What a week for
QPR, first a win over Cardiff then an impressive performance at
Chelsea and to cap it off we won our first home league of the season
in some style, I should go away on holiday more often. It was another early
start for me as we left our holiday camp in Somerset at 7am for
the drive home so I could get back in time for the football and
after a few hours on the road and a delayed train journey into London
I was in the pub by 2 for a quick pre match drink before the action
started. The club were promotion
the anniversary of the Tiger Club before the game which does wonderful
work for children with Downs Syndrome. As I walked past the pitches
on South Africa Road before the game the club was in full action
with John Gorman among those doing a football session with the children.
That really is a fantastic scheme by the Community Trust that deserves
all the praise in the world. The club also put
on a cheap ticket deal which saw the lower school end full of QPR
fans which was good to see, with the ridiculous season ticket prices
reducing the size of the Loftus Road crowd this may well prove to
be a regular theme this season to try and fill the ground with cheap
ticket deals. As the players came
out the atmosphere was far more positive than it has been this season
with the crowd carrying off the noise where we left off at Stamford
Bridge a few days ago. Jim Magilton made
just two changes to the side that lost at Chelsea with Ben Watson
back in the team to replace Faurlin. Radek Cerny came back in for
Tom Heaton who can count himself unlucky to be dropped. I said after the
Peterborough game I felt Magilton had to find a side and stick to
it and I think that's what has happened now, that looks like the
first choice team now with the likes of Taarabt, Pellicori and Faurlin
as back up now rather than in and out as starters. The game started
very open with Barnsley opting to have a go rather than sit deep
as teams have done at Loftus Road this season. This tactic made
for a hell of an entertaining game as Barnsley started on the front
foot looking to move out of the bottom three. Iain Hume looked a
real threat on the left and had the beating of Leigterwood twice
early on to put in two superb crosses but on both occasions they
couldn't get anyone on the end of the ball. Rangers were not
scared to attack either with Routledge going on a mazy attacking
run before crossing to Buzsaky whose volley was blocked away for
a corner. Hume went closest
to opening the scoring in the early stages when his shot from outside
the box was just wide of the post with Cerny looking beaten. After that frantic opening it was Rangers who took the lead. Routledge came inside and found Leigterwood on the right and he burst forward with the ball under no pressure. He was allowed to get as far as the edge of the box without a challenge before shooting hard and low to the near post past the keeper. It was a great finish from Leigterwood by abysmal defending from Barnsley. Barnsley looked
a bit down from the goal and it certainly picked us up as Rangers
dominated the next ten minutes playing some lovely passing football.
The movement from the front two and midfield was great to watch
and we were soon 2-0 up. Ben Watson was the architect as he got hold of the ball outside the box and spotted the run of Buzsaky but delayed his pass to the last possible moment before sliding the ball through and splitting the defence open. Buzsaky ran onto it and slid the ball through the hands of Preece in the Barnsley goal for 2-0. It was a nice move and a good finish but Preece really should have saved it. The game looked as good as over now and the good
atmosphere was quickly replaced with a relaxed one with little noise
made. Barnsley began to come back into the game with some
good football of their own, they certainly looked a decent side
with the ball as Hume and Da Silva caused problems. Da Silva saw
a long range volley well saved by Cerny whilst Hume put in a brilliant
cross which Gray was inches away from as Gorkss scrambled it clear.
We looked very unsure at the back and a great block by Rowlands
on Da Silva denied them a way back into the game. Gary Borrowdale then came to the rescue with two
excellent blocks in succession to again deny them a deserved goal
and just as the crowd were beginning to get a little restless we
grabbed a third goal to virtually kill the game. Simpson did well on the left and cut the ball inside
to Buzsaky who had plenty of time to take a touch, line the shot
up and then curl a world class shot over the keeper and into the
back of the net. This was vintage Buzsaky and he was looking back
to his very best after a long spell out injured. 3-0 was harsh on Barnsley but going forward Rangers
were exceptional and could have been further ahead but for a rare
good save from Preece. Routledge picked out a cross from the right
which found Vine and he controlled it well before lifting a shot
over the keeper but Preece did well to get a hand on it and palm
it away. The team were given a standing ovation at the break
for what had been a very impressive attacking performance, we had
threatened to give someone a good hiding with the players at our
disposal and it was finally happening. Life at QPR is never easy though and we made hard work of the second half as Barnsley got some reward for their attacking play. Hammill was causing problems for Leigterwood and was brought down on the left to earn a free kick. Rangers had looked uneasy against balls into the box all afternoon and another good delivery caught us out with Foster rising above Gorkss to head home. I took a look at the clock at this stage and with so long left I thought we might be in for a tough finish to the game. That's how it transpired as Rangers fell apart
at the back with Hammill storming past Leigterwood into the box
and a clumsy tackler by Stewart saw Barnsley awarded a penalty.
So just ten minutes into the half after being 3-0 up Rangers were
in real danger of blowing it. Rangers looked shell shocked and the crisp passing play was now a rushed and panicky performance. Jay Simpson did well to create a chance for himself which he fired over but it was Barnsley who looked like getting the next goal. They almost got it as well when a ball into
the box was again not dealt with and Hammil curled a wonderful shot
to the top corner but Cerny was equal to it making a fantastic save. It was a nervous Loftus Road now and it should have been 3-3 when Barnsley broke through us again and Doyle had the simple talk of rolling the ball to the unmarked Gray but messed it up and rangers managed to clear the danger. It was all getting too much to bear but Rangers
settled the nerves and the game with a comical goal. The build up
was superb though as a cross field ball found Buzsaky and he flicked
the ball over the defenders head with a lovely but of skill. Buzsaky
broke through and picked out Vine with the cross who nodded down
to Watson and the on loan midfielder hit a tame shot straight at
Preece but he made a right mess of it spilling the ball and despite
a desperate effort the ball squirmed over the line and it was now
finally game over. The confidence instantly returned to Rangers
and Barnsley were never in it again. Magilton made a double change
taking off Routledge and Vine possibly with Wednesday in mind and
on came Taarabt and Faurlin with Rowlands moving to the right. Taarabt was quickly in on the action with his
tricks and stopovers to create a chance for himself which was well
saved. Taarabt was great to watch as he tried nutmegs and drag backs
but as ever the end product was sadly lacking. Rangers finished the game off with a fifth
goal and the first time we've scored five at home for over six years.
Faurlin put in a brilliant deep corner which Gorkss headed back
across goal for Simpson to get a touch on and bobble the ball over
the line. Stewart and Gorkss were both congratulated by team mates
before they worked out it was Simpson's goal. Simpson was then taken off with Pellicori coming
on to replace him, Simpson had again impressed me, that's three
goals in five starts for Rangers and he looks a good player. Rangers now began to showboat with Taarabt
really taking the mickey with some of his skills but despite being
5-2 up at home some QPR fans were becoming frustrated with the Moroccan.
He went on one lovely run taking five players out of the game but
with Buzsaky in space and the loft screaming for the pass so he
could get the hat trick Taarabt went alone and his shot was blocked
away. The brought a hell of a response from the QPR fans as Taarabt
was slaughtered by many in the Lower loft and the youngster showed
his annoyance with the fans by waving an arm in the air in frustration
at us. That was it for some as his next touch was roundly booed
and the player looked fed up after that hardly trying with his head
down. After a few minutes of sulking he got his head
together and went about proving the fans wrong and played two lovely
passes through to Pellicori who just stood and watched him rather
than run onto it. He then sent Rowlands clear who went close to
goal number six. I thought the stick Taarabt got was harsh.
We all know he won't pass and until he learns to do so he'll never
fulfil the undoubted potential he has but when you are 5-2 up at
home shouldn't we just enjoy his tricks rather than slaughter the
bloke? It all seemed a bit strange to me as if we have to have a
pop at someone even when we play well. As QPR fans we always moan
that we want flair players but when we have one we then moan that
the flair player wants to do tricks rather than chase back, it's
all very bizarre. Taarabt certainly didn't look happy when he went
off at the end, hopefully he'll react as Buzsaky did to Magilton's
bollocking but I wouldn't be surprised to see him back at Spurs
soon. Apart from that sour not to end the game on
it has been a very rare enjoyable home game. I thought 5-2 slightly flattered us yesterday,
we were bloody brilliant going forward with Buzsaky outstanding
on the left, his flick and cross for the fourth goal was class.
The Barnsley keeper did gift us three of the goals though and provided
some good banter with chants of "What's it like to make a save",
"Your supposed to catch the ball" along with a huge cheer
from the lower loft when he managed to pick up a bottle of water,
he didn't seem amused. Barnsley looked good going forward, Hume put
in some brilliant crosses into the box and that's where we need
to improve in trying to stop the ball coming in, too often we let
stood tall to stop them going round us but allowed the cross to
come in, if we do that at Newcastle we'll get battered. Even at
3-0 I thought Barnsley continued to pass the ball well and cause
us problems, we were always the better side but it certainly wasn't
at comfortable as the 3 goal victory suggests. I thought the turning
point back in our favour came when they took Hume off, they never
looked a threat again after that and we began to run away with it. I thought our midfield played well again with
some really bright and clever movement off the ball, as I said before
Buzsaky was excellent and Watson also had a very good game, I like
him and Rowlands together in midfield. Leigterwood did ok at right
back and Borrowdale had his best game for us. Faurlin again when
he came on looked to have a real touch of class about him. I can't wait for Wednesday now, I think it
will be a very tough game for us but we at least go with plenty
of confidence and could spring a surprise. Man of the Match: Akos Buzsaky Manager Comments
"I think he's got some way to go, like all
of us, but we know he possesses great individual ability and his
second goal was magnificent." 'He’s (Taarabt)
a wonderful footballer and at times he will infuriate everyone like
he infuriates me. "But he’s
very much a prized asset of ours. If he’s reacted he’s
been a little bit silly but that’s what you get with talented
footballers. “They can
be a bit headstrong at times. Will I put an arm around him? No,
I’ll probably throttle him for not passing!"
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