Saturday 6th November 2010
Npower Football League Championship
Loftus Road Stadium
Referee: S Tanner
Attendance: 15692
Queens Park Rangers 3-1 Reading
By The Godfather

Queens Park Rangers starting line-up: Kenny, Orr, Gorkss, Connolly, Walker, Derry, Faurlin, Mackie, Taraabt (Clarke 80), Smith (Ephraim 96), Hulse (Agyemang 81).

Reading starting line-up: Federici, Khizanishvili, Griffin, Mills, Harte, McAnuff, Tabb (Antonio 81), Karacan (Church 62), Howard, Robson-Kanu (Hunt), Long.

Despite playing the second half with ten men, Queens Park Rangers produced their best performance of the season so far, thoroughly outclassing their opponents, Reading. Once again, the referee was absolutely abysmal. Although Bradley Orr deserved his red card, Reading should have also had a man sent off when Mills attempted to headbutt Adel Taraabt. In a way, the right back’s dismissal galvanised QPR, invigorating the home crowd and creating an electric atmosphere inside Loftus Road. The superb victory meant that Rangers reclaimed the top position, with Cardiff losing to Swansea in the Welsh derby on Sunday afternoon.

Neil Warnock made two changes to his side, one of which was tactical, the other due to Clint Hill’s minor injury. Tommy Smith was selected ahead of Hogan Ephraim, whilst Bradley Orr replaced Hill at right back, with Kyle Walker moving over to the left. Meanwhile, Rob Hulse retained his place in attack, with Jamie Mackie supporting him on the right-hand side. Shaun Derry and Alejandro Faurlin occupied the middle of the park. Gorkss and Connolly continued in central defence, with Paddy Kenny taking up the goalkeeping position.

The match started in a very scrappy fashion, with both teams battling for the ball in central midfield. Both sides were adopting a highly aggressive approach and, unsurpisingly, it was Queens Park Rangers who came out on top. I don’t think that Brian McDermott had researched the Rs very well at all: it takes an awful lot to outmuscle the likes of Shaun Derry in central midfield. The Royals would have reaped more success had they tried to get Jobi McAnuff more involved in proceedings (Kyle Walker defended against him superbly).

QPR should have taken the lead inside fifteen minutes, with Rob Hulse making probably the worst miss of the campaign so far. Alejandro Faurlin skilfully beat two defenders on the edge of the box and smashed an effort against the crossbar. The ball fell kindly for the former Derby County striker, who, with the goal wide open, inexcusably scuffed his shot wide. Of course, Hulse has been out for several weeks through injury, but he really should have done better with this one.

Ten minutes later, however, Hulse almost redeemed himself. Bradley Orr’s curling cross found the big striker at the far post. The 31 year-old did very well to rise and send a powerful header towards the bottom corner of the net. To my despair, Adam Federici managed to dive and push the ball out of play for a corner.

In the 27th minute, Queens Park Rangers finally made a deserved breakthrough, thanks to a sublime piece of skill from Adel Taraabt. Receiving the ball on the left-hand side, he weaved between two challenges before being brought down by Brian Howard inside the penalty area. The referee pointed to the spot, with the Moroccan taking the resulting kick, stylishly chipping the ball into the goal, fooling the goalkeeper.

Soon afterwards, the game descended into farce. Adel Taraabt had been fouled during a well-worked move, which culminated in Rob Hulse squandering another golden opportunity, heading the ball over the bar. As we all know, the Moroccan does have the tendency to roll about on the floor dramatically and that was what he was doing here. This provoked an unbelievable reaction from Matthew Mills, who charged across the pitch and confronted Taraabt very aggressively indeed, appearing to try to headbutt him. In my view, Mills should have been sent off. Instead, the referee produced only a yellow card, whilst also harshly booking Shaun Derry.

In the 40th minute, Rangers were reduced to ten men, with Bradley Orr being dismissed for a two-footed tackle on Robson-Kanu. There is no doubt that the challenge was a very bad one. However, I couldn’t help thinking that the referee should have taken the same course of action minutes before. Therefore, although QPR went into half time with a one-goal lead, it seemed that it would be very difficult to defend it against supposedly one of the better teams in the division.

Half-time scoreline: Queens Park Rangers 1-0 Reading

Rather than bring on a right back, Warnock chose to move the hard-working Jamie Mackie into Orr’s defensive position. Although I had initial concerns, this would prove to be an excellent change by the manager. Mackie coped well and still managed to get forward, eventually playing an important role in the Super Hoops’ second goal.

After having had a man sent off, many teams would sit back and attempt to defend their lead. Queens Park Rangers, however, actually stepped up a gear, which is testament to the spirit that Neil Warnock has instilled in his side. In the 46th minute, Tommy Smith’s cross found Rob Hulse in the penalty area, but the striker’s header was comfortably saved by Federici.

Reading looked even worse than they had done in the first half, with defenders giving the ball away carelessly inside their own territory. And, in the 62nd minute, QPR deservedly doubled their advantage – in some style. Alejandro Faurlin started off the move, skilfully flicking the ball over a defender and finding Adel Taraabt in a central position. The Moroccan found Jamie Mackie in the penalty area, whose cross found its way back to the Argentinean. Faurlin’s shot, with the help of a deflection, ended up in the top corner of the net.

Just as it seemed that Rangers were in control, Reading pulled a goal back against the run of play. In the 68th minute, the ball fell kindly for Shane Long about 25 yards out from goal, who unleashed a wonderful drive, which curled past Kenny and into the top corner of the net.

However, Rangers produced a quick response and once again it was Taraabt who was at the centre of the action. The Super Hoops won a free-kick in a dangerous position and the Moroccan took it superbly, forcing a great save from Federici at his right-hand post. However, he could only push it into the path of Tommy Smith, who calmly stuck the ball into the back of the net.

That goal served as the killer blow to Reading. Although Church forced a superb save from Paddy Kenny with a close-range effort and Long smashed a shot well over the crossbar in the closing stages, Rangers always looked in control.

Full-time scoreline: Queens Park Rangers 3-1 Reading

Conclusion

In my view, this was a performance that Queens Park Rangers would not have been capable of in previous campaigns. Neil Warnock has created a side which boasts a healthy mixture of brawn, skill and creativity. In the words of the manager himself, "we can give anybody a good game". Of course, two difficult away trips lie ahead, but if the Rs can maintain this level of performance, I see no reason why they cannot return with six points.

Man of the match: a very difficult decision, but it has to go to Adel Taraabt, who was involved in all three of QPR's goals. After a slight dip in form recently, he managed to recapture the standard of displays we enjoyed earlier in the campaign. I just hope that the club is able to keep him in the January transfer window!