| Saturday
February 12th |
|
Q.P.R. 1
|
Stockport 1
|
| |
|
| C.Kiwomya
|
R.Matthews
|
New
Loan signing Mikkel Beck began on the bench in an unchanged line
up for QPR. The first time QPR have been unchanged since October
27th.
Rangers looked
very disorganised early on allowing Stockport to control midfield
in a very scrappy game. He ball spent mote time in the air than
on the floor as one long ball was returned with another before
a game of head tennis began between both teams.
Rangers hardly
managed an attack of note early on, as Stockport looked more dangerous.
Lee Harper almost found himself in trouble when he looked to have
brought down a Stockport forward but the referee waved play on.
A couple of long range efforts followed from County before they
took the lead.
Rangers were
cut open on the left and a cross found Rob Matthews unmarked to
tap in a simple goal.
This seemed
to wake QPR up and Gavin Peacock almost got Rangers level with
a run into the box but his claims for a penalty after being obstructed
were turned down. Slade then shot wide before a series of corners
which saw a moment of panic with the Stockport keeper. His mistake
should have seen Rangers score but we couldn't manage a worthy
effort on goal.
Rangers were
looking to play the long ball too often against a very tall Stockport
defence leaving Slade and Kiwomya with no chance of success. Richard
Langley was the exception. His range of passing was superb and
he looked a class above everyone else on the pitch. Peacock again
had a shot saved by the keeper as the half ended with a few boos
from the Rangers fans.
The second
half saw an immediate change with Darren Ward replaced by Mikkel
Beck. Rangers switched to 4-3-3 in an attempt to get back in the
game. Beck's first touch saw him turn into space and look for
a team-mate. He played a nice ball through to Kiwomya but the
Stockport defence held off the Rangers attack comfortably.
Despite the
change, Rangers created very little but did improve as the half
wore on. Richard Langley was again the main man in midfield opening
up Stockport with his passing and working hard back in defence.
The game seemed to be heading for a 1-0 when Gerry made two more
substitutions. Kevin Gallen replaced Steve Slade and Richard Langley
was withdrawn for Keith Rowland, a substitution I can not understand.
Gallen played
his usual game up front, holding up the ball and bringing others
into play well but still very few chances were created with the
long ball being preferred to passing football. Stockport were
well organised but by no means unbeatable and all they offered
in attack was some long range efforts and a few corners as they
seemed happy to sit back and defend.
On the few
occasions that Rangers passed it we looked good. One move started
from the corner flag with Harper and Baraclough playing a one
two and feeding Gallen. His turn and pass found Peacock and Rangers
spread the play quickly for Beck to run through but his cross
evaded the on rushing Kiwomya and Wardley.
Wardley then
made his one and only contribution to the game. He ran onto a
loose ball and knocked the ball wide before curling an excellent
cross into the box. Chris Kiwomya met the cross with a diving
header into the bottom corner to give Rangers a point.
Rangers then
looked for a winner and should have got it when Kiwomya turned
in the box and was hacked down for a certain penalty. The ref
played on but from my view (admittedly I was at the other end
of the stadium) it looked a certain penalty. That looked to be
our last chance with a few corners collected by the keeper before
the game took a dramatic twist in the last minute.
A free kick
on the left was curled in by Stockport and headed over Lee Harper
as the keeper slipped at the crucial moment. Stockport celebrated
but the referee disallowed the goal for a push on Ready? I use
the question mark as I saw nothing wrong with the goal and get
the feeling that the ref was making up for the penalty that wasn't
a few minutes before. So another point for Rangers but a disappointing
performance and a very dull game.
Man of
the Match: Richard Langley
PLAYERS
RATINGS
13. Lee Harper
: At fault for the goal that never was but had little else to
do. 6/10
22. Jermaine
Darlington : Not one of his better games, his defending was average
and he struggled to beat his man going forward. He does need more
support from teamates when he runs down the wing as he had very
few options other that to play for a corner yesterday. 6/10
3. Ian Baraclough
: He looks to be struggling at left wing back and looks a lot
better in the middle. Had an average game and can play so much
better.
5, Karl Ready
: Typical Ready, done some good things and some bad things. 6/10
32. Darren
Ward : Struggled a little again and looks to be doing mover covering
in the last two weeks than he was last month. 6/10
27. Stuart
Wardley : Touched the ball; about 5 times but set up the goal.
He needs to realise he has more time on the ball and not rush
all the time.
8. Gavin
Peacock : can play better, too many long balls saw him ruining
more than creating. 6/10
21. Richard
Langley : Great visions and skill plus the ability to tackle well,
why he was taken off is a mystery 9/10
18. Steve
Slade : No service again but need to work harder to create chances
for himself. 6/10
11. Chris
Kiwomya : Got a lot of stick from the QPR supporters but he kept
going and got his reward with his ninth goal of the season. 7/10
Subs
36. Mikkel
Beck : A couple of nice flicks and touches but hard to judge as
he hasn't trained with the team much yet. 6/10
10. Kevin
Gallen : Good to see him back, had an average game 6/10
16. Keith
Rowland : Ran around a lot and passed well but nothing special.
6/10