Improving QPR comfortable winners against bad-tempered Blues – Report

Monday, 29th Feb 2016 22:09 by Clive Whittingham QPR turned in a decent performance, with a number of outstanding individual efforts, in a comfortable win against Birmingham City on Saturday. Apart from one aberration against Fulham – the reaction to which is looking increasingly hysterical – Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink seems to actually be starting to get somewhere with this Queens Park Rangers team. Two difficult away matches – one made awkward by the conditions, the other by the quality of the opposition – negotiated without a defeat, the R’s returned to Loftus Road on Saturday and comfortably swept aside play-off chasing Birmingham City. In the process, Rangers stepped everything up another level from the recent win here against another promotion chaser Ipswich Town. Is that light we see at the end of the tunnel, or another train approaching? Saturday’s victory was built on vastly improved showings from a number of the team’s problem children this season. Few could have anticipated how poor James Perch would be in blue and white hoops ahead of his arrival from Wigan in the summer, given the positive write ups he’d had at his previous clubs. Now it seems, despite him being right footed, what we should have been doing all along was picking him at left back. Not only has the switch taken Paul Konchesky out of the team, it’s also improved Perch by several million percentage points. Solid at Sheffield Wednesday during the week, he turned in his best performance for the club here both with and without the ball – passing intelligently in possession, and keeping Birmingham’s liveliest player David Cotterill under some sort of control. When Ryan Shotton - whose thought process on this incident would make an excellent psychology PhD study - inexplicably let Perch ride through a tackle he was a distant second favourite to get anywhere near and seize a through ball from Seb Polter he was able to cut the ball back from the byline for Tjaronn Chery. The Dutchman, making a rare start as Polter’s link man, cutely slid the ball into the bottom corner off the far post, giving goalkeeper Tomasz Kuszczak no chance at all and handing Rangers a deserved lead ten minutes before half time. Gabrielle Angella also looked a reasonable signing when the leaves were still on the trees and the sun was high in the sky. A dominant player in the air, as well as a centre back who could carry the ball out from defence and distribute it properly, he felt like a shrewd acquisition. But the Italian has found game time limited, and hasn’t impressed on the rare outings he has had. Here though, he did a number on Birmingham’s lone striker Clayton Donaldson who’d caused so many issues for QPR in the first meeting between the sides this season. Beaten in the air, outclassed on the ground, Donaldson’s frustration manifested itself in a second half booking for dissent after a stand-up row over nothing very much with referee Roger East. Angella’s inclusion, and Perch’s shift to the left, has meant a move to right back for Nedum Onuoha, who has often looked uncomfortable with the extra ball playing elements of the full back position when used there previously. Here he was very decent indeed, not only defensively which we’re entitled to expect of a native centre half, but also in possession where he set off on several enterprising runs into the Brum half which wreaked a sort of dog in the school playground-type havoc among the Birmingham defence. And then there was Karl Henry. Maligned to the point of being hounded off the pitch altogether by his own so-called supporters against MK Dons earlier this season, Henry turned in his best ever QPR performance in this game, controlling the central midfield area and freeing Massimo Luongo and Tjaronn Chery to turn in their own excellent performances further forward. The reward for solidifying the base of the team was a comprehensive victory against a team which, at least according to the league table, is one of the division’s better sides. Matt Phillips had already seen a speculative long range shot blocked away when Chery led a swift counter attack from a Birmingham free kick that at one stage threatened to turn into a four on two situation in QPR’s favour only for East to whistle far too quickly, halting a clear advantage, to show a yellow card to Diego Fabbrini for a foul in back play. Chery was later fouled twice in quick succession on the edge of the Birmingham box – one ignored, the other granted a free kick which the Dutchman curled into the wall himself as his influence on the game grew. At the other end Cotterill’s long range missile in a rare Birmingham attack flew two yards wide of the post with home keeper Alex Smithies only showing passing interest. Chery shot wide of the top corner after getting on the end of a fantastic ball from Phillips, then gave the home side the lead just as things were starting to turn nasty down at the School End – two fans squaring up for a one-sided punch up by the corner flag during open play isn’t something you see every day. If the aim of a raucous travelling support was to wake their team from its slumber it failed. Birmingham seemed shocked and unsure of everything taking place in front and behind them and quickly shipped a second with Seb Polter showing hitherto unseen immaculate control of the ball to execute a nutmeg on his way into clear space in the penalty box. The foul on him by Michael Morrison was obvious, and would have brought a red card on most other days. Junior Hoilett seemed an odd choice for the spot kick but he buried it right footed all the same and was pelted with coins from the away end for his troubles. Polter later pulled a ball out of the sky and turned well before shooting wide in first half stoppage time as the traffic continued to flow in one direction. Two nil can be an odd lead, and a Birmingham goal early in the second half would have brought memories of 23 points lost from winning positions this year flooding into QPR minds. Karl Henry’s headed goal line clearance at the end of a titanic penalty box scramble as Donaldson attempted to bounce an improvised volley over the stricken Smithies a minute into the second half felt crucial. As did the keeper’s unorthodox stop down to his right when Cotterill smacked one of several quickfire Birmingham free kicks towards goal moments later. But Hasselbaink’s team made it clear they were not going to be sitting back, soaking up and seeing out time be reasserting themselves as an attacking force in the game. Luongo’s performance deserved a goal, and only a flying Kuszczak save denied him one via a left-footed shot from 20 yards after Phillips and Hoilett had combined well. The move of the game followed a minute later and ended with Phillips crossing for Polter at the near post but his effort was bundled behind for a corner. Luongo then pinged an exceptional crossfield 40 yard ball in behind Jonathan Grounds, taking the full back out of the situation completely, but Chery couldn’t produce the finish to match his immaculate first touch. The Dutchman was at the heart of QPR’s most inventive play all afternoon. His good work to draw a foul on the hour was rather wasted by Hoilett’s weak shot from the free kick. Then he had a shot of his own deflected wide with the visitors upset that play had been allowed to reusme quite so quickly after James Vaughan replaced Maikel Kieftenbeld. Kieftenbeld’s last action had been to hook a chance over Smithies’ bar from a long throw. Chery looked like the player we were told we’d signed in the summer, as did Luongo. Hasselbaink’s technique of leaving both of them out for perplexingly long periods of time, the introducing them when they’re ravenous for a chance and determined to do what he’s asked of them to stay in the team looks like clever man management on this evidence. I’m not sure - two goals up at home, playing well, feeling positive – there was any need to boo Daniel Tozser’s introduction, particularly as the Hungarian had improved and scored an important goal at Hillsborough on Tuesday. Rangers were in need of a fresh, steadying influence when he replaced Chery too – Donaldson had just hooked one chance over while Smithies had acrobatically punched a Robinson header from a corner away to safety. Sections of the QPR support have absolutely perplexed and depressed me at times this season. The game rather petered out thereafter. Toral, who on this evidence should be starting for Birmingham ahead of Fabbrini, was booked for hauling down Hoilett while Conor Washington looked lively having replaced Phillips wide right. East tried to enliven proceedings by making a series of perplexing decisions in the closing moments – a foul on Polter wasn’t given, then an identical offence against Robinson was and Tozser was quickly penalised for nothing very much at all. But with Polter recovering from two poor personal performances against Fulham and Ipswich with a very decent showing here, it was still Rangers attacking at the death and Tozser sent a shot over the bar with options for a pass left and right. QPR, with only really Hoilett left of the big-earning old guard, looked more organised, quicker, fitter, more committed, more balanced and more attacking than they have done for months. People like Smithies, Hall, Luongo and Polter are becoming integral to a younger, more vibrant team. Just as it was supposed to be back in the summer. The question now, after two tentative steps forward, is whether the standard stride in the other direction awaits a week from now at MK Dons. Links >>> Ratings and Reports >>> Message Board Match Thread QPR: Smithies 6; Onuoha 7, Angella 7, Hall 6, Perch 7; Henry 7, Luongo 7, Phillips 6 (Washington 82, -), Chery 8 (Tozser 76, 6), Hoilett 6 (El Khayati 90+3, -); Polter 7 Subs not used: Konchesky, Faurlin, Ingram, Petrasso Goals: Chery 35 (assisted Perch), Hoilett 38 (penalty, won Polter) Birmingham: Kuszczak 6; Shotton 5, Morrison 5, Robinson 6, Grounds 6; Gleeson 6, Kieftenbeld 6 (Vaughan 71, 5); Cotterill 7, Fabbrini 4 (Toral 63, 6), Maghoma 6 (Buckley 79, 6); Donaldson 4 Subs not used: Legzdins, Spector, Davis, Caddis Bookings: Fabbrini 15 (foul), Morrison 39 (foul), Donaldson 60 (dissent), Toral 81 (foul) QPR Star Man – Tjaronn Chery 8 Lots of candidates, which makes a night change, but a goal nudges Chery ahead of Perch, Henry, Angella and Luongo for me. Added creativity, guile and threat to the attack, profiting from Polter’s physicality and nuisance value up ahead. A combination I’d like to see more of. Referee – Roger East (Wiltshire) 6 An odd performance, which started with him pulling QPR back from a dangerous counter attack to give them a free kick in their own half, and ended with a succession of infuriating decisions in the closing two minutes. In between it’s hard to see how Morrison can stay on having fouled Polter just as he’s about to shoot from six yards out for the penalty. Attendance – 17,110 (3,100 Birmingham approx) Obviously lots of press coverage, and stories from the Birmingham fans of ridiculous arrangements outside which saw a good few of them miss the first 20 minutes of the match, which is sad to hear. However they behaved before, during and after the game is a separate issue – if I’d paid £32 to get into a football match and turned up at 14.45 I’d have been bloody steaming if I’d been kept outside until halfway through the first half as well. Once inside the ground though the coin throwing and the aggression in the corner next to the disabled section is twatish behaviour and not something we’ve seen at Loftus Road for a long while. Be interesting to know whether the financial decision to start giving away fans both tiers again may have backfired slightly here, with any extra cash now absorbed by the extra cost of policing a big travelling support. The Twitter @loftforwords Pictures – Action Images Photo: Action Images



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extratimeR added 23:23 - Feb 29

Thanks Clive



Very pleased with performance, we seem back on track from Ipswich game, yes very difficult to pick MOM, Angella very good, but really so was everyone, don't know how Cherry squeezed that shot in.



I really feel Smithies is having a big influence on back four, decisive kicking, and attacking the ball anywhere in the eighteen yard box.



Thanks Clive, report bang on as usual. 0

Myke added 00:20 - Mar 1

Thanks for the report Clive. A steady improvement or another false dawn - it's the hope that kills you! 0

isawqpratwcity added 02:07 - Mar 1

Nice report, Clive. You must get a buzz from being able to write about plans that actually work. It's certainly a pleasure hearing about players performing to an expected standard.



But booing Tozser after his goal won us a point ONLY 4 DAYS previously? Jeez, I wonder sometimes. 0

062259 added 02:55 - Mar 1

"with only really Hoilett left of the big-earning old guard...."



Excuse me?



The club is still spunking cash on Green and Traore for the rest of this season, and I bet Diakite and Phillips are not on chump change either. And that's not to mention the overhang of the salaries of Fer, Sandro and Caulker, whose contracts are potential albatrosses for a couple of seasons to come, if they cannot be shifted in the summer; I'd be very surprised if their loan clubs are picking up 100% of their wages (whoever heard of a championship club loaning out 3 players to premier league teams ??!!)



Clive, if you know better, I'd be delighted to be put right. 0

Kaos_Agent added 03:50 - Mar 1

Thanks Clive. It's mystifying how R performances can vary so much, but it's nice to read for a change that the manager apparently thought correctly about his selection, and also seems to be man-managing well. Your excellent and scary interview with Uncle Tony confirmed that the pre-January selections had a shop-window flavour. Perhaps now JFH can pick who he likes. Maybe even some of the new crop?



062259, I'd say that "only Hoilett of the big-earning old guard" IS STILL PLAYING regularly. Albeit inconsistently as ever. He's still only 25 but seems to have been around forever. 0

pedrosqpr added 04:23 - Mar 1

First I want to comment on the Birmingham City fans and put in my 10ps worth, walking along the Uxbridge Road he Birmingham supporters I ran across were mostly decent however there were a coup,e of young t@@&& shouting and generally being abusive to shoppers minding there own business felt like a throwback from the 70's .

Importantly Birmingham football team looked second best to our team of mercenaries according to the Birmingham fanzines . It's interesting you get labelled a certain way and it takes ages to change that perception, good all round performance and great to see JFH change tactics and formations, whatever he decides to do going forward I think he will turn out to bea decent coach . 0

QPRski added 07:22 - Mar 1

It is great and very refreshing to read a positive report about a good collective team performance, with so many potential candidates for MOM. I am very pleased that we seem to have found a solid back four and defensive midfield combination, and it is not a surprised that it reaps reward with the offensive play. Let's hope that this is a solid foundation upon which we can build and develop.



My only concern was the reaction to the introduction of Daniel Tozser. A very poor show from those "fans" who booed. It is not the QPR mentality and culture that I want or expect. 0

connell10 added 08:18 - Mar 1

I think clive ment hoillet was the only player left on the pitch after phillips went off that was still a high earner. 0

Northernr added 08:37 - Mar 1

062259 - I meant in the team, on the pitch. 0

qprninja added 08:41 - Mar 1

"which wreaked a sort of dog in the school playground-type havoc among the Birmingham defence." - Ha! Brilliant. 0

simmo added 09:08 - Mar 1

"which wreaked a sort of dog in the school playground-type havoc among the Birmingham defence" - this is brilliant and absolutely spot on.



@isawqpratwcity - 'But booing Tozser after his goal won us a point ONLY 4 DAYS previously? Jeez, I wonder sometimes.' - The few of us at Sheff Wens would not have booed after seeing a much improved performance, although a few in the away section that day started the game abusing him from the off. It's odd and counter productive, it's especially baffling when we see somebody like Angella recover from a poor start to begin playing well in a more settled and organised team, it's not crazy to suggest Toszer can do the same. Apart from anything else, who boos at all at home whilst watching such a brilliant perfromance? Embarrassing. 2

londonscottish added 09:27 - Mar 1

"QPR.....looked more organised, quicker, fitter, more committed, more balanced and more attacking than they have done for months".



Yup, agree with that. It was a joy to watch. Can we just end the season there? 0

GetMeRangers added 09:48 - Mar 1

I know results mean everything but I am just relieved that entertainment is returning to watching this side. Some of the games this season have been hard to bear... and I dont mean the Fulham games either.

We may be a bang average side, but great to come away from a game feeling so contented. Still baffled by fans that boo but it is wonderful that in a relatively short time, Polti is not plagued by the awful treatment he had at the hands of some in the reverse fixture. If Jamie can have cult status, I see no reason why the BFG shouldnt either

Onto MK Dons. The land of no pubs and a large away follwoing, against a struggling team. What could possibly go wrong!

#13thMeansEverything 0

francisbowles added 10:07 - Mar 1

It seemed to me that Birmingham needed to attack our full backs with pace and around the outside in Perch's case. Maybe they don't have wingers capable of playing that way.



It will be interesting to see how Perch and Onuoha cope when put under pressure.



As Clive and others have said credit to all the players for their performances. Hoilett was looking fitter and more interested than we have seen before, tracking back well to cover Perch and non stop effort. 0

Marshy added 10:25 - Mar 1

The most enjoyable game of the season so far with Rangers at times playing some lovely free flowing football. Tactically I think JFH got this spot, on with importantly both Perch and Onuoha looking comfortable outside of their normal positions. In fact I couldn't really fault any player out there as everyone played credibility well, and seemed 100% committed effort wise. Whether we can keep this momentum going remains to be seen, but there clearly is potential in this squad and any further success will depend how each and every player is deployed. Must say I am looking forward to going to our next game at MK. Something I haven't felt for quite a while.

0

londonscottish added 10:46 - Mar 1

"Must say I am looking forward to going to our next game at MK. Something I haven't felt for quite a while".



Fatal. 2

tsbains64 added 08:05 - Mar 2

Best game under JFH Smithies is a fine investment and can see the team foundation developing well. Sad to hear the booing from the R block of home fans Remember we are supporters so please support the team 0

romfordranger added 22:03 - Mar 3

No weekly rant for a change, it was a well organised and fully committed Rangers. If only we could play like this more often, but every time we see a glimmer of hope we suffer a setback. Perch looks much more comfortable at left back, but the right back position needs sorting for next season. More than anything we just need a proper team leader who can rally the players when things are not going well, someone more vocal on the pitch. Hasselbaink has made a couple of useful signings and dropping Green was a major positive. Onwards and upwards hopefully, although wouldn't bet against a Fulham type performance at MK Dons either! 0

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