Bignot and
Rose tried to play Derby offside and as they ran forwards
and backwards they seemed to miss what was happening
with the ball. Idiakez’s shot hit the wall and it fell
to Tommy Smith who made no mistake this time scoring
past Day as we claimed offside. It wasn’t offside and
we were in for a tough afternoon.
The goal unsettled Rangers but we kept going forward
with Cook and Gallen at the heart of our best moves.
A free kick on the left found it’s way to Furlong who
tucked his effort past Lee Camp for the equaliser which
was again ruled out for offside and to be fair to the
linesmen he did look a yard offside when he received
the ball.
Things soon got worse for Rangers as Marci Reich went
close to doubling the lead but Chris Day made an excellent
save to keep him out. From the corner we were again
caught cold and Forbes headed past Day to give Derby
a two goal lead and virtually end the game as a contest.
Rangers were stunned and the players looked shell shocked
for a few minutes as we went two goals behind at home
for the first time since November 2002. Derby took full
advantage as Idiakez ran the game in midfield and our
back four looked a shambles unable to cope with the
pace and movement of Tudgay and Smith. Derby didn’t
create too many chances but the standard of our defending
was woeful.
Rangers best chance of a goal was a set piece and one
clever move saw Gallen take it short and cut into the
box in plenty of space but his cross to the far post
couldn’t find a QPR player. Gallen then had a chance
from a free kick after Cook was brought down. His cross
shot was well saved by Camp who was called into action
for the first time.
Half time saw a few boos mostly for the laughable referee
Mike Reilly who had been awful but not quite as bad
as our defending.
Holloway made once change at the break taking off the
injured Rose and bringing on George Santos. Rangers
started the half brightly and looked to get back in
the game. We played most of our football in the Derby
half as the crowd roared to the team on to get a goal
back.
Cook was our most creative player crossing for Furlong
who headed wide. We won several corners in a bright
opening spell but Lee Camp comfortably caught all of
them and the delivery from set pieces really needs to
improve.
Rowlands came into the game for the first time with
a good run in from the right. He beat two players and
found Gallen who shot on the turn but Camp stood his
ground and made the save look easy.
Lee Cook then did well again on the left and put in
a great cross for Furlong. The big striker powered his
header straight at Camp when he really should have done
better.
Holloway then made two more changes. Lee Cook went off
which was greeted by a few boos by the QPR fans, Cook
had been superb but the player himself had said he wasn’t
fit enough to play a full 90 minutes yet. Jamie Cureton
came on as we went to a 3-4-3 when McLeod replaced Bignot.
Rangers continued to push for a goal but time was running
out for us. A neat passing move saw Bean try a clever
back heel to put Furlong in but Derby cleared the danger.
The effort being put in was good
to see though and Jamie Cureton came close to getting
a goal after good work by Gallen and Furlong gave Cureton
the chance with a spectacular over head kick which hit
a defender in the face and went wide with Camp looking
beaten. That just about summed the game up with Rangers
getting no luck in front of goal.
Martin Rowlands had a late chance after he showed some
good skill to beat two men he fired a shot just wide
of the far post. The final whistle was greeted with
a mixture of boss and claps. The team had given it all
they had but had once again come up short. Derby looked
a decent side but with a bit of luck on our side we
may well have grabbed a draw out of the game.
We still have plenty to improve on though. Defending
at set pieces is still very poor and needs to be sorted
out sooner than later whilst we also need to get Rowlands
in the game more often as he looks a threat when he
gets involved.
Perhaps moving him into the middle
will spark an improvement in the team as we need to
keep the ball far better than we have been and the midfield
duo of Bean and Johnson do not seem able to keep the
ball well enough to survive at this level.
With the home record now gone we need to bounce back
quickly and face three tough games in the next nine
days. Home games against Swansea in the cup and Sheffield
United in the league will need to be won to get the
confidence back up among the players and the fans.
Man
of the Match: Lee Cook
Players Ratings
1. Chris Day:
Looked hesitant again from set pieces but did make one
very good save from Reich. 7/10
2. Marcus Bignot:
Did well again at right back but not quite up to the
high standards he has set in the first three games.
7/10
3. Gino Padula:
His set pieces really need to improve and he was given
a torrid time in the first half by the movement and
pace of the Derby forwards. 7/10
19. Terrell Forbes
: A poor first half but thats to be expected as
he hasn't played a competitive game since March. He
got better in the second half and is worth sticking
with for the next few games. 6/10
7. Matthew Rose:
hurt his ankle early on which affected him but he
was probably the best of a poor back four in the first
half. 7/10
6. Richard Johnson:
His passing was poor and he never really got the
defensive part of his game right either. 6/10
16. Marcus Bean:
Chased and harried as Bean always does and he was the
only central midfielder able to pick out a pass which
was good to see. 7/10
14. Martin Rowlands:
When he got in the game he looked a threat but he didn't
do it often enough. 7/10
17. Lee Cook:
A real threat from the first second of the game. His
pace and trickery was great to see and he looks like
he'll be a big player for us this season. 8/10
29. Paul Furlong:
He worked hard all game but didn't get much service.
When he did get a chance he really should have done
better. 6/10
10. Kevin Gallen:
Worked hard and linked well with Cook but he'll be frustrated
with himself for missing the two chances that came his
way. 6/10
Subs.
15.
Jamie Cureton: Had one chance
which was deflected over but didn't get the chance to
do much else. 6/10
18.
Kevin McLeod: The game was lost by the time he came
on but he worked hard and got one good cross in for
Furlong. 6/10
23.
George Santos: Brought some
much needed composure to the defence in the second half
and has probably done enough to earn a first team start.
7/10
