 Sunday, 12th Sep 2010 22:51 by Clive Whittingham QPR maintained their position at the top of the Championship with a fine performance and convincing win against Middlesbrough at Loftus Road on Saturday. A badly managed, poorly motivated, under-performing team full of players playing out of position and making little effort gets taken apart systematically by committed, fit, talented and ruthless opposition. It’s a familiar story for LoftforWords on a Sunday evening, God knows I’ve sat in this chair and written it often enough over the last five years. Rarely though has it been QPR fulfilling the hero’s roll. During the summer I cannot imagine Neil Warnock even allowed himself to dream about a start to the season like this. QPR continued their flawless beginning to the campaign at Loftus Road with a superb victory over the pre-season title favourites on Saturday. The logic behind the pre-season predictions for these two sides was sound. Boro spent big and have a manager at the helm that has enjoyed prolonged periods of success in all his previous jobs. QPR has been a circus in recent seasons and a summer of toil in the transfer market only yielded strikers at the very last minute, and even then the deals were mired in problems. And yet on Saturday, as has been the case since the season kicked off, QPR were nothing short of magnificent while Boro made a mediocre start to the game and got steadily worse from there. It’s four wins and a draw from five matches now for Rangers - three wins, nine goals and none conceded at home. As against Barnsley and Sheffield United the win was aided and abetted by the tactics of the opposition manager and rank attitude of his players, but that is to take nothing away from Rangers who have been superb so far this season and sizzled in the second half sunshine on Saturday afternoon. We’ve sat in that away end, we’ve been those Middlesbrough fans on Saturday, we know how that feels – there’s a growing feeling around W12 at the moment that we may be about to receive a long overdue reward for our years and years and Oldham Athletic 4 QPR 1. With Helguson leading the line with a swagger you wouldn’t expect of a player written off as a crock and bummed off to Watford on loan last season Rangers were a joy to watch – the Iceland international provided ball and space to Taarabt, Ephraim and Mackie who all excelled, offering options and threat throughout. Despite making two additions to his squad since the 2-2 draw at Derby Neil Warnock chose the same starting eleven for the third game running. Tommy Smith had to make do with a place on the bench after finally completing his farcical loan deal from Portsmouth and Rob Hulse continues to be troubled by an Achilles injury so Warnock was glad to be able to call on Helguson, remarkably still fit after two games away with Iceland last week. Further back Faurlin partnered Derry in midfield and in defence Bradley Orr, Matt Connolly, Kaspars Gorkss and Clint Hill made up the back four ahead of Paddy Kenny in goal. Boro named a squad boasting four players who were plying their trade in the Scottish Premier League last season including that division’s record goal scorer Kris Boyd. Gordon Strachan was able to call on new signing Mickael Tavares for the first time in midfield and he was joined by Gary O’Neil on his return from injury. I mentioned in the match preview that I’d be delighted to see Julio Arca moved to the bench, and that’s exactly what happened, one of many bizarre decisions from Strachan, who was mocked by the QPR fans in the second half, made on the day. In the first half they just about matched the R’s, who were going for a third straight win without conceding at Loftus Road, but after half time this game looked like an English league side against a Scottish one – i.e. no contest whatsoever. As he had done at Derby Adel Taarabt threatened very early, skipping into the area in the third minute before unloading a shot that was deflected and well saved by Jason Steele in the Boro goal – in this instance the deflection may actually have helped the keeper reach the shot. Strong starts to games seem to be a QPR trademark this season though. Down at the Loft end Boro partnered Boyd with Scott McDonald, an old style big (very big) man little man combination which, with Connolly and Gorkss at centre half, Rangers seemed ideally suited to cope with. Nevertheless the pair fashioned a chance on seven minutes when Boyd was allowed to thrust an arm into Gorkss’ face under a long ball that subsequently fell to McDonald who dragged his shot wide. Seven minutes later McDonald forced a save from Kenny that rebounded out into a crowded area but luckily the chasers were all well offside. It seemed to me at this point that we had Gorkss and Connolly the wrong way round with the Latvian on the trickier McDonald and Connolly battling against Boyd’s brute strength. A similar situation occurred last season when we played Coventry at home and Connolly took Leon Best while Gorkss had Clinton Morrison with disastrous consequences. Kenny was forced into a more routine save from Tarmo Kink moments later but QPR soon clicked back into gear themselves. On the counter attack Hogan Ephraim was allowed to run into the penalty area unchecked by the furiously back peddling Mattew Bates who allowed the Rangers man to get so close to the Boro goal he couldn’t help but try his luck and Jason Steele had to thrust up two hands to deny him. Presumably in the subsequent inquisition Steele asked Bates what exactly the point of him being there is if he is just going to run away from QPR players running at him. While much of Rangers’ approach play this season has been easy on the eye a good chance was crafted after 20 minutes by going completely route one. A long ball from Paddy Kenny deep into the Boro penalty area was brilliantly controlled by Helguson with his back to goal and he then laid it back to Adel Taarabt who drilled wide when with his confidence and form I expected him to at least find the target. He went closer just before half time when cutting into the penalty area from the left and shooting low towards the far corner but Steele made a fine one handed save to deny him. Boro had two very presentable chances just after the half hour mark. First a well delivered corner dropped on the edge of the six yard box and Kris Boyd bobbled a shot hopelessly wide when it looked easier to score. Then when the otherwise excellent Shaun Derry lost possession when dawdling on the ball in the centre circle the visitors were able to launch a sustained period of pressure which ended with McDonald, who looked offside, hammering the ball into the side netting. QPR responded in kind and Adel Taarabt hit the deck in the penalty area five minutes before half time looking for a penalty that referee Mick Russell waved away. Further controversy reigned five minutes before the break when QPR were denied a clear and obvious penalty. First a Boro attack was broken up by Connolly and Gorkss who set QPR on the attack. With the ball lost Gary O’Neil fell to the ground on the edge of the QPR box clutching his face despite there only being meagre, if any, contact on him. O’Neil remained on the floor while Rangers broke forward and with the Boro players pointing as one for the ball to be kicked out or play to be stopped Heidar Helguson was clearly fouled in the area after toeing the ball away from Barry Robson. My theory is the referee felt uncomfortable for allowing play to go on while a Boro player was injured and couldn’t be doing with the hassle of awarding a penalty while that was the case. Warnock was rightly furious on the touchline, berating the linesman who had a clear view of the incident, and several QPR players questioned the referee when play was stopped for O’Neil to receive treatment. Surprise, surprise with play now stopped O’Neil immediately got up, walked to the touchline with the physio, and then ran back on after receiving no treatment. Farce. I’ve never really considered O’Neil to be a particularly cynical player but this pathetic attempt to get the play stopped, followed by a laughable dive trying to win a penalty, had me reassessing my opinion of him during the half time break. There was still time for a crunching tackle from Derry on McDonald as he lined up a shot from the edge of the area before an entertaining, and evenly matched, half came to an end. There had been few indications of what was to come. The second half started with yet another Boro player falling theatrically, leaving the field with the physio, and then racing back onto the pitch completely fine after all. This time it was Nicky Bailey – an all action central midfielder during his time with Charlton, a rather portly and completely ineffective left winger in this Boro team. QPR then started to look like a team that had had about enough of all this. Adel Taarabt signalled his intention be concluding a flowing move with a ball through to Hogan Ephraim who shot straight at Steele from just inside the area. Then, three minutes after half time, Taarabt produced another fine pass round the back of the Boro defence which looked perfect for Helguson to get on the end of at the back post until he was wrestled to the floor by Barry Robson. This third penalty appeal of the day finally brought the whistle to Mr Russell’s lips – but even though Helguson was clearly and obviously hauled down at the back post by the hapless Robson Russell only awarded the penalty on the say so of the linesman on the Ellerslie Road side of the ground. Quite why it needed confirmation from him I have no idea because you’ll struggle to see a more blatant penalty. Not a single Boro player complained, although there’s good chance that’s because none of them seemed to give much of a toss rather than because they thought it was a foul. Helguson stood up and took his usual penalty - a steady run up almost at walking pace gave the goalkeeper the chance to dive one way so he could calmly slot the ball into the vacant corner. This sparked a dramatic collapse from the visitors and within ten minutes QPR had the game well and truly sewn up. After threading through a glorious low cross for the Helguson penalty Taarabt was at it again five minutes later when he made the most of a ridiculous amount of time and space afforded to him by the Boro midfield wide on the QPR right to produce an exquisite pass the sliced the defence in half and landed plum in front of Hogan Ephraim who swept home from eight yards out with such ferocity Steele in the Boro goal didn’t even know it had happened. This was a beautiful goal, the kind QPR simply haven’t had the ability to score for the best part of 20 years. Two became three within minutes and again Taarabt was at the heart of it all. First he drew a soft foul wide on the QPR right and then he worked a short corner routine with Hogan Ephraim when the resulting set piece was cleared behind. The free kick and the corner, where Boro happily left the two QPR players on their own to do as they pleased and work the ball into the area, summed up the abysmal attitude on show from the visitors for the whole of the second half. The lack of defensive opposition allowed Ephraim to send a devilish ball into the box that fell first to Gorkss and then, when his half volley was blocked, Jamie Mackie bundled the ball home from a few yards out. Strachan’s response to this was to bring on a right full back for a winger – as you do. Justin Hoyte came on allowing Robson to push further forward, Arca remained on the bench. With the game won Neil Warnock decided to freshen things up and rest a couple of players carrying knocks. However, in doing so, he may have unveiled a problem that will affect us in the two away games scheduled for later this week. Right back Bradley Orr was one of the men withdrawn, walking gingerly as he went, but within minutes of coming on his replacement Peter Ramage was limping himself. If either or both are serious then we could see Mikele Leigertwood called into that right back position at Ipswich on Tuesday. Akos Buzsaky came on for Adel Taarabt and Tommy Smith made his debut in place of Jamie Mackie – both departing players were given standing ovations from the home fans. And at that point Kris Boyd was also removed by Gordon Strachan and replaced by Leory Lita. The Scottish Premier League’s record goal scorer left the field to a barrage of jeers from the home fans after being largely ineffective for most of the game. Boyd spent the first 20 minutes or so causing the QPR centre halves problems with his physical presence, aided by the referee allowing him to pummel both Gorkss and Connolly with his elbows without recourse, but after picking up a knock midway through the first half he just looked like he didn’t want to know. In mitigation Boyd has never been anything other than a goal scorer and to be that he needs service from the midfield and wide areas that Boro simply didn’t provide. People like Barry Robson were absolutely dreadful on the day so all Boyd really had to go on was long balls that he lumbered around under trying to rough his opponents up. That said, I’d be surprised if somebody that fat and slow can have much of an impact now he’s actually playing in a proper football league rather than the shambolic waste of time that the SPL so obviously is. Boro have bought nine of the best players the Scottish top flight has to offer – Saturday was yet another damning indictment of the standard of football north of the border. Lita, as he always does, caused us a few problems with an appeal for a penalty that only really Lita could ever have expected to be given waved away. Then he had a shot deflected over the bar after he had cut inside on the edge of the penalty area. Lita is a detestable individual, but I’m very surprised he cannot get into this Boro team ahead of McDonald or Boyd. I was more worried by Lita in the time he was on than any of the other Boro players – mind you, he’s never played in Scotland, so bench it is. With a quarter of an hour left to play Shaun Derry almost got the goal his performance richly deserved when Ephraim set him up on the edge of the box but his low drive was saved by Steele. Ephraim was swaggering around the Boro half at this stage, a completely different player to the ineffective and lightweight one we suffered in the second half of last season. His renewed confidence was on show again five minutes from time when he had Bates back peddling again allowing him time to cut into the area, drag the ball onto his right foot, and then curl a wonderful shot over Steele, off the underside of the bar, and away to safety. A fourth goal would have been no more than QPR deserved, and it would have been perfect had either Ephraim or Derry, the two outstanding players on the day, scored it. Boro looked a sorry mess in the second half. Tavares has clearly been brought in to sit deep in the midfield and move them around the field, something they were sadly lacking against Sheffield United last time I saw them, and in the first half that seemed to work reasonably well in an even contest. But the problems quickly started to mount, Nicky Bailey was used wide left and was badly out of his depth, and central midfielder Barry Robson was at left back while Julie Arca who plays on that side of either midfield or defence naturally and completely changed their performance for the better when he came on against the Blades was left on the bench. That’s just rank poor management plain and simple. Three players who excelled against us in two Boro wins last season were simply awful here – Barry Robson scored twice against at the Riverside but was shockingly off the pace here, and David Wheater and Gary O’Neil looked pale shadows of the players that contributed to our downfall here last season. A fortnight ago at Derby the Rams came closer than anyone to beating us this season by marking Taarabt out of the game with Robbie Savage. Presumably Strachan must have seen the video of that game – why therefore was Taarabt barely marked at all? The Moroccan had the freedom of Loftus Road to pick Boro apart in the second half. Most of all their attitude once behind was abysmal. They looked like a team that expected to lose and didn’t really care very much about it. How often we have sat in an away end and watched a QPR side play with a similar careless attitude to the game. QPR on the other hand were excellent, in the second half in particular. In an evenly contested first half I really liked how Shaun Derry laid down our intentions with a couple of really crunching tackles, including one on McDonald just before half time. Except for one bad giveaway that resulted in a half chance Derry was excellent all afternoon and probably just shaded the man of the match award from Ephraim who goes from strength to strength. Helguson continues to lead the line superbly with Mackie, Taarabt and Ephraim in unplayable form behind him. Faurlin was back to his very best after a poor display at Derby as well. The right back injury situation is of concern with two tough games to come this weekend, and while Gorkss and Connolly both had good games I was a little concerned with the way they kept getting the Boyd and McDonald combination wrong. Kenny looked much better than he has done under crosses and seems to be growing into his new club, Clint Hill was solid as always. Once again there were very few, if any, faults to pick. Rangers have now won all three league games at home this season, scoring nine and conceding none. They have been comfortably better than every team they have played in the league so far this season. If I’m still saying that this time next week then we’ve got a very real chance of going all the way this season. Interactive Player Ratings >>> Have Your Say >>> Message Board Match Thread QPR: Kenny 7, Orr 7 (Ramage 69, 6), Connolly 7, Gorkss 7, Hill 7, Derry 8, Faurlin 8, Mackie 8 (Smith 80, 6), Taarabt 8 (Buzsaky 70, 7), Ephraim 8, Helguson 8 Subs Not Used: Cerny, Leigertwood, Agyemang, Parker Goals: Helguson 49 (penalty), Ephraim 53 (assisted Taarabt), Mackie 59 (assisted Ephraim) Middlesbrough: Steele 7, Bates 5, McManus 5, Wheater 5, Robson 4, Tavares 6, O'Neil 5, Bailey 4 (Halliday 79, 6), Kink 6 (Hoyte 55, 6), Boyd 6 (Lita 65, 7), McDonald 6 Subs Not Used: Coyne, Miller, Arca, Smallwood Booked: Robson (foul) QPR Star Man – Shaun Derry 8 Just shaded it from Ephraim for me, had Hogan’s late strike gone in rather than hitting the bar he probably would have sneaked it. Derry though is proving to be a surprise success story, and led the team really well on Saturday. He broke the Middlesbrough play up, passed the ball really well and laid down a marker in the first half with two or three really crunching tackles. Referee: Mick Russell (Hertfordshire) 6 He allowed just about everything to go, and that’s fine by me as long as it’s done consistently. Boyd should have been pulled up for use of elbows a couple of times in the first half but having laid down a marker that anything goes the referee did at least stick to that. The Helguson penalty appeal before half time was a penalty, plain and simple, and the one that was given was only done so on the say so of the linesman when it was absolutely blatant. Attendance: 14,784 (1600 Boro approx) Loftus Road looked a lot fuller than the attendance suggests and the atmosphere was excellent in the second half when the team turned on the style. Photo: Action Images Please report offensive, libellous or inappropriate posts by using the links provided.
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